Acute gastroenteritis: effect on nutritional status.
Cunningham R., Parry CM., Harries AD., Beeching NJ.
Anthropometric measurements were performed on admission and at four weeks post discharge on 25 adults referred to hospital with acute gastroenteritis. There was a significant change in weight (P < 0.001) and mid-arm circumference (P < 0.05), but no change in skinfold thickness, arm muscle area or arm fat area. The results suggest that weight change during acute gastroenteritis is more a consequence of dehydration than of malnutrition.