Lung functions in malnourished children aged five to eleven years.

Lung functions including FVC, FEV1, PEFR, %FEV1/FVC and Empey Index were measured using P.K. Morgan's pocket spirometer on 122 children of both sexes in the age group of five to eleven years. There were 80 (65.57%) malnourished children according to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics classification. FVC and FEV1 were significantly (p < 0.02) reduced in malnourished children. FVC (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), FEV1 (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) and PEFR (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) showed linear relationship with body surface area in all age groups. Empey index was less than 10 in both healthy and malnourished children. Abnormal respiratory functions should be interpreted with caution in malnourished children.