Child Malnutrition
New approach to childhood
malnutrition may reduce relapses, deaths
Moderate
acute malnutrition is experienced by 35 million children worldwide. A new study
led by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
has suggested that feeding children until they have met target measures of arm
circumference and weight may be more important than a set 12 week feeding time.
However, researchers have found that the current targets, set by the World
Health Organization (WHO) may not be sufficient and raising these targets
slightly could significantly reduce the risk of relapse in malnourished
children; a condition that has a 37% relapse rate. The study took place in
rural Malawi and was comprised of 2,349 moderately malnourished children aged 6
months to 5 years old. Children were evaluated 12 months after treatment; 1,967
received a soy-based supplement for 12 weeks while the other 382 were treated
until they met WHO standards for weight and arm circumference. The finding was
that when treated with a 12 week supplement, 71% of children remained
well-nourished at follow-up versus 62% of children treated until WHO standards.
However, the researchers did note that the greater the child’s WHZ and the
bigger the child’s arm circumference, the more likely they were to not suffer a
relapse. Regardless of this limitation, the findings suggest that even slightly
raising WHO targets (1.5-1.75 instead of 2 SD below the mean for WHZ and
raising arm circumference from 12.5 to 13 cm) could decrease relapse rates in
moderately malnourished children.
This
finding is crucial for clinical dietitians because treating malnourishment is a
huge job, especially in children. Knowing what works best to prevent relapse,
including the possibility of raising current standards, could help us treat
this problem and save lives.
-ER
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