Learn the Signs of Wasting and Wasting Assessment for Caregivers
Learn the signs of wasting in children under five and how caregivers can do home assessment to prevent this condition and its consequences.
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Bringing children for their regular check-up at a health clinic is one of the ways families do to monitor their growth and development and ensure early detection of wasting. Additionally, caregivers can also do home assessment on signs of wasting using three simple indications.
1. Child appears very thin
What to notice:
Physically thin is one of the signs of wasting that caregivers need to be aware of. When children appear too thin, they need to be immediately taken to a health clinic and undergo physical examination to get their weight and height and mid-upper arm circumference measurements and to have their feet checked for possible swelling. It is important to note that while a thin child may appear healthy and active, the risk of wasting may still be present.
2. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
What to notice:
Use coloured MUAC tape to measure the mid-upper arm circumference of children aged 6-59 months. MUAC tape has three colour bands: green (not wasted/adequate nourishment), yellow (undernutrition), and red (malnutrition). Caregivers need to immediately bring their children to a health clinic if the MUAC tape indicates yellow or red.
Even when the colour indication is green, caregivers should look for any other signs, such as thinness or weight loss. Under this condition, children need to have their nutritional status assessed by health workers immediately.
3. Swelling in feet
What to notice:
Oedema (swelling) in feet is one of the signs of malnutrition. To determine swelling, caregivers need to gently apply pressure on both feet for three seconds. If a shallow print appears in both feet, then the child has nutritional problems.
Caregivers need to immediately bring the child to a health clinic when oedema is present.
Now you know the signs of wasting in young children. Bring your children for their monthly health check-up and do your own assessment at home to prevent wasting. Any child who is at risk of wasting, including children with disabilities, need appropriate treatment from their health facilities.
Let’s prevent and treat wasting and keep stunting away.
>> More articles about wasting: Cegah, Obati Wasting
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