Overcome malnutrition in children

According to statistics, one third of children under 5 years old are stunted. If you are worried about this problem, equip yourself with ways to overcome the malnutrition in children.

Lack of important nutrients and minerals can lead to malnutrition in your baby. This situation can have serious consequences such as slow physical development, weak resistance to disease, mental retardation, and increased mortality in children under 5 years old. However, if you know how to take care of the child, the child will regain the weight and increase the body's resistance.

What is malnutrition in children?

Malnutrition is a deficiency of necessary nutrients, minerals and calories that affect the normal life, functioning and growth of the body. Moreover, these nutrients also help strengthen the resistance and protect the baby from disease.

 

Malnutrition can also occur if the child absorbs too many calories. Therefore, you should give your child enough calories every day, too little or too much will lead to malnutrition.

Malnutrition can lead to a number of health problems. Besides, it also affects the physical, mental, growth and other functions of the body.

Types of malnutrition in young children

Common types of malnutrition are:

1. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)

Protein-energy malnutrition forms are all associated with low protein and energy deficient diets in varying degrees.

There are three types of PEM malnutrition: acute malnutrition, chronic malnutrition and malnutrition include the two above. Acute malnutrition causes the child's body to become more and more emaciated, lose weight, while chronic malnutrition will make children grow stunted. With both types, children will be very thin and have many health problems.

2. Lack of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)

Lack of certain micronutrients can lead to malnutrition. These micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. Babies need these micronutrients for growth and development.

Causes of malnutrition in children

This is mainly due to a lack of essential nutrients and minerals. This condition affects the normal life, functioning and growth of the body. Some other causes of malnutrition:

1. The "poor" diet

Without adequate nutrition through foods, children will be susceptible to malnutrition. This leads to the baby having many health problems. Dysphagia is also a cause of malnutrition because difficulty swallowing will prevent children from getting all the necessary nutrients.

2. Mental issues

Children with mental illnesses are easily malnourished. The reason is not good spirit will make children lose their appetite. Children with anorexia are also at high risk of malnutrition.

3. Gastrointestinal disturbances and stomach problems

Gastrointestinal disturbances prevent the baby's body from absorbing the nutrients found in food. That has led to malnutrition. If your baby has Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or ulcerative colitis, your baby is also very susceptible to malnutrition.

If a child has Celiac disease (gluten intolerance), their body will not be able to absorb nutrients from food, leading to malnutrition. Also, if you experience stress, vomiting or diarrhea, your child loses a lot of important nutrients.

4. Diabetes

Increased blood sugar prevents the child's body from absorbing important nutrients. The child's pancreas is damaged due to high blood sugar. In addition, it also damages the digestive system, preventing the body from absorbing nutrients needed for growth. Therefore, diabetic children are very susceptible to malnutrition.

5. Do not breastfeed your baby

 

 

Breastfeeding helps babies stay healthy and free from disease. Sometimes, for some reason, the mother is unable to breastfeed her baby. This will make the baby unwell and prone to malnutrition.

The cause of malnutrition in developing countries

In some developing countries, malnutrition is on the rise. There are several causes of this condition such as:

1. Lack of food

In developing countries, undernutrition often occurs due to lack of food. Lack of agricultural resources, technology, fertilizers and other important things. As a result, families become increasingly difficult and children become increasingly malnourished.

2. High food prices

The majority of children with malnutrition are poor children. Even in developed countries, some families still cannot afford food because the food prices are too high. This makes their children malnourished. Symptoms of malnutrition in children:

Shortness of breath

Sudden weight loss

Irritability

Excessive fatigue

Depression

Lose fat tissue

Abnormally low body temperature

Weakened immune system

Muscle loss

Easily catch a cold

Difficult to heal open wounds

Poor resilience

Poor concentration

Not active

If it's serious, your baby may have the following symptoms:

Dry, pale, and cold skin

Hair becomes dry and falls out easily

Lose weight too fast

There are black rings underneath the eyes.

In addition, the child also has problems with the heart, breathing and liver.

Effects of malnutrition on young children

If you have severe malnutrition, your baby may experience some of the following complications:

1. Immune system

Malnutrition weakens the child's immune system, making it susceptible to infectious diseases. If you do not pay attention to keep the baby's hygiene, the baby will be more susceptible to infection. Lack of zinc, iron and vitamins causes malnutrition and weakens children's immune systems. Malnutrition even causes many serious health problems that threaten the lives of children.

2. Growth process

Malnutrition and gastrointestinal infections often occur in toddlers and young children. A poor diet can lead to malnutrition. With a gastrointestinal infection, the child's body will not be able to absorb the nutrients found in food. As a result, nutrient deficiency associated with gastrointestinal infection will slow growth.

3. Cause many health problems

Lack of certain important nutrients can lead to some serious health problems. For example, a lack of iron, zinc and magnesium causes an increasingly poor appetite. Low lipids make the body deficient in fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and A. This will affect the child's vision. In addition, a lack of protein and zinc affects bone development, causing long-term health problems.

4. Operational capacity of organs

Malnutrition causes organs in the body to become disturbed. The organs most severely affected are the liver, heart and kidneys.

5. Suffering from some dangerous diseases

Prolonged malnutrition can cause a number of serious illnesses such as gastritis, urinary tract infections and pneumonia. Conversely, being obese can cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and several other diseases. Malnutrition can also lead to:

Brain retardation

Less brain

Swelling

Learning disabilities

Thin

Inability to solve the problem

Affect social skills

Lower IQ

Reduce your ability to pay attention

The body grows slowly

Poor memory

Digestive disorders

Have a language problem

It takes a long time to heal

Neurological effects.

Diagnosis of malnutrition in young children

The doctor will check the child's weight and height and compare it with a standard chart by age. Doctors usually apply the following ways:

Measuring arm circumference, if this number is below 110mm, the child is more likely to be malnourished.

Blood tests also help diagnose malnutrition. Some specific blood tests like blood sugar, blood protein, or albumin.

If needed, your doctor will order some additional tests to diagnose your baby, such as thyroid function tests, calcium, zinc and vitamin intake.

Treatment of malnutrition in young children

1. At home

 

 

If your child has only mild malnutrition, you can treat it at home. You should pay attention to the child's daily diet and make appropriate adjustment methods. The main purpose is to provide the necessary nutrients for your baby to grow. In addition, this also helps to strengthen the immune system.

Malnutrition often affects developing children, making them more susceptible to illness and growth problems. To overcome this situation, you should adjust the child's diet.

When children enter puberty, the body needs a reasonable amount of calcium, calories and protein. You must feed your child nutritious foods. In addition, you must also add vitamins and minerals to your child. However, before you give it to your baby, consult your doctor.

If your child is stunted due to lack of protein, you must feed him a lot of protein rich foods.

In addition, keep a close watch on your body mass index (BMI). You can also create a detailed chart of this indicator to see if your baby is improving.

If your child has dysphagia, you need to pay attention to what they eat. Provide foods that are soft and easy to eat. This will make it easier for the baby's body to absorb nutrients.

When your baby is entering a growth phase, take him to the pediatrician for an examination once a month. The doctor will check the child's height and weight, to monitor growth. If your baby has sudden weight loss or an imbalanced body, this could be the beginning of malnutrition.

2. In the hospital

If your child has a digestive disorder, the doctor will prescribe medication. Also suffering from severe malnutrition, the child will be inserted through the nose with food tube into the stomach. This is a special way of providing vital nutrients to patients with severe malnutrition.

If the child suffers from chronic malnutrition, the doctor recommends common clinical measures. In addition, children also need to add nutrients, vitamins and minerals regularly.

Prevent malnutrition in young children

Here are some tips to help prevent malnutrition in children:

If your baby is constantly losing weight, consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will check the baby's body for the correct treatment plan.

