Malnutrition and Infectious Diseases

Question 1

Define Malnutrition

Answer 1

It is a state of nutrition in which a deficiency or excess (or imbalance) of energy, protein and other nutrients causes measurable adverse effects on tissue/body form (body shape, size and composition and function and clinical outcome

Question 2

Who are the most at risk of malnutrition within the population?

Answer 2

Children under 2
Children under 5
Pregnant women
Lactating women
Adolescent Girls
Elderly
People with HIB/AIDS

Question 3

What are the types of Malnutrition?

Answer 3

-Chronic malnutrition: resulting from inadequate nutrition over a long period of time, leading to failure of linear growth and often affecting cognitive development.

-Acute malnutrition: resulting from inadequate nutrition over a short period of time or the onset of a disease leading to a rapid weight loss and often accompanied by acute infections.

Question 4

What are the 2 types of acute malnutrition?

Answer 4

MAM: Moderate Acute Malnutrition (moderate wasting)

SAM: Severe Acute Malnutrition (severe wasting and/or oedema)

Question 5

What are the 3 clinical forms of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or Protein Energy Malnutrition?

Answer 5

• Marasmus: extreme thinness or severe wasting
• Kwashiorkor: nutritional oedema or bilateral pitting oedema
• Marasmic-Kwashorkor: a combination of both

Question 6

Clinical Symptoms of Marasmus

Answer 6

Wasting of subcutaneous fat and muscles
Wrinkled face
Increased appetite
Mild skin and hair changes
Sunken eyeballs
Irritable (mood changes)

Question 7

Clinical Symptoms of Kwashiorkor

Answer 7

Wasting of muscles and preservation of subcutaneous fat
Moon face
Loss of appetite
Intense skin lesions (Dermatosis) and hair changes
Growth failure
Pitting oedema
Fatty liver
Psychomotor retardation
Lack of interest in the surroundings (apathy)

Question 8

What is MUAC

Answer 8

Mid-upper Arm Circumference: is a measure commonly used to identify people suffering from acute malnutrition.

It can be used in children (0-59 months) and in adults.

Flexible measuring tape (left relaxed arm).

Question 9

Colour representation in MUAC

Answer 9

Red: SAM
Yellow: MAM
Green: Normal

Question 10

Nutritional Oedema

Answer 10

Thumb pressure for 3 seconds
Children with nutritional oedema are classified as SAM regardless of the anthropometric measures.

Question 11

What are the Micronutrient Deficiencies in Malnutrition?

Answer 11

Iron, Vitamin A and Iodine

Question 12

Treatment Approach for Malnutrition

Answer 12

Therapeutic milk
Plumpy nut

Question 13

What is Malaria?

Answer 13

An infectious disease (Mosquito bite). Infects liver cells and then red blood cells.

Question 14

What drug is used to prevent Malaria?

Answer 14

Chemoprophylaxis

Question 15

Explain Hookworm

Answer 15

Infection that causes develop of malnutrition

Question 16

Preventative and control of hookworm

Answer 16

Preventative chemotherapy
Sanitation
Health education

Question 17

Explain Diarrhoea

Answer 17

Usually owing to infection of the gastrointestinal tract by pathogenic:
-Poor wash
-Viruses
-Bacteria
-Parasites

Question 18

What are the 3 types of diarrhoea?

Answer 18

Acute watery diarrhoea - lasts several hours or days, includes cholera

Acute bloody diarrhoea - also called dysentery

Persistent diarrhoea - 14 days or longer

Question 19

What is dehydration?

Answer 19

Loss of water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate) are not replaced

Question 20

3 types of dehydration

Answer 20

1. Early dehydration
2. Moderate dehydration: Thirst, decreased skin elasticity, sunken eyes
3. Severe dehydration: shock, with diminished consciousness, lack of urine output, rapid pulse, low or undetectable blood pressure and pale skin. Death can follow severe dehydration

Question 21

What is ORS?

Answer 21

Oral Rehydration Solution
Solution of clean water, sugar and salt (sugar enhances salt absorption)

Question 22

What is PEM?

Answer 22

Protein-energy malnutrition. Results when the body’s need for protein quality (essential amino acids), energy fuels or both cannot be satisfied by the diet.

• Kwashiorkor - protein quality deficiency
• Marasmus - Mainly energy deficiency

Question 23

Loss of >30% of body protein results in reduced:

Answer 23

Muscle strength for breathing
Reduced immune function
Reduced organ function that death results

Question 24

Disease and deficient Nutrient relationship:

Answer 24

Anaemia - Iron
Xerophthalmia - Vitamin A
IDD - Iodine
Beriberi - Thiamine
Pellagra - Niacin
Scurvy - Vitamin C
Ariboflavinosis - Riboflavin
Rickets - Vitamin D