Introduction
Malnutrition is a common but preventable condition when the body lacks essential nutrients. It can cause serious health problems, including poor growth in children and weakened immunity in adults. Malnourished people may also be more likely to develop chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other illnesses associated with poor nutrition.
What Is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a condition of the body in which it does not receive enough nutrients. A lack of food or an imbalance of nutrients in the diet can cause it. The latter is often referred to as malnutrition-related disease or MORD. A World Health Organization (WHO) study found that small nutrition contributes to more than half of all child deaths. In addition, the report states that severely malnourished children are at greater risk of dying from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and measles.
Malnutrition-related diseases include -
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Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is caused by poor absorption of Vitamin A from vegetables rich in beta-carotene.
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Protein-energy restriction (PER) is used to treat obesity.
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Pica - eating nonfood items such as dirt or clay.
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Severe undernutrition (SUO), defined as an inadequate intake that causes severe physical damage or death.
What Are the Types of Malnutrition?
Malnutrition can be caused by undernutrition or overnutrition. Following are the different types of malnutrition.
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Undernutrition - Micronutrient undernutrition and macronutrient undernutrition.
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Overnutrition - Micronutrient overnutrition and micronutrient overnutrition.
What Are the Causes of Malnutrition?
Many factors contribute to malnutrition. Some of these include the following -
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Food insecurity and poverty.
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Poor sanitation and hygiene practices.
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Lack of access to health services, Sanitization facilities for clean water sources.
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Inadequate maternal health care and poor nutrition practices during pregnancy (not taking folic acid).
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Lack of access to quality education or understanding of the importance of good hygiene practices.
Who Is at Risk of Malnutrition?
The following people are at risk of malnutrition -
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Poor and financially weak people.
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Children.
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Older people.
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Sick people (chronic diseases).
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People with an unhealthy diet.
What Are the Effects of Malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a significant cause of morbidity in children. It can lead to various serious health problems and disabilities, including stunted growth, anemia, blindness, and mental retardation. In addition to these direct consequences on children's well-being, malnutrition has been linked with an increased risk of infectious diseases such as:
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Tuberculosis (TB).
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Diarrhea.
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Measles.
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Anemia.
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Vitamin A deficiency.
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Rickets - the soft meaning of bones due to vitamin D deficiency may cause delayed walking or walking with support devices.
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HIV or AIDS transmission by mothers infected with HIV during pregnancy through blood transfusion given by clinicians unaware that they have received donated blood contaminated by the virus.
It is essential not just for kids' health but also for society at large. Poor nutrition leads directly to poorer physical health and social issues like rising crime rates because people become unable to work due to sickness caused by malnutrition.
How to Prevent Malnutrition?
Preventing malnutrition requires a comprehensive approach that addresses various factors contributing to inadequate nutrition. Here are some key strategies to prevent malnutrition:
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Promote Balanced and Diverse Diets: Encourage the consumption of various nutritious foods from different food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products. Promote the importance of balanced meals that provide essential nutrients.
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Improve Access to Nutritious Food: Address food insecurity and ensure access to affordable, nutritious foods for all individuals and communities. This can be achieved through social safety nets, income support programs, food assistance programs, and promoting local food production.
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Enhance Agricultural Practices: Support sustainable agriculture and small-scale farming, which can increase food production and improve access to fresh and nutritious food. Promote techniques such as crop diversification, improved irrigation, and agroforestry.
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Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition: Focus on the nutrition of pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children, as this is a critical period for growth and development. Promote only breastfeeding for the first six months and provide appropriate complementary foods and nutrition education.
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Strengthen Nutrition Education: Educate individuals and communities about proper nutrition, including the importance of a balanced diet, healthy cooking methods, and appropriate portion sizes. Promote nutrition education in schools, healthcare facilities, and community settings.
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Enhance Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Practices: Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is crucial for preventing diseases that can lead to malnutrition. Promote good hygiene practices, such as handwashing with soap, safe drinking water, and proper sanitation facilities.
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Address Micronutrient Deficiencies: Combat specific nutrient deficiencies, such as iron, vitamin A, and iodine, through fortification programs and supplementation when necessary. Ensure access to fortified foods and supplements, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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Improve Healthcare and Preventive Services: Enhance access to healthcare services, including prenatal and antenatal care, growth monitoring for children, and screening for malnutrition. Implement preventive measures such as immunizations, deworming, and bed nets to reduce the risk of infections.
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Empower Women and Girls: Promote gender equality and empower women and girls, as they play a critical role in household nutrition. Ensure access to education, employment opportunities, and decision-making power, which can positively influence nutrition outcomes.
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Strengthen Data Collection and Monitoring: Establish robust monitoring systems to track malnutrition rates, identify vulnerable populations, and evaluate the impact of interventions. This data can inform evidence-based policies and targeted interventions.
Recognizing that preventing malnutrition requires a collaborative effort involving governments, policymakers, healthcare providers, communities, and individuals is important. By addressing the underlying causes and implementing comprehensive strategies, it is possible to reduce malnutrition rates and improve overall health and well-being.
How to Diagnose Malnutrition?
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Malnutrition can be diagnosed by measuring the child's weight, height, and body mass index (BMI).
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The doctor will also check the child's growth chart to rule out changes in growth patterns.
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The doctor may also ask questions about the child's eating habits and lifestyle to determine if they are eating enough or too much food.
What Is the Treatment Available for Malnutrition?
Treatment is specific to the cause of malnutrition. It is based on the severity of malnutrition, the age of the patient, and their condition. Treatment also depends on what type of disease-causing malnutrition. For example -
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Treatment for iron deficiency anemia include oral supplementation with iron supplement or injectable iron solutions (such as ferrous sulfate or reading gluconate). Patients unable to absorb enough iron through their diet should receive parenteral therapy via intravenous drip infusion over several days until they reach therapeutic levels. 100 mg iron daily for six to eight weeks before maintenance therapy is recommended.
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Treatment for zinc deficiency arises from problems with absorption rather than dietary intake. Therefore patients will be treated by providing oral supplements containing drinks at a dose equivalent to about 15 milligrams per day for 10 to 12 weeks.
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Treatment for protein-calorie malnutrition oral supplementation with high-quality protein and calories (such as those in milk) is recommended, along with a gradual increase in activity level.
Conclusion
Malnutrition is a public health problem that requires a comprehensive approach to prevention, treatment, and management. Nutrition interventions need to be implemented at different levels. National policy must include breastfeeding promotion campaigns, food-based dietary supplements should be distributed free under certain conditions, and schools should improve meals served with additional iron sources such as beans or lentils so that children do not become anemic during summer months when there is no rain for crop cultivation.
