Topic: Malnutrition
Question: What are the criteria for the identification of severe acute malnutrition in children six months to 59 months of age? Enumerate the criteria for admission in the facility based care for severe acute malnutrition.
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The criteria for identification and admission for severe acute malnutrition in children 6 months to 59 months are:
Identification of severe acute malnutrition:
– Weight-for-height/length less than -3 SD of the WHO Child Growth Standards median
– Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 115 mm
– Bipedal edema
Criteria for admission to facility-based care:
– Medical complications like severe edema, severe anemia, shock, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, dehydration
– No appetite/unable to eat
– Intractable vomiting
– Convulsions
– Lethargy or unconsciousness
– Severe electrolyte imbalance
– Severe infection/sepsis
– Complicated severe malnutrition with tuberculosis, measles, severe skin lesions
– Lack of improvement with community-based care
– No caregiver to provide community-based care
The presence of any medical complications, inadequate response to community management, or lack of care support indicates the need for inpatient care for severe acute malnutrition.
