Malnutrition is primarily a condition which results from consuming a diet that has inadequacy in one or even more nutrients, or relatively contains too many nutrients thus resulting in adverse health problems. Often, malnutrition is largely associated with the shortage of calories, micronutrients, and proteins in the body, and is otherwise known as undernutrition. It is thus an abnormal physiological situation that is caused by deficiencies and imbalances in protein, energy, and other crucial nutrients in the body.
Malnutrition majorly affects pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children and infants. Research exhibits that one in every four children in the world is stunted due to malnutrition (The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust, 2018). After the ages of roughly two to three years, the adverse effects of chronic malnutrition in a child become irreversible. As such, this implies that to effectively break the intergenerational vulnerability and transmission of malnutrition and poverty at large, it is overly important to ensure that children who stand high risks are reached within the first two years.
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Over the years, malnutrition has had significant effects on various countries and the world at large. For example, according to statistics released by the World Health Organization, malnutrition constitutes the gravest single menace to public health worldwide. Globally, the condition is responsible for a staggering 45% of deaths amongst children under the age of 5 years, and currently affects more than 160 million infants across the globe (World Health Organization, 2018).
Causes
A plethora of factors can cause malnutrition. First, undernutrition amongst children majorly results from the inadequacy of food, as well as lack of nutritional knowledge (Khan, Khan, & Tauqeer, 2017). However, undernourishment can also stem from a particular health condition, for instance, an eating disorder or any other chronic illness, which typically inhibits the individual from absorbing nutrients properly, thus leading to wasting and delayed growth. On the other hand, a diet that essentially provides excesses or too much that is not necessarily balanced nutritionally is also a form of malnutrition, and it mainly results in obesity and other related conditions.
The leading cause of malnutrition is poverty, which leads to a poor diet that lacks essential nutrients such as Vitamins, minerals, proteins, alongside other essentials. This deficiency in certain nutrients thereby leads to many other conditions. For example, too little proteins in the diet lead to kwashiorkor, a lethal condition that is largely characterized by a distended abdomen. Similarly, a deficiency of vitamins leads to scurvy. Noteworthy also, malnutrition can lead to marasmus, a condition caused by food deficiency, inadequate intake of nutrients like proteins, and low energy levels.
Apart from imbalanced and low intake of food and essential nutrients, malnutrition may also be caused by many other environmental and medical conditions. For example, mental health problems such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, schizophrenia, and dementia among others have high likelihoods of leading to malnutrition. Besides, the condition may also be caused by various social and mobility issues. For instance, some people cannot easily leave their places of residence to buy food, and others find it physically grueling to prepare meals. On this note, people who live alone or isolated are at extremely high risks. Digestive disorders, stomach conditions, and related issues are also notable causes of the condition. When the body cannot absorb nutrients properly and efficiently, even healthful diets cannot prevent malnutrition. Additionally, individuals with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease may require to have some parts of their small intestines removed, to enable the proper absorption of food. Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, or both also leads to excessive loss of essential nutrients. Lack of breastfeeding also has a high chance to cause malnutrition condition specifically to children and infants.
Malnutrition during infanthood results in not only long-term health challenges but also insurmountable educational drawbacks and minimal working opportunities in the future. Besides, malnourished children, in most instances, have relatively smaller babies in their adulthood. Malnutrition also significantly slows down recovery from illnesses and wounds, and can adversely complicate diseases like malaria, measles, pneumonia, and diarrhea among many others. This thus means that it leaves the body more susceptible and prone to diseases (Nordqvist, 2017).
Signs and Symptoms
Malnutrition has a wide array of signs and symptoms. First, it is characterized by an acute lack of appetite as well as frequent irritability and tiredness in the body. Inability to concentrate, always feeling cold, drastic loss of muscle mass, body tissues and fats, and higher vulnerability to contracting diseases are other notable symptoms associated with malnutrition. A person suffering from malnutrition also takes a longer time to heal when they contract other diseases and wounds. Also, malnutrition can be linked to higher risks of complications especially after surgery, as well as high depression levels, reduced sex drive, and fertility issues (Khan, Khan, & Tauqeer, 2017) .
In more severe and extreme cases, malnutrition symptoms include increased difficulties in breathing, skin becoming thinner, inelastic, dry, pale and cold, the cheeks appear hollow, sunken eyes, and other ramifications that result from the drastic disappearance of fats from the face. The hair also tends to become drier and sparse, whereby it also falls out easily. In the long run, the condition can lead to respiratory problems and heart failures as well, thereby making the individual overly unresponsive. Notably, total starvation may become lethal within the first 8 to 12 weeks (Nordqvist, 2017).
Children who have malnutrition issues manifest a general lack of growth and tend to be utterly irritable and fatigued. As such, intellectual as well as the behavioral development of a child may also be considerably slow, and this consequently informs significant difficulties in learning. Even upon the incorporation of treatment modalities for the condition, malnutrition may also result in long-term impacts of mental function. Additionally, digestive issues may potentially persist, and in some scenarios, they may be lifelong. However, it is important to note that adults who have severe undernutrition condition that commenced in their adulthood have high probabilities to make full recoveries with sustained treatment.
Treatment
Prompt diagnosis, as well as treatment plans, can significantly prevent the consequent development and complications associated with malnutrition. The screening process identifies the level of risk the patient has, ranging from low, medium to high risk. In subsequence, the identification of the risk level helps to establish the most appropriate treatment type to be used, since it majorly depends on the severity and intensity of the condition as well as presence of underlying complications (Shashindhar, 2017).
The treatment procedures involve healthcare providers preparing targeted care plans with stipulated and specific aims for the treatment. As such, there is the incorporation of a feeding program that has specially planned dieting plans, alongside various essential nutritional supplements. Individuals with extreme levels of malnourishment and absorption challenges may require artificial nutritional support systems either intravenously or through tubes. Besides, the patient is usually closely monitored by healthcare providers for progress, and the treatment plan is also reviewed regularly to ensure that the required nutritional needs are satisfactorily met.
Conclusion
In conclusion, malnutrition is a serious health condition that emanates from imbalanced intake of food, and it mainly results from an overly poor diet and lack of a balanced diet. The condition has had myriad implications across the globe and has since claimed millions of lives, especially infants and young children. It results in susceptibility to diseases, marasmus, kwashiorkor, scurvy, among many other diseases. Owing to its adverse effects, therefore, it is important to ensure the consumption of a wide range of nutrients, balanced dieting, as well as high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and water.
References
Khan, A., Khan, S., & Tauqeer, A. (2017). Causes, sign and symptoms of malnutrition among the children. J Nutritional Health Volume1 Issue1 , 24-26.
Nordqvist, C. (Dec 4 2017). Malnutrition: What you need to know. Medical News Today .
Shashindhar, H. (July 19, 2017). Malnutrition Treatment & Management. Medscape Journals .
The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust. (2018). Malnutrition . Retrieved from motherchildnutrition.org: http://motherchildnutrition.org/malnutrition/index.html
World Health Organization. (2018). Malnutrition . Retrieved from www.who.int: https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/malnutrition/en/
