Management of severe acute malnutrition
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Date
Authors
Cloete, Jeane
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
Malnutrition remains a global health concern and contributes significantly to childhood mortality. Nearly half of all deaths in children <5 years of
age are attributed to undernutrition, especially in developing countries. It is important to differentiate between acute and chronic malnutrition,
as the management and mortality for these two conditions differ. Management should follow integrative management protocols to ensure
that mortality and morbidity are minimised. General principles for inpatient management of acute malnutrition can be divided into two
phases, i.e. the initial stabilisation phase (usually in the first week) for acute complications, and the much longer rehabilitation phase. The
initial phase lasts approximately 1 week and involves intensive monitoring and treatment. Severe acute malnutrition remains a problem
in public health, especially in developing countries. Adhering to programmatic approaches for diagnosis and management ensures lower
mortality rates and better outcomes.
Description
Keywords
Malnutrition, Childhood mortality, Deaths, Health concern
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Cloete, J 2015, 'Management of severe acute malnutrition', South African Medical Journal, vol. 105, no. 7, pp. 605.