Malnutrition in Children

Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest numbers of children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition. A  recent survey of UNICEF shows that more than 2 million children are suffering from malnutrition.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some mothers of malnutrition children and physicians about the signs, causes, and treatment of malnutrition in children.

A woman says, “A baby of my brother-in-law was suffering from diarrhea when he was 6 months child and he became very weak and now he is 15 months old and he is suffering from kidney problems; he cannot eat; cries more and when he eats something, his stomach swells.”

A mother in Indra Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul city says, “My son is 2 years old and he is suffering from malnutrition. Wounds appear on his body and his body is swollen too.”

Professor doctor Muhammad Arif Hasanzoi says, “There are two main types of undernourishment: protein-energy malnutrition and dietary deficiencies. Protein-energy malnutrition has two severe forms: and kwashiorkor (a lack of protein) and marasmus (a lack of protein and calories). Kwashiorkor is a severe form of malnutrition. It's most common in some developing regions where babies and children do not get enough protein or other essential nutrients in their diet. The main sign of kwashiorkor is too much fluid in the body's tissues, which causes swelling under the skin (edema).

The primary symptom of marasmus is an acute loss of body fat and muscle tissues, leading to an unusually low body mass index (BMI) The main symptom of marasmus is a failure to grow, known as stunted growth and the child’s head is bigger and looks like an old man.”

What do some people think about the causes of this disease?

A mother says, “I have delivered my 6 children without observing spacing between pregnancy. My last child was 8 months baby that I stopped him from breastfeeding and now he is suffering from malnutrition.”

Another mother says, “My baby was suffering from pneumonia for a long time and now he is suffering from malnutrition too.”

Professor Hasanzoi says, “Malnutrition has many causes: cutting breastfeeding before the age of 6 months and not best feeding with other foods and fruits; not considering pregnancy gap and not applying childhood vaccines are the common causes of malnutrition.”

How some mothers prevent their babies from malnutrition?

Wagma Faqirmal, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I am the mother of 3 children and they all are in good health condition. I breastfed them until 6 months and after 6 months, I was preparing them soft foods and liquids. I was giving them vegetable soup including beans and meat.”

Mariam, another resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I have two children.

 I have considered the space between pregnancy. When my first child was more than five years, I delivered my second baby. I breastfed them until 28 months and in the first 6 months, I breastfed each of them 12 times in 24 hours and after 6 months, I started them feeding with other foods too and now they are healthy.”

Professor Hasanzoi says, “It is essential for a baby to be breastfed until 6 months and after 6 months, the mothers should feed their babies with other foods too like fruits juice, vegetables, and beans soup, soft foods, she-goat milk, and boiled potatoes.

 The gap between pregnancies has also special importance and applying childhood vaccines are very important for the prevention of children from malnutrition.”