Hypotrophy of infants cold bath. Hypotrophy (1,2,3 degrees). Internal causes of malnutrition

Hypotrophy- an eating disorder in a young child, which is characterized by a stop or slowdown in the growth of body weight, progressive thinning of the subcutaneous tissue, body proportions disorders, digestive and metabolic disorders, a decrease in specific and nonspecific body defenses, a tendency to develop other diseases, physical and neurological delay -mental development.

Cause and pathogenesis of malnutrition

The cause of malnutrition should be considered a lack of one, several or numerous nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the child's body, its growth and development.

Clinical manifestations of malnutrition

Hypotrophy I degree is rarely diagnosed
Hypotrophy of the 1st degree is rarely diagnosed, since the general condition of the child remains satisfactory. Clinical symptoms: starvation (anxiety, intermittent sleep, the manifestation of "greed" for food, loose stools during feeding in the first half of life), slight pallor of the skin, thinning of the subcutaneous tissue on the abdomen and trunk. The thickness of the skin fold at the level of the navel reaches 0.8-1 cm. The elasticity of the skin and tissue turgor are moderately reduced. Body weight decreases by 10-20%, the weight gain curve is flattened; growth does not lag behind the norm. The mass-growth coefficient is 56-60 (normally exceeds 60), the proportionality index is distorted, the fatness index decreases to 10-15 (normally 20-25). The child's interest in the environment is preserved, psychomotor development corresponds to age. Immunological reactivity and tolerance to food, as a rule, do not change. Of the biochemical parameters, changes in the protein spectrum of blood serum (hypoalbuminemia, dysproteinemia, decrease in albumin globulin coefficient to 0.8) are expressive. The rest of the parameters are normal or slightly changed. In 40% of children with malnutrition, signs of I and II degrees are noted, in 39% - of course, a mild form.
Hypotrophy II degree
Hypotrophy II degree is characterized by distinct changes in all organs and systems. The appetite of such children is poor, and with force-feeding vomiting appears, they are lethargic or restless, indifferent to the environment, toys, sleep is disturbed. Significant lag in motor development: the child does not hold his head, does not sit, does not stand on his feet, does not walk or stops walking. Due to deep violations of metabolic and regulatory processes, monometricity is disturbed (fluctuations in body temperature during the day exceed 1 ° C). Pronounced weight loss, the subcutaneous base is absent or insignificant in the trunk, limbs. The thickness of the skin fold on the Turnip navel is 0.4-0.5 cm, the Chulitskoi index decreases to 10-0, the proportionality index is changed, the mass-ratio coefficient is below 56; the child lags behind in weight by 20-30 in their weight - by 2-4 cm. The mass curve is of the wrong type, the skin is pale or pale gray in color, II dryness, peeling (manifestations of polyhypovitaminosis), a significant decrease in elasticity (easily gathers in folds and slowly dealt with). Tissue turgor is sluggish, muscle tone is reduced, and the muscles themselves are hypotonic in the absence of dehydration. Hair is dull and sparse. Food tolerance is reduced, the activity of enzymes, and especially those involved in hydrolysis and absorption, is sharply reduced. In connection with polyfermentopathy, the stool changes. At first they can be so-called cold - miserable, discolored, lumps, with a putrid fetid odor, then turn into frequent, rare from green color and a lot of mucus, the presence of extracellular starch, undigested fiber, fatty acids, neutral fat, and at the end of the first year - with the inclusion of muscle fibers. They exhibit varying degrees of dysbacteriosis. Urine smells like ammonia. With a predominantly carbohydrate diet (porridge), the stools are liquid, frothy, yellow with a green tint, have a pronounced acid reaction (fermentation), containing mucus, extracellular starch, fatty acids, neutral fat. Putrid stools are inherent in the so-called milk addiction, when the menu is limited mainly to milk and its products (cottage cheese). They are dense, crystopodibni, rotten color, alkaline reaction, fetid odor.

With malnutrition of the II degree, changes occur in the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, and liver. Polyglandular insufficiency develops. Most children with this form of eating disorder suffer from rickets, and every second child has anemia. There are various violations of protein, fat, carbohydrate, water-electrolyte and vitamin metabolism. The immunological reactivity is sharply reduced. Such children often get sick,. Moreover, these diseases against the background of malnutrition are asymptomatic, atypical; their end is often unfavorable.

