IIN : use of bioelectrical impedance to measure malnutrition and dehydration, project no. 936-5542

The study will test the hypothesis that bioelectrical impedance, by measuring total body water (TBW), can provide: (1) monitoring of the success or failure of oral rehydration (OR) therapy in children with acute diarrhea, including the development of tables for estimating changes in hydrational status and other tables to test a method for making a single point evaluation of the degree of dehydration; and (2) a method of determining body fat that is more precise than methods currently available in LDC"s, thereby providing improved data on caloric reserve and nutritional status in children. First year studies will be made, using bioelectrical impedance analyzers (a safe, non-invasive method of measuring TBW), on about 100 inpatient children at UPCH"s OR Unit and on 20 inpatient and 40 outpatient children at IIN. These studies will provide predictive equations for further testing under field and clinical conditions. Two visiting scientists from Johns Hopkins University will assist in conducting the studies.