OBJECTIVE: To report the nutritional follow-up of a black baby girl, one year and four months old, with homozygous sickle cell anemia. CASE DESCRIPTION: From July-September 2005, the infant attended four nutritional appointments at the Nutrition Internship Program from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The nutritional status was evaluated by the anthropometric indexes: length/age, weight/age and weight/length, and by one indicator of nutritional impact. Analysis of the energy dietary intakes and macronutrients ingestion was performed in two opportunities: at the first nutritional evaluation and 30 days after the first intervention. COMMENTS: At the first nutritional evaluation, the child presented low stature/age (z=−1,32), that became adequate during the follow-up (z=0,87). The low weight/length (z=−2,53) was similar at the first and final evaluations. The weight gain during the follow-up period was only 50% of the expected increment. The energy dietary intake was 66% of the recommended energy intake at the first appointment and 117% after 30 days. The Family Health Strategy is recommended as an important tool to monitor nutritional status and improve nutritional care. There is a need of developing professional skills regarding nutritional care of patients with sickle cell anemia.
anemia; sickle cell; nutritional status; growth; weight gain; failure to thrive
