Malnutrition in children and prevention measures

Published date 27/01/2021

According to Children’s Hospital 1

Child malnutrition is one of the issues that parents are very concerned about in the matter of child rearing. Because malnutrition not only affects the physical development but also affects the brain development of children later.

What are the causes of child malnutrition?

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In the process of raising children, the most common causes are:

–      Mothers lack experience in raising children.

–        Most sick children are infectious diseases.

–        Lack of food.

–        In addition, due to anorexia children, parents lack of time to take care.

 

  Common early signs in malnourished children that mothers need to pay attention to:

–      Children with anorexia accompanied by reduced eating and breastfeeding.

–        Slow growth: correct weight, weight loss, slow growth in height.

–      Blue mucous membranes, flabby muscles.

–        Sad, inflexible, easily irritated.

–        Sleep disturbance, sleep less, sleep difficult, night crying. Recurrent infection.

–        Mental retardation.

–        Arm circumference < 13cm (in children 1-5 years old).

 

Types of child malnutrition:

   –        Malnutrition I                   channel B       Moderate malnutrition.

   –        Malnutrition II               channel C         Severe malnutrition.

   –        Malnutrition III                channel D      Very severe malnutrition.

 

Malnutrition inhibits children’s physical and intellectual development, malnutrition and disease are two closely related factors. Malnutrition, even mild malnutrition, increases the risk of disease, when infected, malnutrition reduces the body’s resistance to infections, slows down the ability to recover from injuries. burn… surgery. In addition to prolonging the recovery period, malnutrition also increases the risk of infection.

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How to prevent malnutrition:

–        Prevention of fetal malnutrition:

Mothers should eat with rich foods, full of nutrients to gain weight 10-12 kg during pregnancy, help babies with birth weight > 2500g.

– Grow kids by mom milk:

Breast milk is the perfect and best food for babies, breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, healthier, smarter and less likely to become obese later in life.

–      Eating solids properly:

Children are provided with food suitable for their age and with enough nutrients (all 4 groups).

 

Other measures: vaccination, planned birth, sanitation, clean water supply, prevention and treatment of infections.