Mortality in severely malnourished children with diarrhoea and use of a standardised management protocol

Tahmeed Ahmed; Mohammad Ali; Mohammad M. Ullah; Ireen A. Choudhury; Mohammad E. Haque; Mohammad A. Salam; Golam H. Rabbani; Robert M. Suskind; George J. Fuchs

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07499-6

Mortality in severely malnourished children with diarrhoea and use of a standardised management protocol

Tahmeed Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad M. Ullah, Ireen A. Choudhury, Mohammad E. Haque, Mohammad A. Salam, Golam H. Rabbani, Robert M. Suskind, George J. Fuchs

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240 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Severely malnourished children have high standardised mortality rates. Death commonly occurs during the first 48 h after hospital admission, and has been attributed to faulty case-management. We developed a standardised protocol for acute-phase treatment of children with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea, with the aim of reducing mortality. Methods. We compared severely malnourished children with diarrhoea aged 0-5 years managed by non-protocol conventional treatment, and those treated by our standardised protocol that included slow rehydration with an emphasis on oral rehydration. The standardised-protocol group included children admitted to the ICDDR,B Hospital, Dhaka between Jan 1, 1997, and June 30, 1997, while those admitted between Jan 1, 1996, and June 30, 1996, before the protocol was implemented, were the non-protocol group. Findings. Characteristics on admission of children on standardised protocol (n = 334) and non-protocol children (n = 293) were similar except that more children on standardised protocol had oedema, acidosis, and Vibrio cholerae isolated from stools. 199 (59.9%) of children on standardised protocol were successfully rehydrated with oral rehydration solution, compared with 85 (29%) in the non-protocol group (p < 0.0001). Use of expensive antibiotics was less frequent in children on standardised protocol than in the other group (p < 0.0001). Children on standardised protocol had fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia than non-protocol children (15 vs 30, p = 0.005). 49 (17%) of children on non-protocol treatment died, compared with 30 (9%) children on standardised protocol (odds ratio for mortality, 0.49, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.003). Interpretation. Compared with non-protocol management, our standardised protocol resulted in fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia, less need for intravenous fluids, and a 47% reduction in mortality. This standardised protocol should be considered in all children with diarrhoea and severe malnutrition.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1919-1922
Number of pages	4
Journal	The Lancet
Volume	353
Issue number	9168
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07499-6
State	Published - Jun 5 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the ICDDR, B: Centre for Health and Population Research, which is supported by the aid agencies of the governments of Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA, and by UNICEF. We thank Ann Ashworth of the Centre for Human Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, for reviewing the paper.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07499-6

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title = "Mortality in severely malnourished children with diarrhoea and use of a standardised management protocol",

abstract = "Background. Severely malnourished children have high standardised mortality rates. Death commonly occurs during the first 48 h after hospital admission, and has been attributed to faulty case-management. We developed a standardised protocol for acute-phase treatment of children with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea, with the aim of reducing mortality. Methods. We compared severely malnourished children with diarrhoea aged 0-5 years managed by non-protocol conventional treatment, and those treated by our standardised protocol that included slow rehydration with an emphasis on oral rehydration. The standardised-protocol group included children admitted to the ICDDR,B Hospital, Dhaka between Jan 1, 1997, and June 30, 1997, while those admitted between Jan 1, 1996, and June 30, 1996, before the protocol was implemented, were the non-protocol group. Findings. Characteristics on admission of children on standardised protocol (n = 334) and non-protocol children (n = 293) were similar except that more children on standardised protocol had oedema, acidosis, and Vibrio cholerae isolated from stools. 199 (59.9%) of children on standardised protocol were successfully rehydrated with oral rehydration solution, compared with 85 (29%) in the non-protocol group (p < 0.0001). Use of expensive antibiotics was less frequent in children on standardised protocol than in the other group (p < 0.0001). Children on standardised protocol had fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia than non-protocol children (15 vs 30, p = 0.005). 49 (17%) of children on non-protocol treatment died, compared with 30 (9%) children on standardised protocol (odds ratio for mortality, 0.49, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.003). Interpretation. Compared with non-protocol management, our standardised protocol resulted in fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia, less need for intravenous fluids, and a 47% reduction in mortality. This standardised protocol should be considered in all children with diarrhoea and severe malnutrition.",

author = "Tahmeed Ahmed and Mohammad Ali and Ullah, {Mohammad M.} and Choudhury, {Ireen A.} and Haque, {Mohammad E.} and Salam, {Mohammad A.} and Rabbani, {Golam H.} and Suskind, {Robert M.} and Fuchs, {George J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was funded by the ICDDR, B: Centre for Health and Population Research, which is supported by the aid agencies of the governments of Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA, and by UNICEF. We thank Ann Ashworth of the Centre for Human Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, for reviewing the paper.",

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doi = "10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07499-6",

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T1 - Mortality in severely malnourished children with diarrhoea and use of a standardised management protocol

AU - Ahmed, Tahmeed

AU - Ali, Mohammad

AU - Ullah, Mohammad M.

