Abstract

This study was undertaken to find the proportion of moderate acute malnutrition among children with pneumonia and diarrhoea. Methods: The present study was conducted over a period of 6 months and 100 children were included in the study. Ethical clearance: obtained from the institutional ethics committee. Results: More number of females were malnourished, and a greater number of males were well-nourished, which was statistically significant (p = 0.017). There was no statistically significant association between age and severity of malnutrition. (p-value 0.060). There was no significant association between the severity of pneumonia and malnutrition. Therefore the prevalence of pneumonia was the same among both MAM and SAM children. More children with MAM had anaemia than SAM and normal groups. Fewer children with normal anthropometry had comorbidities. The data were statistically significant (p = 0.020). Conclusion: Complications and morbidities in MAM are similar to SAM, hence, it is important to diagnose MAM and treat it vigilantly as in SAM. It is important to recognize and monitor MAM which may often go neglected.

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