Malnutrition in children

What it is

A child not getting enough of what their body needs to grow. It is treatable, and treated early it is treatable at home.

When to seek urgent care

The feet or legs are swollen, the child refuses to feed, is unusually sleepy, or has diarrhoea or fever as well.

How it shows

Losing weight or not gaining it, arms and legs getting thin, being tired or irritable, getting ill often. Swelling of the feet and legs is a serious form and needs care immediately.

What to do

Have the child weighed and measured at a health centre. Many centres measure the upper arm with a coloured tape, which takes a moment and tells you whether this needs treating now.

What to notice in a child

Malnutrition means the body is not receiving or using the nutrients it needs. A child may be losing weight, not gaining weight or growing as expected, lacking energy or getting ill often. A child can look a reasonable size and still lack important nutrients.

Bring the child's growth record to a health visit. The team can assess growth, feeding, illness and access to food. Tell them about persistent diarrhoea, mouth pain, difficulty swallowing or a sudden loss of appetite.

A feeding plan that fits the family

Ask for a practical plan using foods the family can obtain. Small, frequent meals and snacks can help, and breastfeeding should continue where appropriate. Include varied foods with energy, protein and micronutrients, rather than relying on one staple alone.

Severe malnutrition may need supervised therapeutic feeding and treatment of infection. Keep scheduled growth checks even when appetite improves. If there is not enough food at home, say so: the care plan should include available nutrition or social support, not blame the caregiver.

Sources

1. Malnutrition · Public sector health information · OGL v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.