Relación entre los hábitos alimenticios y el estado nutricional de los pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados con leucemia linfoblástica aguda, en tratamiento de quimioterapia que acuden a la “Fundación Ronald McDonald’s” en la ciudad de Guayaquil en el periodo de octubre 2017 a febrero 2018.

Abstract

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of hematological disease determined by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature cells originating from the stem cells of the bone marrow. The importance of an adequate nutritional support in pediatric patients with ALL in chemotherapy treatment, is based on covering all nutritional needs, with the aim of generating a greater tolerance to cancer treatment and consequently to the state of health, thus being able to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition and timely initiate the recovery of nutritional status. The objective of the present study was to determine nutritional status in relation to eating habits, through the use of anthropometric and dietary indicators in pediatric patients with ALL in chemotherapy treatment of the Ronald McDonald's Foundation. Materials and methods: the nutritional status of the children was evaluated through the use of the IMC / age, weight / height and height / age indices and was interpreted through the standard deviations. The methodology used was the non-experimental scientific method, with a quantitative approach with a descriptive scope of transversal type; taking a sample of 32 pediatric patients composed of 17 women and 15 men, whose ages from 2 to 18 years, of which BMI / Age was obtained in the male patients are shown with 67% of normal weight and 65% in the female sex; of thinness in female sex 29% and in male sex 13%; of severe thinness, 7% male and 6% female; of overweight only occurs in male patient 13%; no male and female patients with obesity were found. As a result, male patients have a better BMI / Age than female patients.