Global 10AMSevere acute malnutrition Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions: undernutrition, which includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age); micronutrient-related malnutrition, which includes micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals) or micronutrient excess; and overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers). 1. Inpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition Severe acute malnutrition is defined by a very low weight for height (below -3z scores of the median WHO growth standards), by visible severe wasting, or by the presence of nutritional oedema. Decreasing child mortality and improving maternal health depend heavily on reducing malnutrition, which is responsible, directly or indirectly, for 35% of deaths among children under five. Management of severe acute malnutrition according to WHO guidelines can reduce the case-fatality rate by about 55% in hospital settings. 2. Community-based management of severe acute malnutrition in children Severe acute malnutrition is a life threatening condition requiring urgent treatment. Until recently, the recommendation was to refer these children to hospital to receive therapeutic diets along with medical care. The situation changed with the advent of ready to use therapeutic foods (RUTF) which allows the management of a large numbers of children who are severely malnourished above the age of 6 months without medical complications through outpatient settings. CAUSE GALLERY
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|