Introduction: A higher risk of death is associated with wasting in children if
it is not treated properly. The objective of this study was to investigate the ionic
disorders observed in infants suffering from severe wasting at Yalgado
Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital (YO-TH) and at Charles de Gaulle Pediatric
Teaching Hospital (CDG-PTH) in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Methods:
This was a retrospective study with a descriptive and analytical aim over the
period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. Results: It concerned infants
aged 6 to 24 months hospitalized at YO-TH and at CDG-PTH from
Ouagadougou. We included 271 infants. The mean age of the infants was
14.48 ± 5.44 months with 42.07% which was in the age range of [12 - 18]
months. On admission to the hospital, the children had an average weight,
height and BMI of 6.22 ± 1.32 kg, 0.73 ± 0.07 m and 11.67 ± 1.53 kg/m2. In
urban areas 56.46% of children and the main reasons for consultation were
fever (88.19%), vomiting (52.80%) and diarrhea (50.20%). Electrolyte disturbances
in emaciated infants affected all 8 parameters of the blood ionogram.
However, the major disorders were 65.68% hyponatremia, 55.35% hypobicarbonatemia,
41.33% hypoprotidemia and 32.47% hypokalemia in infants
aged 6 to 24 months. We found an association between diarrhea and resi-dence with hypokalemia (p = 0.0000) and hypochloremia (p = 0.010), respectively.
Conclusion: Severe acute wasting in infants 6 to 24 months of age remains
a concern in the hospital setting. The frequency of biochemical disturbances
is also high.

Severe Wasting, Emaciation, Infants over 6 - 24 Months, Blood Ionogram, Burkina Faso