Malnutrition: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Malnutrition is a condition in which your body does not get enough or the right balance of nutrients from the food you eat. This can affect your growth, development, health, and well-being.
Causes
Malnutrition can have many possible causes, depending on your age, lifestyle, and environment. Some of the common causes include:
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Poor diet: Eating too little or too much, or not eating a variety of foods that provide the essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, that your body needs.
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Hunger and poverty: Not having enough or regular access to food, or not being able to afford or obtain nutritious food, due to low income, unemployment, conflict, or natural disasters.
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Illness and infection: Having a disease or condition that affects your appetite, digestion, absorption, or metabolism of nutrients, such as HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, or diabetes, or having a parasitic or bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, vomiting, or fever.
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Special needs: Having increased or decreased nutritional requirements, due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy, childhood, adolescence, old age, or physical activity, or having a food allergy, intolerance, or preference, that limits your food choices or intake.
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Lack of education and awareness: Not knowing or understanding the importance of nutrition, or the types and amounts of foods that are good for you, or not having the skills or resources to prepare or store food safely and hygienically.
Symptoms
The symptoms of malnutrition can vary from person to person, but they generally include:
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Weight loss or gain: Losing or gaining weight unintentionally, or having a low or high body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height.
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Growth and development problems: Having a low or high height for your age, or a delayed or accelerated puberty, or having a poor cognitive or physical development, such as learning difficulties, stunted growth, or weak bones and muscles.
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Skin and hair problems: Having dry, scaly, or pale skin, or brittle, thinning, or falling hair, or having wounds or infections that heal slowly or poorly.
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Eye and mouth problems: Having dry, red, or swollen eyes, or poor vision, or having dry, cracked, or bleeding lips, or sore or inflamed gums, or loose or missing teeth.
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Immune system problems: Having a low or high white blood cell count, or a low or high antibody level, or having frequent or severe infections, or allergies, or autoimmune diseases.
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Organ system problems: Having a low or high blood pressure, or a low or high heart rate, or a low or high blood sugar, or a low or high blood oxygen, or having anemia, dehydration, edema, or organ failure.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of malnutrition, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about your diet and medical history, and order some tests, such as:
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Anthropometric measurements: To measure your weight, height, and body mass index (BMI), and to compare them with the normal or expected ranges for your age, sex, and ethnicity.
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Biochemical tests: To check your levels of certain nutrients, such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, or iodine, and to rule out any deficiencies or excesses.
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Clinical signs: To look for any physical signs of malnutrition, such as skin, hair, eye, mouth, or immune system problems, and to assess their severity and impact.
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Dietary assessment: To ask about your food intake, frequency, variety, and quality, and to identify any gaps or imbalances in your nutrition.
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Functional assessment: To evaluate your cognitive, physical, and emotional abilities, and to determine how malnutrition affects your daily functioning and quality of life.
Treatment
The treatment of malnutrition depends on the cause, type, and severity of your malnutrition, and your overall health and goals. The main treatments for malnutrition are:
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Dietary adjustments: Modifying your diet to suit your requirements and tastes by adding or deleting certain foods or supplements, as well as by adjusting your calorie and nutrient consumption. To avoid dehydration, you might also need to consume smaller, more frequent meals and stay hydrated.
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Medical care: Using the proper drugs, treatments, or interventions, to treat the underlying reason of your malnutrition, such as a sickness, infection, or specific requirements. If you are severely malnourished or dehydrated, or if you are unable to eat or drink regularly, you may also require intravenous fluids, electrolytes, or nutrients.
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Supportive care: To provide education, counseling, and support to you and your family or caregivers, to help you understand and cope with your malnutrition, and to address any social, economic, or psychological factors that may affect your nutrition and health.
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Monitoring and evaluation: To follow up and measure your weight, height, BMI, nutrient levels, clinical signs, dietary intake, and functional abilities, to assess your response to treatment and your risk of recurrence or complications.
Prevention
While some causes of malnutrition are not preventable, such as genetic or medical conditions, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk or severity of malnutrition, such as:
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Seeking help early: If you notice any signs or symptoms of malnutrition, do not hesitate to consult your doctor and get the diagnosis and treatment you need. The sooner you get help, the better your chances of recovery and preventing further complications.
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Observing your treatment plan: If your doctor or dietitian has diagnosed you with malnutrition and given you a treatment plan, make sure you adhere to their instructions. This might entail having frequent checkups and scans, eating a well-balanced and nourishing diet, and taking your vitamins and medications as prescribed. It is important to see your doctor or dietician before stopping or altering your therapy, since it might have an impact on your progress or results.
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Taking care of yourself: Eating a balanced, healthful diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, and controlling your stress and emotions are all vital ways to take care of yourself because malnutrition may have an impact on both your physical and mental health. These behaviors can avoid or lessen the effects of other variables that could exacerbate your malnutrition and help you maintain your general health and well-being.
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Seeking knowledge and awareness: If you don't know much about nutrition, including the kinds and quantities of foods that are healthy for you, you should look for information and direction from reputable people like your physician, dietitian, or health organization. You can also use online resources like blogs, websites, and podcasts that offer precise and scientifically supported nutrition advice and tips.