Hypotrophy III degree (atrophy, insanity)
Hypotrophy III degree (atrophy, marasmus) is characterized by an extreme degree of exhaustion in young children. Every third child with such malnutrition was born prematurely, with prenatal malnutrition. There is no appetite, most babies refuse food, and some of them refuse liquids. They are lethargic, apathetic, not interested in others; active movements are sharply limited or absent. The face expresses suffering, and in the preterminal period - indifference. The monometricity of body temperature is sharply disturbed, and the child cools easily with a drop in temperature to 34-32 ° C, the extremities are always cold. The subcutaneous base is absent throughout the body; the patient resembles a skeleton covered with skin.

Face triangular, wrinkled; the nasolabial fold is deep, the jaws and cheekbones protrude, the chin is pointed, the cheeks are sunken. It is like the face of an old man ("Voltaire's face"). The thickness of the skin fold at the level of the navel decreases to 0.2 cm (thinned skin), Chulitsky's fatness index is negative, proportionality is sharply distorted. The skin is pale gray, sometimes purple-blue, hangs in folds on the neck and limbs, dry, flaky, in some places there are areas of pigmentation, its elasticity is lost, the skin fold does not straighten out, the tissue turgor is sluggish, muscle tone is reduced, although hypertension is also possible, conjunctiva and oral mucosa are dry. The mouth is large, the lips are scarlet (blood thickening), cracks form in the corners of the mouth (“sparrow's mouth”). The child loses more than 30% of body weight, sharply lags behind in growth (more than 4 cm), psychomotor development.

Breathing is superficial, apnea periodically appears. Heart sounds are weakened or deaf, there is a tendency to bradycardia, blood pressure is reduced. The abdomen is enlarged due to flatulence, the anterior abdominal wall is thinned, loops of the intestines are visible. There is an alternation of constipation with soapy-lime stools. The processes of hydrolysis and absorption are sharply weakened due to hypofermentopathy, which develops as a result of atrophy of the mucous membrane of the small intestine, liver, pancreas and other organs. Most patients have rickets, anemia, bacterial infection (pneumonia, sepsis, otitis media, pyelonephritis, etc.). All types of metabolism are severely impaired; immunological insufficiency, extinction of function and atrophy of organs of regulatory systems (nervous, endocrine), dysbacteriosis of II-III degree are observed. The terminal period is characterized by hypothermia (33-32 ° C), bradycardia (60-40 per 1 min), hypoglycemia; completely indifferent to the environment, the child slowly dies.

Prenatal malnutrition

Prenatal malnutrition (intrauterine growth retardation) is one of the varieties of malnutrition, which manifests itself immediately after birth. If the fetus is delayed in development from the second trimester of pregnancy, children are born with a much reduced body weight, height and head circumference. The symptoms of malnutrition are moderate, and in appearance these babies resemble premature babies. If adverse factors that delay the development of the fetus began to act in the last trimester, then children are born with a pronounced underweight and normal growth and head circumference. They have dryness, peeling of the skin, hanging with folds. Its turgor is reduced, the subcutaneous base is thinned.

In children with intrauterine growth retardation, hypotension, decreased physiological reflexes, decreased appetite, impaired thermoregulation, tendency to hypoglycemia, late falling off of the umbilical residue, sluggish healing of the umbilical wound, prolonged transient jaundice, regurgitation, and unstable stools are observed. The main diagnostic criterion for prenatal malnutrition in full-term newborns should be consider a decrease in the weight-height coefficient below 60. This index is unsuitable for assessing this condition in premature babies. In this case, the following formula is used: the trophic index (IT) is equal to the difference between the length and circumference of the thigh (cm). In preterm infants with a gestational age of 36-37 weeks, in the absence of clinical signs of malnutrition, IT = 0, with malnutrition of I degree, IT is 1 cm, II degree - 2 cm, III degree - C cm or more. Convenient is the method of calculating the body weight deficit of preterm infants according to gestational age: birth weight deficit of 10-20% - I degree, 20-30% - II degree, 30% or more - III degree of malnutrition.

Hypostatura

Hypostatura should be considered as a variant of malnutrition, which occurs with congenital malformations of the heart, brain, encephalopathy, and endocrine pathology. It is characterized by a uniform lag behind the norm of growth and body weight with a satisfactory state of fatness and skin turgor. Hypostatura should be differentiated from a variety of nanism, characterized by a disproportionate physique (chondrodystrophy, vitamin D-resistant rickets, etc.).

Treatment of children with malnutrition is a complex problem. Daily it is necessary to take into account the dynamics of body weight, the amount of fluid and food consumed, regurgitation, vomiting, bowel movements.

