Long-term Follow-up of Severe Protein-energy Malnutrition in Eastern Zaire

In an area where protein-energy malnutrition is highly endemic, 171 children who had been treated for severe protein-energy malnutrition were traced after discharge from hospital. The proportion surviving to the end of fifth year was 0.816. This proportion surviving was lowest for the year following discharge from hospital, especially for the youngest children. No catch-up for weight and for height was observed and the serum albumin concentrations decreased after the first year.