The Hazards of Malnutrition in Early Infancy

  • Ratna Indrawati Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of Airlangga, Surabaya
Keywords: malnutrition; retardation; learning ability; infections PCM; blindness

Abstract

Severe protein calorie malnutrition is often accompanied by vitamin A deficiency and intercurrent infections. These three conditions have a synergistic action on each other. The younger the infant, the more severe are the hazards of nutritional deficiency.

Severe malnutrition in early infancy results in:

  1. Direct hazards to the infant consisting of:
    • Retardation of physical development.
    • Retardation of brain development with subsequent impairment of learning ability.
    • Decreased resistance against infections.
    • PCM is a predisposing factor to diarrhoea, with aggravated the malnutrition.
    • Blindness due to vitamin A deficiency.
Published
2019-09-12
How to Cite
1.
Indrawati R. The Hazards of Malnutrition in Early Infancy. PI [Internet]. 12Sep.2019 [cited 26Apr.2024];16(1-2):47-8. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/2296
Section
Pediatric Nutrition & Metabolic Disease
Received 2019-09-12
Published 2019-09-12