Oral supplementation of essential aminoacids in acute malnutrition in children with bronchilitis

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of acute malnutrition in paediatric patients with bronchiolitis and the effectiveness of oral supplementation with essential aminoacids. Materials and methods: Paediatric patients admitted from December 2014 and April 2015 with clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis were controlled for weight, blood urea nitrogen, blood albumin, blood prealbumin at admission and at discharge. Fortyone patients were enrolled and divided in 2 groups. Group A was composed of patients who received oral supplementation with essential aminoacids. Group B was composed of patients who assumed only ordinary feeding. Results: In theGroupA, 20patientswithmedianageof4months and 6 days, 4/20 children (20%) at admission showed normal values of blood prealbumin, at discharge they were 17/20 (85%). The median values of blood albumin at admission and discharge were respectively of 3.55g/dl and 3.77g/dl. Themedianweight at admission was of 5.825g and of 5.882g at discharge, with 11/20 patients (55%) that showed weight at discharge higher than that at admission. In the Group B, 21 patientswithmedian age of 4months and 3 days, 5/21 children (23.8%) at admission showed normal values of blood prealbumin, at discharge theywere 3/21 (14.3%). Themedian values of blood albumin at admission and discharge were respectively of 3.48g/dl and 3.32g/dl. The median weight was of 5.746g at admission and of 5.631 at discharge, with 4/21 patients (19%) that showed weight at discharge higher than that at admission. Conclusions: The incidence of acute malnutrition during bronchiolitis episodes seems tobehigh. Theuse of oral supplementation of essential aminoacids resulted in best weight gain and in best recover of nutrition markers during hospitalization.