Systemic Inflammation and Growth following Acute Illness in Children

Undernutrition remains a major global health problem that increases risks of infectious diseases, and affects brain development, immunity, cardiovascular and metabolic health. Systemic inflammation (SI) is a natural response to infections and should resolve with recovery. In pilot studies, I have observed high levels of SI among undernourished children when they appear well at the time of discharge from hospital linked to the risk of subsequent death and poor growth. In community studies and in inflammatory diseases, SI has been seen to impair child growth. In this fellowship, I aim to determine whether SI persists after hospital discharge, is greater among undernourished children, if it affects post-discharge growth and identify causes of SI. I will utilise a large set of existing high-quality data and biological samples from a recent large study of children admitted to hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and followed up for 6 months after discharge.