Skip to main content

Malnutrition, Pediatric

Amanda Posner, MD and Patrika M. Tsai, MD, MPH Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies malnutrition in many forms, including undernutrition, inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals (micronutrients), and overwe...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Dietary history:

    • Diet before current illness episode

    • Adequacy of protein and total calories

    • Food and fluids taken in past few days

    • Special diets or use of health food milk alternatives, s...

TREATMENT

WHO guidelines: 
  • Prevent and treat the following:

    • Hypoglycemia

    • Hypothermia

    • Dehydration

    • Electrolyte imbalances

    • Infection

    • Micronutrient deficiencies

  • Provide specially tailored feeds for the following ...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Treatment corrects the acute signs of the disease, but catch-up growth in height may never be achieved.

  • Mortality rate in kwashiorkor can be as high as 40%, but adequate treatment...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Becker PJ, Nieman Carney L, Corkins MR, et al. Consensus statement of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: indicators recomm...

CODES

ICD9

  • 263.9 Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition

  • 260 Kwashiorkor

  • 261 Nutritional marasmus

ICD10

  • E46 Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition

  • E40 Kwashiorkor

  • E41 Nutritional marasmus

SNOMED

  • 238107002 D...

FAQ

  • Q: What are some common causes of severe undernutrition in the United States that may present as kwashiorkor?

  • A: Chronic malabsorptive conditions (e.g., cystic fibrosis), autoimmune disease, and co...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×