Pattern of protein-energy malnutrition in Sudanese children and comparison with some other Middle East countries.

Tne classification of protein-calorie malnutrition suggested by the Wellcome Trust Working party was employed in 119 children under the age of 4 years admitted to Khartoum Hospital with severe malnutrition between May and December 1973. Our findings compare closely with findings from other centres using the same classification. All children were below 80% of the Boston standard for weight. 58% were under-weight or marasmic, kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor being 16% and 26 % respectively. Marasmus the most frequently seen type was common in the second year of life. Males were double the number of females. Hair and skin chnages were seen in over 50% of cases of kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashior kor, being much less common in marasmic and under-weight children. Psychomotor changes were found in all three classes. Half the children with kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor had hepatomegaly. It was found in a fifth of children with marasmus. Anaemia, with megalocytic changes in some cases was a very common finding.