Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance (Sodium, Potassium, and pH) during Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children under 5 Years Old in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The objective of this study was to study the electrolyte and acid-base disorders observed during severe acute malnutrition in children under 5 years old. The electrolyte and acid-base aspects of severe acute malnutrition concerned potassium, sodium, pH. Blood ionograms were performed on 30 children from 6 to 60 months admitted to Nutritional and Intensive Therapeutic Unit (NITU). Anthropometric and clinical parameters were also reassessed which clinically confirmed the severity of malnutrition. The results showed that Hyponatraemia was the most observed disorder; 63.3% of the malnourished with a clear dominance in the group of edematous children. However, 30% of the children in the category without edema had normonatremia. 53.3% of children had hypokalemia and 26.7 presented hyperkalemia. Then 100% of malnourished children with or without edema presented acidosis; that represents 80% of these 30 children. The blood ionograms performed revealed variable electrolyte disturbances and acidosis which must be considered in the management of acute severe malnutrition because some electrolytic disorders even minimal can be indicative of serious complications.