Table 3. Documentation of signs and symptoms important in the assessment and management of paediatric severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months: April 2014-November 2016.
| Clinical sign/symptom during this illness |
Number of records signs documented/N, (%) N = 4746 |
Patient characteristic | Presence of sign / Number of records signs documented, (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axillary temperature | 4347 (91.8) | Fever (>37.5°C) | 2189/4347 (50.2) |
| Hypothermia (<36.5°C) | 522/4347 (11.9) | ||
| Cough | 4633 (97.6) | Cough present | 2917/4633 (62.9) |
| Cough >2 weeks | 378/2917 (12.9) | ||
| Diarrhoea | 4610 (97.1) | Diarrhoea present | 2132/4610 (46.3) |
| Diarrhoea >2 weeks | 160/2132 (7.5) | ||
| Vomiting | 4604 (97.0) | History of vomiting | 2316/4604 (50.3) |
| Vomiting everything | 1099/2316 (47.5) | ||
| Difficult feeding | 4221 (95.3) | Difficult feeding present | 1868/4221 (41.3) |
| Convulsions | 4543 (95.7) | History of convulsions | 459/4543 (10.1) |
| Oedema | 4481 (94.4) | Oedema present (severe, mild/moderate) | 1082/4481 (24.2) |
| Central cyanosis | 4633 (97.6) | Central cyanosis present | 42/4633 (0.9) |
| Chest indrawing | 4584 (96.6) | Chest indrawing present | 1516/4584 (33.1) |
| Grunting | 4554 (96.9) | Grunting present | 517/4554 (11.4) |
| Peripheral pulse | 4364 (91.9) | Weak peripheral pulse | 484/4364 (11.1) |
| Capillary refill time | 4180 (88.1) | Capillary refill time >3 sec | 96/4180 (2.3) |
| Palmar pallor | 4595 (96.8) | Severe pallor | 373/4595 (8.1) |
| Temperature gradient | 3805 (80.2) | Skin warm up to elbow and shoulder | 321/3805 (8.4) |
| Level of consciousness | 4574 (96.4) | 1Altered consciousness | 339/4574 (7.4) |
| Ability to drink | 4448 (93.7) | Unable to drink | 980/4448 (22.0) |
| Stiff neck | 4551 (95.9) | Stiff neck | 121/4551 (2.7) |
| 2HIV status known | 2585/3232 (79.9)2 | HIV antibody positive | 156/2585 (6.0) |
| 3Oxygen saturation | 963/1721 (55.9)3 | Hypoxia | 187/963 (19.4) |
1altered consciousness; verbal response = 93/339 (27.4%), Pain response = 192/339 (37.6), Unresponsive 54/339 (10.6%)
2HIV status known (positive antibody test): -January 2015-November 2016
3Oxygen saturation: -November 2015-November 2016. Hypoxia = Oxygen saturation (spO2) < = 89%