AU - Choudhury, Ireen A.

AU - Haque, Mohammad E.

AU - Salam, Mohammad A.

AU - Rabbani, Golam H.

AU - Suskind, Robert M.

AU - Fuchs, George J.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the ICDDR, B: Centre for Health and Population Research, which is supported by the aid agencies of the governments of Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA, and by UNICEF. We thank Ann Ashworth of the Centre for Human Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, for reviewing the paper.

PY - 1999/6/5

Y1 - 1999/6/5

N2 - Background. Severely malnourished children have high standardised mortality rates. Death commonly occurs during the first 48 h after hospital admission, and has been attributed to faulty case-management. We developed a standardised protocol for acute-phase treatment of children with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea, with the aim of reducing mortality. Methods. We compared severely malnourished children with diarrhoea aged 0-5 years managed by non-protocol conventional treatment, and those treated by our standardised protocol that included slow rehydration with an emphasis on oral rehydration. The standardised-protocol group included children admitted to the ICDDR,B Hospital, Dhaka between Jan 1, 1997, and June 30, 1997, while those admitted between Jan 1, 1996, and June 30, 1996, before the protocol was implemented, were the non-protocol group. Findings. Characteristics on admission of children on standardised protocol (n = 334) and non-protocol children (n = 293) were similar except that more children on standardised protocol had oedema, acidosis, and Vibrio cholerae isolated from stools. 199 (59.9%) of children on standardised protocol were successfully rehydrated with oral rehydration solution, compared with 85 (29%) in the non-protocol group (p < 0.0001). Use of expensive antibiotics was less frequent in children on standardised protocol than in the other group (p < 0.0001). Children on standardised protocol had fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia than non-protocol children (15 vs 30, p = 0.005). 49 (17%) of children on non-protocol treatment died, compared with 30 (9%) children on standardised protocol (odds ratio for mortality, 0.49, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.003). Interpretation. Compared with non-protocol management, our standardised protocol resulted in fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia, less need for intravenous fluids, and a 47% reduction in mortality. This standardised protocol should be considered in all children with diarrhoea and severe malnutrition.

AB - Background. Severely malnourished children have high standardised mortality rates. Death commonly occurs during the first 48 h after hospital admission, and has been attributed to faulty case-management. We developed a standardised protocol for acute-phase treatment of children with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea, with the aim of reducing mortality. Methods. We compared severely malnourished children with diarrhoea aged 0-5 years managed by non-protocol conventional treatment, and those treated by our standardised protocol that included slow rehydration with an emphasis on oral rehydration. The standardised-protocol group included children admitted to the ICDDR,B Hospital, Dhaka between Jan 1, 1997, and June 30, 1997, while those admitted between Jan 1, 1996, and June 30, 1996, before the protocol was implemented, were the non-protocol group. Findings. Characteristics on admission of children on standardised protocol (n = 334) and non-protocol children (n = 293) were similar except that more children on standardised protocol had oedema, acidosis, and Vibrio cholerae isolated from stools. 199 (59.9%) of children on standardised protocol were successfully rehydrated with oral rehydration solution, compared with 85 (29%) in the non-protocol group (p < 0.0001). Use of expensive antibiotics was less frequent in children on standardised protocol than in the other group (p < 0.0001). Children on standardised protocol had fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia than non-protocol children (15 vs 30, p = 0.005). 49 (17%) of children on non-protocol treatment died, compared with 30 (9%) children on standardised protocol (odds ratio for mortality, 0.49, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p = 0.003). Interpretation. Compared with non-protocol management, our standardised protocol resulted in fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia, less need for intravenous fluids, and a 47% reduction in mortality. This standardised protocol should be considered in all children with diarrhoea and severe malnutrition.

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Mortality in severely malnourished children with diarrhoea and use of a standardised management protocol

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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