Association of undernutrition with dengue, malaria and acute diarrhea among children in a Thai-Myanmar border.

BACKGROUND

Undernutrition has been shown to be associated with various infectious diseases. However, the recent improvement in nutritional status and management for infectious diseases worldwide necessitates the re-evaluation of this association.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in children aged <14 years old with dengue, malaria or acute diarrhea who visited or were admitted to Tha Song Yang hospital, near the Thai-Myanmar border.

RESULTS

Most of the patients had mild disease and most of the undernourishment was mild. The prevalence of underweight in dengue, malaria and acute diarrhea was 24.0%, 34.7% and 38.7%, respectively, and the prevalence of low height for age was 12.0%, 36.0% and 36.0%, respectively. Malaria and acute diarrhea were associated with underweight but not low height for age. Dengue was neither associated with underweight nor low height for age.

CONCLUSION

Although there has been an improvement in nutritional status and health care facilities, underweight has been still prevalent in rural areas and associated with malaria and acute diarrhea.

IMPLICATION: The surveillance for nutritional status should be continuously performed particularly in children with some diseases, e.g. malaria and acute diarrhea, and additional food supplementation should be provided.