Mortality in children with severe acute malnutrition: A prospective observational study of risk factors

86 Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) were studied over a period of two years from january 2012 to december 2013 at Government Gen Hospital, Kurnool medical college, Kurnool in the department of pediatrics. WHO definitions and protocols of management of SAM were used. 64 children were in <1yr age and 22 children in 1 to 5yrs age group. SAM with oedema were seen in <1yr only. Sepsis was seen in 44.19% (38/86) but is 47% (30/64) in <1yr age. Oedema was seen in 46.62% (14/30) of SAM with sepsis where as it is 17.65% (6/34) in SAM without sepsis. Overall mortality in SAM is 13.95% (12/86). Though mortality of SAM in sepsis. If edema is with sepsis in SAM the mortality is 45% in <1yr.From the above study the risk factors identified for mortality in SAM are (1) <1yr age group (2) presence of sepsis (3) presence of edema.