Influence of malnutrition on the development of the central nervous system of malnourished children.

Introduction: Protein-caloric malnutrition is a public health concern in certain areas of the Brazil. It can affect growth, the auditory nervous system development and, consequently, the cognition. This study compared the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) between malnourished and eutrophic children. Methods: A total of 111 children, aged 0-60 months, were examined: 57 were malnourished, according to the World Health Organization criteria, and 54 were normo-nourished. All the subjects underwent otorhinolaryngological evaluations and had acoustic immittance and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions within the normal range. The BAEP responses to click and tone burst stimuli were recorded at intensities of 80, 60, 40, and 30 dBNA. Results: We observed that latencies of I, III, and V waves and interpeaks III-V at 80 dBNA with click stimuli were significantly higher in all malnourished children when compared to those in the eutrophic children, as was the I-V interval in the 0- to 24-month group. The V-wave latencies at those intensities were also significantly higher in malnourished children. Conclusions: Malnourished children presented changes in BAEP characterized by delayed wave latency and interpeak intervals when compared to eutrophic children, suggesting alterations in both peripheral and central auditory pathways development and maturation.