Get to know your child is malnourished

Children aged one year or older, will normally have an arm circle measuring greater than 13cm. If the child is malnourished due to a lack of protein, the arm muscles are atrophy so the diameter of the arm will be smaller than 13.

Artwork: Sheknows.com Malnutrition is the result of a long time when children are not eating enough food that is made of the body, which is protein (a substance found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, and shrimp). , crab, eel, snail, frog .). The disease is common in babies during the weaning period, or in the period when children start to eat complementary (weaning) food with rice, corn, sugar . without protein-containing foods.

The main sign of this disease is atrophy of muscle groups, so it is based on the development of muscle groups to detect and evaluate malnutrition (children aged 1 year and older, normal measurements will be available). arm circle larger than 13cm).

If the child is malnourished due to a lack of protein, the arm muscles are atrophy, so the diameter of the arm ring will be smaller than 13cm. In case of severe malnutrition, the diameter of the arm circle drops below 12cm.

In addition to the above key signs, malnourished children due to lack of protein also have skin discoloration and hair color. Atrophic muscles in the arms, thighs, and lower legs. There are sores on the skin . The young face looks plump because of edema but the facial features look sad and pitiful.

If early detection of signs of protein deficiency malnutrition, the first thing to do is to increase the protein in the child's diet by feeding him many meals a day, each time having fish, meat, eggs, milk. . At the same time, take the child to a medical facility to be examined and determine the level of malnutrition to have appropriate treatment.