Moderate Malnutrition in Children and Adults

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CLINICAL DESCRIPTION

Moderate acute malnutrition in children is the presence of WFH of -3Z to <-2 Z score or 

  • In children 6 - 59 months MUAC 11.5cm to <12.5cm
  • Children 5 - 9 years MUAC 13.0 – <14.5 cm
  • Children 10 – 15 years 16.0 – <18.5 cm

Children with moderate acute malnutrition have no oedema, they have good appetite and they look clinically well. 

Adolescents and adults with moderate acute malnutrition have a MUAC 18.5 to <22.0cm or Body-Mass-Index (BMI) 16.0 to <17.0.

Pregnant /lactating women with moderate acute malnutrition have a MUAC of <22.0cm.

 

TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH MODERATE MALNUTRITION

  • Children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) with no medical complications, and has good appetite should be referred to supplementary feeding program (SFP).
  • HIV positive children with acute malnutrition (moderate or severe) should be treated in OTP as they are more at-risk of death than children who are malnourished but HIV negative.

 

TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH MODERATE MALNUTRITION

Medical treatment

  • Review the patient’s medical records and condition and provide treatment or refer for treatment.
  • Pregnant women or up to 6 months post-partum should be given iron/folic acid daily up to six months post-partum.
  • Pregnant women should receive malaria prophylaxis (sulfadoxine pyrimethamine) and deworming tablets (400mg of albendazole)

Nutritional care

  • Patients with chronic disease such as HIV positive should meet the extra 20% energy using locally available nutritious food or supplement with CSB (likuni phala) or super cereal plus (CSB++).
  • Adolescents require more additional energy to gain and maintain weight.