Impact of therapeutic foods on the Staturo-weight and hematological parameters of malnourished children at the therapeutic nutritional unit of mongo (Chad)

Objective : to evaluate the contribution of therapeutic foods on staturo-weight and haematological parameters in malnourished children at the Mongo Nutritional Therapeutic Unit (Chad). Methodology: This is a prospective cross-sectional study aimed at recording epidemiological and hematological variables of children aged 6 to 59 months undergoing nutritional recovery at the Mongo therapeutic nutritional center. 112 children admitted for severe acute malnutrition with medical complications and meeting the admission and selection criteria were included. The nutritional management of non-diarrheal malnourished children was carried out by administering therapy and a diet according to the physiopathological conditions and dietary needs of the children received. The average length of hospitalization was 6 days. Anthropometric and biological data of malnourished children were obtained from the survey forms developed for this purpose. Results: The hemoglobin level of the anemic children at entry was normalized to 64% at discharge and the leukocyte level was normalized to 74%. The children's staturo-weight parameters normalized with a weight gain that varied between 0.1 and 1.6 kg, i.e. 63% and 104% of the target weights respectively. Conclusion: Therapeutic foods contribute to a good recovery in malnourished children.