The nutritional status of children is a sensitive indicator of the level of health of children. Nutritional deficiency due to insufficient protein C calorie intake is referred to as malnutrition. Malnutrition is a common disease that seriously endangers the physical and mental health of children.
Etiology.
1. Inadequate caloric intake caused by long-term improper feeding.
The baby was born without breastfeeding, and failed to reasonably use artificial feeding, such as milk preparation is too thin, the intake is not enough, resulting in the supply of calories and nutrients for a long time can not meet the physiological needs of children caused by malnutrition. 6 months later often because breast milk can not meet the needs of infants, adding supplementary food is not timely.
2, repeated infections or other diseases.
Children are most likely to suffer from respiratory infections and diarrhea, poor appetite and increased consumption in the body after illness; in addition, intestinal parasitic diseases, chronic infectious diseases, cleft lip and palate and pyloric stenosis and other congenital abnormalities of the digestive tract, resulting in food intake, absorption difficulties or increased consumption.
Definition of malnutrition.
1, low weight.
Children’s age-specific weight is lower than the median value of the reference population of the same age and sex minus 2 standard deviations. This indicator mainly reflects the recent or acute malnutrition of children.
2.Growth retardation.
Children’s height for age is lower than the median value of the reference population of the same age and gender minus 2 standard deviations. This indicator mainly reflects the chronic long-term malnutrition of children.
3, wasting.
Children’s height and weight are lower than the median value of the same sex and height reference population minus 2 standard deviations. This indicator mainly reflects the recent acute malnutrition of children.
4.Severe chronic malnutrition.
Children’s height for age is lower than the median value of the same age and gender reference population minus 2 standard deviations, and weight for height is lower than the median value of the same gender and height reference population minus 2 standard deviations. Severe chronic malnutrition is actually clinically referred to as extreme wasting.
Prevention and control.
1. Prevention.
Try to ensure that each baby the first 4-6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, and feeding on demand, breast milk is the best natural food for infant growth and development, can meet the growth and development needs of infants 4-6 months. 4-6 months after the simple breastfeeding can not meet the needs of growth and development, should add complementary foods in a timely manner.
2.Treatment.
This disease should be prevention-oriented. Found their babies may have malnutrition, should take the initiative to the maternal and child health department of pediatrics, the doctor will make a diagnosis according to the specific circumstances of the child.