What are the symptoms of malnutrition in children

Many people’s understanding of child malnutrition is still stuck in the stereotype of “sallow, thin, short”. In fact, many of the malnourished children encountered clinically now even look chubby. The most common symptoms include long-term failure to gain weight and obvious lag in the growth curve. They also include repeated illness, inattention, abnormal hair and nails, and other small signs that are easily ignored.

I met a 4-year-old boy at a community child care clinic a while ago. When my grandma brought him over, he had a chubby face and looked very strong in a thick coat. As soon as he sat down, the old man said that the baby was very good at eating. He could eat two large bowls of porridge in one meal. He wanted to know why he kept rubbing his eyes and got colds and fevers every now and then. The kindergarten teacher also reported that he could not sit still. Other children could listen to a picture book for 10 minutes, but he would run around after sitting for two minutes. Later, the child's blood routine and trace elements were tested and it was discovered that he was deficient in iron and zinc, which is a typical malnutrition caused by a lack of micronutrients. To put it bluntly, grandma always eats refined staple foods, croquettes and other high-carb and high-oil foods, and eats less green leafy vegetables and eggs, as well as puffed foods and fruits. If you give snacks like tanpi frequently, it may look like you are gaining weight, but they are actually "empty calories." This situation is like charging your mobile phone with "empty power". It looks like the battery is full, but it actually shuts down in less than half an hour. The core nutrients needed for the child's body to function cannot keep up, and various minor problems will naturally occur.

Speaking of this, some parents must not understand. How can their children still be malnourished when they have become so fat? In fact, there has always been a difference in understanding between academic circles and ordinary parents. Many parents think that as long as the baby can eat and the weight and height are within the standard line, it is not considered malnutrition. However, clinical practice has long classified "hidden hunger", that is, insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients, into the category of malnutrition. It does not only count when the baby reaches the severe stage of weight loss, edema, and complete stagnation of growth and development.

If you observe carefully in daily life, you can actually find many warning signs. For example, some children's hair is dull and dull, and the ends are easy to split. A dozen strands can fall out when combing the hair, white spots always appear on the nails, and barbs grow one after another. Some children always have night sweats at night and can't fall asleep after tossing and turning for an hour. Younger babies may even have late teething, late learning, and delayed fontanelle closure. These may be related to malnutrition.

Of course, it does not mean that just one or two symptoms can directly determine malnutrition. For example, white spots on the nails may be caused by squeezing the nail bed when playing before. A common cold may also be caused by improper care and wearing more and less clothes during the change of seasons. Don’t be overly anxious when you see the symptoms. If you are really unsure, just take it to the child care for a routine screening. Don’t pile up a bunch of supplements on your baby, which will increase the burden on the body.