A malnourished child is a cause of worry. Every mom wants her child to be healthy and happy. Unfortunately, malnutrition is a severe issue affecting children’s health and development.
It’s essential to be aware of the signs of malnutrition and know how to help your child get the nutrients they need. This post will discuss the causes and effects of malnutrition in children. And there are tips for prevention and treatment.
What Is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a condition that results from not getting enough nutrients. It also results from not getting them in the right balance. Malnutrition can occur when you don’t eat enough food. Or when your body doesn’t use proper nutrients. It can happen if you have an illness or injury that interferes with digestion and absorption.
Types of Malnutrition
The body doesn’t get enough protein from meat, poultry, eggs, fish and legumes (beans). Protein deficiency may result from inadequate protein intake. Or it could be from the loss of protein from the body through vomiting or diarrhoea.
The body doesn’t get enough vitamins from fruits and vegetables. Vitamin deficiency may result from inadequate vitamin intake. Or from the loss of vitamins from the body through vomiting or diarrhoea.
The body doesn’t get enough calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorous minerals. These are from foods like dairy products and grains. Mineral deficiency may result from inadequate mineral intake. It could also be from the loss of minerals through vomiting or diarrhoea.
Eating baby
What Are the Signs of a Malnourished Child?
The signs of a malnourished child are often subtle. And it’s essential to recognise them to help the child get the treatment they need.
If you suspect a child is malnourished, immediately take them to their doctor. The earlier you treat a child’s malnutrition, the better their chances of recovering. It’s also for avoiding long-term health problems.
The most common signs of malnutrition in children are:
- Lacklustre eyes (they don’t look bright or alert)
- Skin colour is pale or sallow; bruising easily
- Loss of appetite
- Inability to gain weight despite eating well for weeks or months
- Lethargy
- A dull, dry hair coat
- Pale gums; bleeding from the gums when brushed or flossed
- Brittle nails that peel away easily
What Are the Causes of Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is the consequence of an imbalance between the food you eat and the nutrients your body needs. So it’s essential to understand what causes malnutrition and what you can do to avoid it.
Malnutrition results from several factors, including:
Causes of Malnutrition in the Home
There are several different causes of malnutrition in your home:
- Lack of access to quality food and water
- Inability to afford healthy foods
- A diet that is low in nutrients
- Lack of knowledge about nutrition
- Poor cooking skills
- Lack of time/inability to cook
Causes of Malnutrition in Hospitals and Other Care Facilities
Malnutrition is a serious issue affecting people of all ages, including those receiving care in hospitals and other care facilities. The causes of malnutrition in these settings include:
- Inadequate nutrition intake
- Poorly-balanced meals
- Unpleasant food
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of information about proper nutrition and how to manage their health needs while hospitalised or living in a care facility.
Commercial Causes of Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a severe problem for people all over the world. The World Health Organization estimates that about one billion people suffer from malnutrition. This is growing yearly.
Malnutrition can be caused by several factors, from biological to social. Some of the most common causes of malnutrition are:
- Lack of access to food and clean water
- War or other conflicts
- Excess exposure to toxins (including lead) in the food supply
- A lack of education about nutrition and how to cook healthy meals
Image Source: iStock
How to Prevent Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a major problem in developing countries. It’s where millions of children suffer from Vitamin A, iron, and iodine deficiencies. Also, it causes poor health and development. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to disease. There are several ways to prevent malnutrition, including:
- Improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities. This can help reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases. It’s a leading cause of malnutrition in children.
- Providing education on proper nutrition and hygiene. This can help families to make better choices about what to eat and how to prepare food.
- Improving access to essential nutrients. It’s done by fortifying foods with essential vitamins and minerals or providing supplements.
- Providing access to medical care can help identify and treat malnutrition cases early before they become severe.
By taking these steps, we can significantly impact the problem of malnutrition in children.
How Does Malnutrition Affect a Child’s Physical Development?
Malnutrition is a major problem today and has a massive impact on children. It can affect physical development in many ways. These include stunted growth, delayed puberty, and poor muscle tone.
Stunted Growth
Malnutrition affects the body’s ability to grow. Because it limits the number of nutrients available for tissue production, it means that children who suffer from malnutrition will have trouble growing to their full height potential. Stunted growth can be permanent if it occurs before birth or during infancy.
Delayed Puberty
When children don’t get enough nutrients, they experience delayed puberty. This means they won’t reach sexual maturity until much later than children who aren’t malnourished. Delayed puberty can also lead to low bone density and fertility issues later in life.
Poor Muscle Tone
Malnutrition affects how much energy your body has at its disposal. It happens when it comes time for growth spurts, during puberty. Bones don’t grow as quickly as they would otherwise. This results in weaker bones overall. It leads to weaker muscle tone throughout your body.
How Does Malnutrition Affect a Child’s Cognitive Development?
Malnutrition can have a severe impact on a child’s cognitive development. The effects of malnutrition can be seen in both physical and mental development.
Often, a malnourished child is at a higher risk of having low IQs than their well-fed peers. It is because the brain needs proper nutrition to grow and develop properly. Malnutrition occurs during critical periods of brain development. It can have long-term effects on your child’s ability to learn. It also helps retain information later in life.
Also affecting your child’s IQ, malnutrition can affect their memory and problem-solving skills. It can cause problems with learning new things or remembering things they have already learned. And difficulty solving complex problems requiring critical thinking skills like math or science.
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How to Treat Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a severe problem that can affect children of all ages. Left untreated can lead to many health problems, including stunted growth, weakened immunity, and cognitive delay. The good news is that malnutrition is preventable and treatable. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your child gets the nutrients they need:
- Make sure they’re eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods. It includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Ensure they’re getting enough calories. A malnourished child often has difficulty gaining weight. So it’s essential to ensure they consume enough calories each day.
- Monitor their growth. Keep track of your child’s height and weight to spot any signs of malnourishment early on.
- Talk to their doctor. Talk to their doctor if you’re concerned about your child’s nutrition. They can guide what foods to feed your child and how to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need.
Malnutrition in Singapore
Although malnutrition in Singapore is relatively low, it is still a significant problem among certain people.
According to the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study, nutritional deficiencies such as protein-energy malnutrition, iodine, vitamin A and dietary iron accounted for less than 1% of the total disease burden in Singapore.
However, among Singaporeans less than 20 years of age, malnutrition accounted for about 4.5% of the disease burden in this age group. It suggests malnutrition is a more severe problem among children and adolescents than in the general population.
Image Source: iStock
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