Mortality among children under five years admitted for routine care of severe acute malnutrition: a prospective cohort study from Kampala, Uganda

Table 1 History and clinical examination findings of children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to Mulago hospital at enrolment

Variable	n/N	Percentage
Weight loss	243	90
Cough	191	70.7
Diarrhea	151	55.9
Fever	142	52.6
Appetite loss	133	49.3
Vomiting	127	47
Skin rash	64	23.7
Convulsions	26	9.6
Loss of consciousness	5	1.9
Difficulty in breathing	47	17.4
Abdominal pain	57	21.1
Medical history
Chronic illness excluding HIV⁵	34	12.6
Received treatment prior to admission	41	15.2
Temperature (°C): N = 263
Normal (35–37.4)	177	67.3
Hypothermia (< 35 °C)	9	3.4
Hyperthermia (≥37.5 °C)	77	29.3
MUAC^a (cm): N = 237
Less than 11.5	138	58.2
11.5 and above	99	41.8
Weight for Height/ Length (Z score)
≤ −3	210	77.8
> −3	60	22.2
Signs of Vitamin A deficiency	5	1.9
Grade of edema^b
Grade I	22	17.9
Grade II	45	36.6
Grade III	56	45.5
Shock	7	2.6
Dehydration	98	36.3
Visible wasting	212	78.5
Dermatosis	119	44.1
Thrush	61	22.6
Pallor (palmar and/or conjunctiva)	143	53
Jaundice	7	2.6
Signs of Respiratory Distress	48	17.8
Abnormal breath sounds^c	44	16.4
Abnormal heart sounds^d	7	2.6
Abnormal motor findings	21	7.8
Abdominal Distension	57	21.1

Chronic illness include congenital heart defects, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and hernia, N = 270, unless otherwise stated due to missing data, ^aMUAC Mid Upper Arm Circumference, ^bN = 123 (nuber of children with oedema)^c Abnormal breath sounds: rhonchi, crepitations; ^d Abnormal heart sounds: murmurs

ISSN: 1471-2431