Management of severe acute malnutrition: A review study

Pages: 356-360
Neeru (Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh)

Severe Acute Malnutrition, both medical and social disorder, is specifically associated with loss of body fat and wasting of skeletal muscles. Besides, socio-economic and poor economic conditions factors viz. poverty, social exclusion, poor public health, lack of exclusive breast feeding are leading causes for occurrence of SAM. Infants are most vulnerable as their nutritional needs are higher for growth and development. Till 70s case-fatality rates for SAM were higher, but, with the laying down of WHO guidelines there were drastic improvements. Under these guidelines, besides medical treatment, importance of environment and psychosocial interventions was also stressed upon. Later, a community-based model was laid down which was basically a framework for an integrated public-health response to acute malnutrition, treating most patients as outpatients and reserving inpatient care for patients with complications. These guidelines were well accepted and adopted nationally and internationally. This approach management was divided into initial, rehabilitation and follow-up phases and has been found very effective in reducing SAM mortality. Therefore with an effective community based program for early detection and treatment, most children with SAM can be cared for at home itself and these community care centres can be reserved for children with SAM with medical complications.