Comparison of Home-Based Therapy with Ready to Use Therapeutic Food with Standard Therapy (F-100) in Treatment of Malnourished Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in children is a major health issue in Egypt, and weak recovery rates result from standard treatment, which meets international guidelines. In pilot trials of home-based therapy with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) higher recovery rates were seen. Objective: Comparison of recovery rates among children with moderate and serious malnutrition who receive either RUTF home therapy or standard therapy. Methods: An interventional study (single blinded randomized clinical trial study) was conducted in Zagazig University Hospitals with 56 malnourished children during the period of April 2019 to October 2019. Children were systematically allocated to either standard therapy (28 children) or home-based therapy with RUTF (28 children). The primary outcomes was recovery, identified as achieving a weight-for height z score < -2. The weight gain rate was the secondary consequence. Results: Children who received home-based therapy with RUTF were more likely to achieve a weight-for-height z score < -2 than were those who received standard therapy (85.7% compared with 57.2%; P = 0.037) and no adverse events attributed to the use of RUTF. Children who received home-based therapy with RUTF had greater rates of weight gain at 8 weeks of therapy (5.08 compared with 3.37 g/kg/day).
Conclusion: Home-based RUTF therapy has greater childhood obesity outcomes than regular therapy.

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Zagazig University Medical Journal
Volume 29, Issue 1.1
January 2023
Pages 331-336

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