Malnutrition..

Malnutrition occurs when you do not get enough calories or nutrients to keep you healthy. Nutrients are protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Malnutrition may make your body weak.

Malnutrition is not the same thing as hunger, although they often go together. People who are malnourished lack the nutrients needed for proper health and development. Someone can be malnourished for a long or short period of time, and the condition may be mild or severe. People who are malnourished are more likely to get sick and, in severe cases, may even die.

People who don't get enough food often experience hunger, and hunger can lead to malnutrition over the long term. But someone can become malnourished for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. Even people who have plenty to eat may be malnourished if they don't eat food that provides the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Indications of malnutrition depend on which nutritional deficiencies a child has, although they can include : fatigue and low energy, dizziness, poor immune function (which can hamper the body's ability to fight off infections), dry, scaly skin, swollen and bleeding gums, decaying teeth, slowed reaction times and trouble paying attention, underweight , poor growth, muscle weakness, bloated stomach, osteoporosis, or fragile bones that break easily, problems with organ function

Treatment for malnutrition depends on the cause. You will need to work closely with your caregiver during your treatment. Treatment for malnutrition may include increasing the calories and nutrients in your diet.

You may need to increase the calories and nutrients in your diet by doing one or more of the following:

• Eat large meals and snacks between meals.

• Eat small meals often throughout the day if you have trouble eating large meals.

• Eat or drink a nutrition supplement if you have trouble eating the right kinds and amounts of food.

• You may need to take vitamin or mineral supplements if your body is low in vitamins and minerals. Your caregiver may treat you with medicines if you have a health problem that is causing your malnutrition.

• If you cannot buy or prepare the right kinds of foods, talk to your caregiver. Ask for information about community programs that can help you.

You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.