The Impact of Undernutrition on Cognition in Children with Severe Malaria and Community Children: A Prospective 2-Year Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The frequency of recovery from undernutrition after an episode of severe malaria, and the relationship between undernutrition during severe malaria and clinical and cognitive outcomes are not well characterized.

Methods

We evaluated undernutrition and cognition in children in Kampala, Uganda 18 months to 5 years of age with cerebral malaria (CM), severe malarial anemia (SMA) or community children (CC). The Mullen Scales of Early Learning was used to measure cognition. Undernutrition, defined as 2 SDs below median for weight-for-age (underweight), height-for-age (stunting) or weight-for-height (wasting), was compared with mortality, hospital readmission and cognition over 24-month follow-up.

Results

At enrollment, wasting was more common in CM (16.7%) or SMA

SUBMITTER: Mburu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8578678 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature