Introduction

Severe malnutrition is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of 5 years worldwide.

Check all sick children for signs suggesting malnutrition and anaemia. A mother may bring her child to the clinic because the child has an acute illness. The child may not have specific complaints that point to malnutrition or anaemia. A sick child can be malnourished, but the health worker or the child's family may not notice the problem. If malnutrition is unrecognisable, check by you self

A child with malnutrition has a higher risk of many types of disease and death. Even children with mild and moderate malnutrition have an increased risk of death. Identifying children with malnutrition and treating them can help prevent many severe diseases and death.

The child's appetite decreases and the food that the child eats is not used efficiently. When the child has protein-energy malnutrition:

• The child may become severely wasted, a sign of marasmus.
• The child may develop oedema, a sign of kwashiorkor.
• The child may not grow well and become stunted.

A child whose diet lacks recommended amounts of essential vitamins and minerals can develop deficiencies such as anaemia and vitamin A deficiency. A child with Vitamin A deficiency is at risk of death from measles and diarrhoea. The child is also at risk of blindness. There for it is important to prevent such type of problems in the community. So, in this session, you will learn about the assessment, classification and treatment of malnutrition and anaemia.