PediaSure in the treatment of severe malnutrition in Pakistani children.

OBJECTIVES We used "PediaSure" a high-density supplemental high caloric feed, for the purpose of nutrition therapy of malnourished children during the initial 2 weeks of rehabilitation. METHODOLOGY Thirty-one severely malnourished children between the ages of 1-5 years of age completed the study. After management of acute medical complications, they were started on "Pediasure" as their source of calories, for 2 weeks. Their weight gain clinical tolerance, stool output were monitored, as were hematological and biochemical parameters. RESULTS The study revealed a significant increase in caloric intake (p < 0.01) at the end of 2 weeks. There was also a significant improvement in weight gain of these children, averaging to 7.5 gm/kg/day. The Z score weight for age improved as well, (p = < 0.01) over the 2 week period. The biochemical parameters registered an increase in their serum potassium levels, but no untoward chemical imbalance was noted. Tolerance for PediSure was very high, only one child was excluded from the study due to limited intake. None of the children developed diarrhea. CONCLUSION We conclude that "PediaSure" can be used effectively in the initial stage of nutrition rehabilitation of severely malnourished children.