Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy, representing 75%–80% of acute leukemias among children. ALL children are at increased risk for malnutrition mostly due to the treatment related adverse events. This fact is often ignored during their management. Malnutrition may vacillate between weight loss and excessive weight gain. The goal of nutritional assessment in children with cancer is to assess the nutritional needs, to provide the optimal nutrition, to prevent or treat nutritional disorders and the increased morbidity and mortality that accompany them. Nutrition is a supportive care modality that can improve tolerance to chemotherapy, survival, increased quality of life, and decreased risk of infection in children undergoing anticancer therapy.
Aim of the work
Assessment of nutritional status of children with ALL attending the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Unit (PHOU), Smouha Hospital for Pediatric Medicine and Surgery, to give a basis for providing patients with nutritional intervention .