White Blood Cells Parameters among Malnourished Children Under-Five Years, Aden-Yemen

Background: Malnutrition is still a critical public health problem among children under five, with implications for immune function and hematological parameters.


Objective: This study aimed to identify abnormal WBC parameters among malnourished children under five in Aden, Yemen, and to determine the socio-demographic characteristics and other risk factors associated with abnormal WBC parameters among those children.


Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 malnourished children under 5 years. The blood specimens were collected from all children, and an automated hematological analyzer was used to measure the WBC parameters. The SPSS software was used to analyze the data.


Results: Among 101 malnourished children, the majority were 52% females, and according to WBC parameters, leukocytosis, neutropenia, and lymphocytosis were observed at rates of 34.7%, 69.3%, and 82.2%, respectively. Elevated WBC counts were significantly associated with age group (p = 0.005), and high lymphocyte counts were linked to residence (p = 0.017), while no significant associations were found between WBC abnormalities and acute malnutrition or between low WBCs and socio-demographic characteristics and other risk factors.


Conclusion: acute malnutrition remains a significant health challenge among children under five years of age, with notable sex disparities, as females were more affected. The leukocytosis, neutropenia, and lymphocytosis were noted among malnourished children. The associations were significant between leukocytosis and age groups and between lymphocytosis and residence of children. In contrast, lacking the significant differences between abnormal WBCs parameters and acute malnutrition, and between low WBCs parameters and socio-demographic characteristics and other risk factors.