With hypotrophy of the I degree, the period of clarification of tolerance to food is 1-3 days. It is carried out according to the following scheme. First eliminate the shortcomings of feeding, prescribe food appropriate for age (on the 1st day - 1/2-2/3 of the daily volume, on the 2nd - 2/3-4/5 and on the 3rd day - the full daily volume) . The amount of food that is missing is compensated with liquid (vegetable, fruit, rice and other decoctions, infusions of medicinal plants, digested water). The amount of nutrition is calculated in accordance with a certain body weight, the lack of food of one or another component is corrected by adding protein (cottage cheese, yolk, acidophilic paste, protein enpit), fat (fat enpit, butter, cream), carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits, cereals, refined carbohydrates).

In some cases, in order to improve the processes of digestion, substitution therapy (enzymes) is prescribed. Give ascorbic acid, ergocalciferol, B vitamins through the mouth. In the absence of other diseases, children with grade I malnutrition are treated at home.

Treatment of patients with malnutrition II and III degree is carried out in a hospital. In case of malnutrition of the II degree during the 1st week, 1/2 of the required daily volume of food is prescribed, on the 2nd - 2/3, on the 3rd - the full volume. With hypotrophy of the III degree - On the 1st week - 1/3, 2nd - 1/2, 3rd - 2/3 and 4th - full volume. The frequency of its reception is increased by 1-2 and 2-3 times, respectively. The rest of the daily volume is provided with liquid (vegetable and fruit decoctions, electrolyte solutions, parenteral feeding).

For parenteral nutrition, amino acid mixtures are used (polyamine, Vamin, Alvezin "New", Amikin, Levamine, etc.), 10% glucose solution with insulin (5-8 days, daily or every other day, 5-6 times). Within 2-3 weeks, in doses exceeding physiological by 3-5 times, children are given vitamins (group B, ascorbic acid, vitamin P preparations, ergocalciferol). In order to improve the processes of hydrolysis and absorption in the digestive tract for a period of 2-3 weeks enzyme preparations are prescribed (gastric juice, pancreatin, Pepsidil, festal, panzinorm, abomin, etc.).

In the first days, courses of treatment are carried out with drugs that stimulate metabolism (apilac, pentoxyl, ginseng tincture, pantocrine), and during the recovery period, potent anabolic hormones (methandrostenediol, nerobol, retabolil, etc.) are used..

Prevention of antenatal malnutrition consists in the treatment of toxicosis of pregnant women, the observance of hygienic working conditions, life, nutrition, the exclusion of bad habits, and the like. Natural feeding in combination with the correct regimen and education, periodic determination of the chemical composition of food and body weight dynamics is a prerequisite for excluding the development of postnatal malnutrition.

Prevention of any acute and chronic, acquired, hereditary and congenital disease and early diagnosis is the most important step in the prevention of malnutrition.

- chronic malnutrition, accompanied by an insufficient increase in body weight of the child in relation to his height and age. Hypotrophy in children is expressed by a child's lag in weight, growth retardation, lag in psychomotor development, underdevelopment of the subcutaneous fat layer, and a decrease in skin turgor. Diagnosis of malnutrition in children is based on examination data and analysis of anthropometric indicators of the child's physical development. Treatment of malnutrition in children involves changing the regimen, diet and caloric intake of the child and the nursing mother; if necessary, parenteral correction of metabolic disorders.

General information

Hypotrophy in children is a lack of body weight due to a violation of assimilation or insufficient intake of nutrients in the child's body. In pediatrics, malnutrition, paratrophy and hypostatura are considered as independent types of chronic eating disorders in children - dystrophy. Hypotrophy is the most common and significant variant of dystrophy, to which children of the first 3 years of life are especially susceptible. The prevalence of malnutrition in children in different countries of the world, depending on the level of their socio-economic development, ranges from 2-7 to 30%.

Hypotrophy in a child is said to be when the body weight lags by more than 10% compared to the age norm. Hypotrophy in children is accompanied by serious disturbances in metabolic processes, decreased immunity, and a lag in psychomotor and speech development.

Causes of malnutrition in children

A variety of prenatal and postnatal factors can lead to chronic malnutrition.

Intrauterine malnutrition in children is associated with adverse conditions that disrupt the normal development of the fetus. In the prenatal period, pathology of pregnancy (toxicosis, preeclampsia, fetoplacental insufficiency, premature birth), somatic diseases of the pregnant woman (diabetes mellitus, nephropathy, pyelonephritis, heart defects, hypertension, etc.), nervous stress, bad habits, malnutrition of women, industrial and environmental hazards, intrauterine infection and fetal hypoxia.

Extrauterine malnutrition in young children may be due to endogenous and exogenous causes. The causes of the endogenous order include chromosomal abnormalities and congenital malformations, fermentopathy (celiac disease, disaccharidase lactase deficiency, malabsorption syndrome, etc.), immunodeficiency states, constitutional abnormalities (diathesis).

