32. Providing nutritional support
Slide 32
The nutritional status of children with measles may be affected
as a result of the disease itself, associated diarrhoea and vomiting, or refusal
to take feeds because of mouth ulcers or poor appetite. Assess the nutritional
status by looking at the child, and by weighing the child and plotting the
weight on a growth chart. Any dehydration confuses the classification of
nutritional status, since it is associated with significant weight loss. If
weight indicators are being used for nutritional classification, rehydrate the
child before classification.
Encourage breast-feeding. If the child is already weaned,
encourage the intake of food and fluids (some mothers incorrectly withhold food
and fluids from sick children). It is best to feed sick children with small
amounts of food given more frequently than usual. Avoid bulky cereal, porridge
or starchy food as they are not easy for a sick child to eat. Instead give milk
or gruel. The energy content of food may be increased by adding a teaspoonful of
vegetable oil and a teaspoonful of sugar to the milk, cereal or gruel. A child
needs 80-120 kcal per kg of body weight per day by whatever
means.
