Contents:
- Medical Video: Balanced Diet | #aumsum #kids #education #balance #diet
- How to overcome malnutrition in school-age children
- 1. Check with your doctor
- 2. Changes in diet
- 3. Monitor the development and nutritional status of children
Medical Video: Balanced Diet | #aumsum #kids #education #balance #diet
School-age children (6-12 years) need nutrition to support their growth and development. However, it turns out there are still some school-age children who are experiencing malnutrition. This will also pose a risk to their health conditions and can hinder the learning process at school. So, see how to deal with malnutrition in the following school-age children.
How to overcome malnutrition in school-age children
Malnutrition in children is often caused by long-term health conditions, where hospital care is often needed. However, in light of malnutrition, you can take care of your child at home with the following main steps:
1. Check with your doctor
If you suspect your child is not getting the right amount of nutrients, talk to your pediatrician. The doctor will do a physical examination and ask for the type and amount of food your child eats.
In addition, the doctor may also:
- Measure height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)
- Check for basic conditions that can cause malnutrition in children
- Blood test to check for nutritional deficiencies
- Additional tests based on your child's medical history and physical examination
If the child is diagnosed with malnutrition, the pediatrician may give medication to increase the child's appetite or medication to maximize absorption of nutrients. This depends on the condition of each child.
2. Changes in diet
Your child's doctor or nutritionist may recommend changes in the type and amount of food your child has, and maybe prescribe dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Changing your child's diet plan will depend on the child's nutritional condition. However, children will usually be advised to gradually increase their intake of calories, protein, carbohydrates, fluids, vitamins and minerals. This is done to reduce the risk of your child experiencing complications such as infection.
Your child may also be advised to take special nutritional supplements that can increase energy and protein intake.
Children with severe malnutrition need to be given food and drink very carefully so that they cannot be given a normal diet immediately. If the condition is like that, your child needs special care at the hospital.
3. Monitor the development and nutritional status of children
Perform a doctor's checkup regularly to find out how the condition and nutritional status of the child are developing
In addition, even if you do home care for your child, you still need direction from your doctor or nutritionist to meet the nutritional needs of malnourished children.
