Screening for Hypothyroidism in children with severe acute malnutrition at Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Multan.

Authors

  • Saadia Khan Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.
  • Waqas Imran Khan Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.
  • Ayesha Fayyaz Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.
  • Ibad Ali Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.
  • Asad Abbas IFNS, BZU, Multan.
  • Reema Arshad Aga Khan University, Karachi.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2022.29.01.5722

Keywords:

Hypothyroidism, Severe Acute Malnutrition, T3, T4, TSH

Abstract

Objective: To determine the percentage of Hypothyroidism in children with severe acute malnutrition. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Multan. Period: January 2019 to December 2019. Material & Methods: A total of 255 malnourished patients (as per inclusion criteria) were included in current study. A written Performa was designed to collect history, anthropometric measurements and systemic examination. Taking aseptic measures venous blood was sent for baseline tests as well as for T3, T4 and TSH, total serum protein albumin and total ferritin levels to hospital laboratory. Correlation between serum thyroid concentrations and total protein, albumin, hemoglobin and serum ferritin were estimated by using t-test and p-vlaue less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Total collected data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 21.0. Results: A total of 255 malnourished children were included in this study. Majority of studied subjects were male (52.5%) with 83.92%, 3-5 years of age. Amongst the 255 children mean values of T3 in MAM and SAM patients were 105.4 ng/dl and 89.7 ng/dl respectively. There was a statistically significant (p <0.001) association between decreased T3 and type of malnutrition. Similarly, mean values of T4 in MAM and SAM patients were 6.3 ug/dl and 5.7 ug/dl respectively that was statistically significant (p <0.05). Lower values of T4 were higher among SAM children in 1 to 3 years age group compared to respective MAM children with p value .0.05 and high T4 value in 3-5 years age group of MAM children were both statistically insignificant. Higher mean Values of TSH was found in SAM compared to MAM children both age groups. Conclusion: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with reduction in T3 and T4 levels and higher levels of TSH in SAM children as compared to MAM. The altered thyroid hormone status in children with PEM is perhaps a protective phenomenon to limit protein catabolism and lower energy requirements.

Author Biographies

Saadia Khan, Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.

MD

Assistant Professor Preventive Pediatrics

Waqas Imran Khan, Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.

FCPS

Associate Professor Pediatric Endocrinology

 

Ayesha Fayyaz, Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.

FCPS

Assistant Professor General Pediatrics

 

Ibad Ali, Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan.

FCPS

Associate Professor Preventive Pediatrics

 

Asad Abbas, IFNS, BZU, Multan.

BS (Human Nutrition and Dietetics)

Student

 

Reema Arshad, Aga Khan University, Karachi.

MSc

Research Associate

 

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Published

2021-12-31