Abstract:

Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy are often at high risk for nutritional alterations.The objectives of our study are to describe the anthropometric parameters in these children.

Methods: This was a case control study conducted at a tertiary level hospital situated in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. The following variables were determined in a sample of 30 children with cerebral palsy (18 M, 12 F): bodyweight, height/length, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, BMI and Z-score and compared with a age and sex-matched control group over a period of 1 year from 1 July 2017 to 30th June 2018. Severity of CP was classified based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). We also studied the socioeconomic status, meal duration, need for feeding assistance and presence of oromotor dysfunction. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC). Data was analyzed using SPSS.

Results: The result showed that 47.6%, 35.7% and 25% of patients were consecutively wasted, underweight and stunted respectively. The Z-score for MUAC were below -1 in 41.8% of the patients. According to subjective assessments 52.7% were malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition was significantly more in children with cerebral palsy as compared to the control group.

Conclusions: The nutritional status of these patients with cerebral palsy was significantly affected by the presence of oromotor dysfunction and the degree of motor impairment. Early nutritional intervention, appropriate support and nurturing are necessary to ensure proper growth and development in these children.