Evaluation of Nutritional Status of Children Suffering from Cancer Under Chemo-Radiotherapy
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- Category: Vol. 81, March 2013
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Evaluation of Nutritional Status of Children Suffering from Cancer Under Chemo-Radiotherapy,AMAL A. KHALIL, SONIA G. EL-SHARKAWY, KHADIGA A.E. GOMAA and DONIA EL-SAID ZAGHAMIR
Abstract
Children with cancer are susceptible to nutritional deple-tion due to the combined effects of the malignant disease and its treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutri-tional status of children with cancer undergoing Chemo-radiotherapy. The study was carried out at the Oncology Institution in Damietta City on 105 children having cancer and receiving treatment and their family caregivers using a descriptive analytical design. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire and a physical assessment sheet. Which included three parts; the first one covered the clinical examination; the second part was for anthropometric measure-ment and the third part was for laboratory investigations. The results indicated that lymphoma and leukemia are the com-monest cancers and chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy is the therapy mostly used. Children suffer many gastrointes-tinal symptoms as anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, and sub-sequently inadequate eating habits. The majority have signs of malnutrition in the lips, face, teeth, hair and skin, and abnormal anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin and serum albumin levels. It can be concluded that the majority of the children were suffering from anemia and malnutrition, The study recommended establishment of nutritional support team (NSTs) to improve nutrition and nutritional care for hospitalized children. Further researches should be conducted to assess nurses knowledge about chemo-and/or radiotherapy side effects and its management, prevention and management of pediatric nutritional disorders. Therefore, cancer children under chemo- and/or radiotherapy need more attention towards their nutrition in order to anticipate the symptoms, signs, and sequels of malnutrition.