Correlation of Nutritional Status of 2-6 Years Old Children with Infectious Disease and Causes of Hospitalized

Nutritional problems are one of the most important health problems in developing countries that could develop various infections. The aim of this study is to determine the correlation of nutritional status of 2-6 year old children with infectious disease and causes of hospitalization.
In this descriptive study, 390 children between 2 to 6 year old hospitalized in pediatrics ward of Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences were selected by convenience sampling. The data was collected using the data collection form. The form is validated by content validity method. The height and the weight are measured by calibrated standard equipment. The height is measured with an accuracy of 1.0 cm without shoes and the weight is evaluated using the Sega scale with an accuracy of 50 g with minimal clothing. The underweight, stunting and wasting indexes are determined using NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics) CDC (Centers for Diseases Control)/WHO standards. Data is analyzed by SPSS16.
Among the 390 children, 45.4% of children were underweight, 54.8% were stunting, and 32.8% were wasted. As such the hospitalization for children (urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal infections) is related to their underweight, stunting and wasting problems.
There is a correlation between urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal infections and underweight, stunting and wasting. It is suggested that all hospitalized children with infectious diseases should be evaluated with respect to their underweight, stunting and wasting status.