Technical notes: Special Considerations for Programming in Unstable Situations (UNICEF, 2000, 490 p.): Chapter 2 - Annex 1: Therapy for Severe Malnutrition: Introduction: Nutritional status and admission criteria

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Technical notes: Special Considerations for Programming in Unstable Situations (UNICEF, 2000, 490 p.)

Chapter 2 - Annex 1: Therapy for Severe Malnutrition

Introduction

		(introduction...)
		Treatment facilities
		TFC monitoring and evaluation
		Evaluation of the malnourished child
		Nutritional status and admission criteria
		History and examination
		Laboratory tests
		Initial treatment
		Principles of management
		Hypoglycaemia
		Hypothermia
		Dehydration and septic shock
		Dietary treatment
		Other problems
		Rehabilitation
		Principles of management
		Nutritional rehabilitation
		Training parents and caretakers
		Discharge
		Follow-up after discharge

Nutritional status and admission criteria

Assessment of nutritional status according to weight, height and oedema is summarized in Panel 4. Also shown are the criteria for classifying severe malnutrition as ‘oedematous’, ‘wasted’ or ‘stunted’. Normal values for weight for height or length, are given in Annex 5. Children whose weight-for-height is <70% of the median (3SD) of NCHS reference values (termed ‘wasted’), or who have symmetrical oedema involving at least the feet (termed ‘oedematous malnutrition’) are severely malnourished. They should be admitted to a special care unit in the TFC where they can be observed, treated and fed day and night.