Malnutrition can strike children due to many factors. It could be due to medications, some health problems, or a lack of food. Your doctor will check to see where the cause of your child's malnutrition is and come up with appropriate treatment.

In some cases, children need to be supplemented with vitamins and nutrients for a limited time. If possible, check out some malnutrition treatment books to learn more.

Encourage your child to eat foods that contain many important nutrients. These foods will provide essential nutrients, minerals and calories to the body and help support growth and strengthen the immune system.

Restricting children to eat foods that are not good, with too much grease. These foods can affect the child's health and also make them obese.

Break up your meals. This is the best way to eat for good health. Feed your baby every 3-4 hours. This will make your baby crave food and prevent obesity.

Encourage your baby to exercise regularly. In addition to eating healthy and nutritious foods, kids need to get some practice every day. Exercise will help normalize metabolism in the body and excrete unwanted toxins from the body. If your child does not like to exercise, you can organize some fun games or take him swimming or cycling. Young children often enjoy these activities. In addition, these subjects also help improve children's health.

Key nutrients to prevent malnutrition in young children

Given the following important nutrients, young children can reduce their risk of malnutrition and lead a healthier lifestyle.

1. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide energy for the body. Your child's brain needs carbohydrates for energy production. If the amount of carbohydrates is low, the child's body cannot convert them into fatty acids. This causes the body to start losing its essential proteins and becoming thin. To get the necessary calories, children need to absorb 50 - 100g of carbohydrates daily.

2. Protein

 

 

This is an important nutrient that helps support the development of the body. In addition, protein helps to regulate the pH and acid and basic balance of the blood. Besides, it also helps to synthesize and stimulate the secretion of many hormones and enzymes. Most importantly, protein is a very important part of cell formation, boosting the child's immune system.

Like carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein provides about 4kcal of energy to the body. This energy helps maintain metabolism and enhances the functioning of the liver and kidneys.

3. Fat

Even though consuming too much fat can be harmful to the body, it still needs a certain amount of fat. Fats improve the health of the skin and hair. It also maintains body temperature and promotes cell growth. In addition, fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K also help the body develop healthy.

4. Vitamins and minerals

Micronutrients help maintain the function of organs in the body. In addition, it also helps children to fight diseases and support development. More importantly, it also helps normal metabolism and remove harmful toxins from the body.

Doctors recommend feeding your baby lots of fresh fruits and vegetables because this can help your baby absorb the necessary amount of vitamins for growth. When your diet does not get enough vitamins, you may choose to take medications.

Food helps limit malnutrition

Young children need a healthy, balanced diet that includes all the important nutrients in the right ratios. Some foods your baby should eat:

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Carbohydrates: white rice, pasta, wheat, oats, potatoes, sugar and cereals

Protein: eggs, nuts, oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter, and lean meats

Fats: cooking oils, legumes and seeds

Milk and dairy products include cheese and yogurt.

Children's nutritional needs

Here are the baby's daily diets:

1. Fruits and Vegetables

2 servings per day. Offer fresh fruits and vegetables in snacks. In addition, you can also add to soups, vegetable broths.

2. Whole rice

 

 

3 servings per day. You can add bread, sandwich, white bread, brown rice or buckwheat.

3. Milk and dairy products

3 times a day or a full glass of milk per day. Yogurt, cheese and pudding are also ideal.

4. Protein

4 servings per day. Try offering a variety of proteins such as eggs, fish, lean meats and lentils.

5. Vitamins and minerals

You can give your child a vitamin supplement on the advice of a doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you suspect that your child is malnourished, take him or her to a doctor right away. Some alarming signs that you should take your baby to the hospital for examination:

Children increasingly stunted

Children faint more

Children lose hair a lot

Lose weight constantly.

Malnutrition is a common childhood health problem. You can completely help your child overcome this situation by providing a reasonable and nutritious diet.