Malnutrition in Children with Uncomplicated Versus Complicated Appendicitis

Background : Acute appendicitis is one of the commonest surgical emergencies in children and malnutrition prevalent country. This study was designed to compare if complicated occurs more malnourished children.
 Materials methods: cross-sectional conducted Department Paediatric Surgery, Chittagong Medical College Hospital from March 2017 December 2019 with 155 children. Anthropometric measurements (Height, weight, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Triceps Skin Fold Thickness (TSFT) were recorded biochemical assessment (Haemoglobin, albumin total lymphocyte count) done before surgery. Patients grouped into two groups: Group A (Acute uncomplicated appendicitis; n=65) B appendicitis, n=90). indices compared between these groups. 
 Results: Age ranged 2 -12 years (Mean 9.2 ±2.5 years) (Male: female- 1.35:1). Among five anthropometric abnormal vs respectively. Abnormal TSFT (73.8% 80%, p=0.4) wasting (38.5% 44.4%, low MUAC for age (13.8% 17.8%, p=0.8) weight (30.8% 36.7%, p=0.5) height (21.5% 24.4%, p=0.7) (52.3% 83.3%, p<0,001); haemoglobin (61.5% 60.0%, p=0.6)) count (39.5% 44.8%, p=0.7).
 Conclusions: Malnutrition widely both Although proportion acute it not statistically significant. The lower serum level patients might be due consequence disease rather than prevailing malnutrition.
 JCMCTA 2022 ; 33 (1) 66-70