August 16, 2022

A Series of Vitamins for Malnourished Children and Signs that the Little One Needs Them

Does the child have a drastic weight loss? Be careful it's one of the signs of malnutrition. Check out some vitamins for malnourished children here.

Malnutrition or in medical terms malnutrition refers to the lack or excess of nutrient intake, imbalance of essential nutrients, or impaired utilization of nutrients.

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Quoting to WHO, malnutrition is a disease or health disorder related to diet.

The danger is that if the Little One is malnourished, it can cause serious health problems, including:

Stunted growth
Eye problems
Diabetes
Heart disease

For this reason, as parents, you need to know information about malnutrition, ranging from signs of malnourished children and the right vitamins for malnutrition.

Check out the information about signs of malnutrition and vitamins for malnourished children here.

Signs of Malnutrition

The signs and symptoms of malnutrition all depend on the condition of the Little One's body.

Knowing the signs of malnutrition as early as possible can help you and health care providers identify and address the problem.

Generally, malnutrition shows some signs such as:

Weight loss
Loss of fat and muscle mass
Sunken cheeks and sunken eyes
Flatulence
Dry hair and skin
Delayed wound healing
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Depression and anxiety
Low appetite
Difficulty concentrating

People with malnutrition may have one or more of these symptoms. Some types of malnutrition have a fairly obvious and easy-to-notice effect.

Common Causes of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a worldwide problem that can result from environmental, economic, and medical conditions.

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Not only affecting adults, but malnutrition can also come into children's lives.

In fact, according to WHO data, more than 460 million adults and 150 million children are malnourished.

The following are some of the common causes of malnutrition including:

Food difficulties or lack of access to sufficient and affordable food
Digestive problems and nutrients absorption problems
Excessive alcohol consumption
Mental health disorders
Inability to obtain and prepare food

Vitamins for Malnourished Children

Malnutrition if left unchecked can cause or invite other health problems that have been alluded to before.

Not only that, but nutritional deficiencies can also cause micronutrient deficiencies. Some of the most common types of vitamin deficiencies in malnourished children are:

Vitamin A
Zinc
Iron
Iodine

Because malnutrition causes serious physical problems and health problems, it can increase the risk of death.

So, you need to consult a doctor to find the best solution.

After diagnosis, the doctor will give a number of drugs and vitamins. Some vitamins for malnourished children are generally:

1. Iron

As already mentioned earlier that one of the nutritional deficiencies in malnourished children is iron.

Please note that the daily iron needs of the Little One based on age are as follows:

Children aged 1–3 years: 7 mg
Children aged 4–6 years: 10 mg
Children aged 7–9 years: 10 mg
Teenage children: 15 mg

In addition to providing iron supplements, you can also meet the iron needs of the Little One by providing them with food intake high in iron, such as:

Red meat
Green vegetables
Know
Nuts
Seafood

2. Vitamin A

The next type of supplement and vitamin needed for malnourished children is vitamin A.

It is worth taking into account that the amount of vitamin A that the body needs by age, ranges from:

Toddlers: 400 IU
Children aged 4–9 years: 450–500 IU

So, if Little One is diagnosed with vitamin A deficiency, you can meet vitamin A intake by giving several supplements with vitamin A content, or can consult a doctor to find a good brand of vitamin A that is suitable for Little One.

In addition to meeting the amount of vitamin A needs by providing supplements, Moms can also meet it through food intake, including: