الفهرس 
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Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common diseases in children worldwide with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Cytokines can be used as markers of acute infections, including acute gastroenteritis. However, the presence of malnutrition may affect cytokine response in children with acute gastroenteritis.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum levels of interleukins 6 and 8 in malnourished children with acute diarrhea. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pediatric department, Sohag University Hospital on 60 children divided into 2 groups: malnourished children with acute diarrhea and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All children were subjected to history taking, clinical evaluation, routine laboratory investigations, and evaluation of serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels.
We found that malnourished children with acute diarrhea have significantly lower weight, length, head circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference than the healthy control children. In addition, malnourished children had higher pulse, respiratory rate, and temperature, but lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, malnourished children had significantly lower hemoglobin level, hematocrit value, and MCV but higher white blood cells and platelets. Furthermore, the serum levels of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium) were significantly lower in the malnourished group. Regarding liver and kidney functions, malnourished children had significantly lower albumin but higher bilirubin and creatinine levels. Last, malnourished children had significantly lower IL-8 level but comparable IL-6 levels to that of healthy controls.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our study showed no significant increase in serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in malnourished children with acute diarrhea compared with healthy control children, which could have important implications in the diagnosis and management of malnourished children with acute diarrhea. However, future studies on a larger number of cases are recommended to confirm our study results.
Recommendations
Evaluation of IL-6 and IL-8 levels may help evaluation of acute phase response of malnourished children against infections
Careful treatment of malnourished children who have defective acute immune response.
Further studies on large geographical scale and on larger sample size to emphasize our conclusion.
Education of parents about hand hygiene, safe weaning and safe drinking water etc., can help in reducing incidence of this important health problem.