Malnutrition & Dehydration

Today was slightly less busy at the clinic. We saw a ton of patients, but fewer that were critically ill. The one exception was a 8 month old little boy who was brought in by his mother looking very sick and undernourished. Apparently he was being cared for by his grandmother because his mother had taken a job as a live-in nanny in a town far away from where they live. While living with his mother during his first few months of life he was breastfeeding and growing well. Since he has lived with the grandmother he has been formula fed, but apparently not enough. The cause is likely due to poverty, but there may be a social component too with the grandmother not really being able to care for the baby...but who reallly knows.

Anyway, the grandmother called the mother today and told her that the baby was very ill and she would have to come bring him to the clinic. He had lost several pounds since his last visit and looked visibly small for a child his age. Worse than that though was that he couldn't close his eyes because he was too dehydrated to produce tears and his eyeballs had developed a white film over them. He was too weak to cry or even really move. His neck was stiff, but his limbs were floppy -- not good. Definitely could be meningitis, encephalitis or various causes of sepsis. He perked up quite a bit once we loaded him with IV fluids. He then was transferred to the hospital...I hope he makes it. Will hopefully get to check in on him I go to the hospital with one of the docs on Thursday. Fingers crossed.