Exogenous factors leading to malnutrition in children are divided into alimentary, infectious and social. Alimentary influences are associated with protein-energy deficiency due to insufficient or unbalanced nutrition. Hypotrophy in a child may be the result of constant underfeeding associated with difficulty sucking with an irregular shape of the mother's nipples (flat or inverted nipples), hypogalactia, insufficient amount of milk formula, profuse regurgitation, qualitatively malnutrition (microelement deficiency), poor nutrition of a nursing mother, etc. The same group of reasons should include diseases of the newborn itself, which do not allow him to actively suckle and receive the necessary amount of food: cleft lip and palate (cleft lip, cleft palate), congenital heart defects, birth trauma, perinatal encephalopathy, pyloric stenosis, cerebral palsy, alcohol fetal syndrome etc.

Children suffering from frequent acute respiratory viral infections, intestinal infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. are prone to the development of acquired malnutrition. An important role in the occurrence of malnutrition in children belongs to unfavorable sanitary and hygienic conditions - poor child care, insufficient exposure to fresh air, rare bathing, insufficient sleep .

Classification of malnutrition in children

Thus, according to the time of occurrence, intrauterine (prenatal, congenital), postnatal (acquired) and mixed malnutrition in children are distinguished. The development of congenital malnutrition is based on a violation of the uteroplacental circulation, fetal hypoxia and, as a result, a violation of trophic processes leading to intrauterine growth retardation. In the pathogenesis of acquired malnutrition in children, the leading role belongs to protein-energy deficiency due to malnutrition, disturbances in the processes of food digestion or absorption of nutrients. At the same time, the energy costs of a growing organism are not compensated by food coming from outside. With a mixed form of malnutrition in children, alimentary, infectious or social influences join the adverse factors that acted in the prenatal period after birth.

According to the severity of underweight in children, hypotrophy of I (mild), II (medium) and III (severe) degrees is distinguished. Hypotrophy of the 1st degree is said when a child lags behind in weight by 10-20% of the age norm with normal growth. Hypotrophy of the II degree in children is characterized by a decrease in weight by 20-30% and a growth lag of 2-3 cm. With hypotrophy of the III degree, the body weight deficit exceeds 30% of the due age, there is a significant lag in growth.

During malnutrition in children, the initial period, the stages of progression, stabilization and convalescence are distinguished.

Symptoms of malnutrition in children

With malnutrition of the first degree, the condition of the children is satisfactory; neuropsychic development corresponds to age; there may be a mild decrease in appetite. A close examination reveals pallor of the skin, a decrease in tissue turgor, thinning of the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer on the abdomen.

Hypotrophy of the II degree in children is accompanied by a violation of the child's activity (excitation or lethargy, lag in motor development), poor appetite. The skin is pale, scaly, flabby. There is a decrease in muscle tone, elasticity and tissue turgor. The skin easily gathers into folds, which are then poorly straightened. The subcutaneous fat layer disappears on the abdomen, trunk and limbs; on the face - saved. Children often present with shortness of breath, hypotension, and tachycardia. Children with II degree malnutrition often suffer from intercurrent diseases - otitis media, pneumonia, pyelonephritis.

Hypotrophy III degree in children is characterized by a sharp depletion: the subcutaneous fat layer atrophies throughout the body and on the face. The child is lethargic, adynamic; practically does not react to stimuli (sound, light, pain); sharply lags behind in growth and neuropsychic development. The skin is pale gray, the mucous membranes are dry and pale; the muscle is atrophic, tissue turgor is completely lost. Exhaustion and dehydration lead to retraction of the eyeballs and fontanel, sharpening of facial features, the formation of cracks in the corners of the mouth, and impaired thermoregulation. Children are prone to regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased urination. In children with hypotrophy of the III degree, conjunctivitis, candidal stomatitis (thrush), glossitis, alopecia, atelectasis in the lungs, congestive pneumonia, rickets, anemia are often noted. In the terminal stage of malnutrition, children develop hypothermia, bradycardia, and hypoglycemia.

Diagnosis of malnutrition in children

Intrauterine fetal malnutrition, as a rule, is detected during ultrasound screening of pregnant women. In the process of obstetric ultrasound, the dimensions of the head, length and estimated weight of the fetus are determined. With a delay in intrauterine development of the fetus, the obstetrician-gynecologist sends the pregnant woman to the hospital to clarify the causes of malnutrition.

In newborns, the presence of malnutrition can be detected by a neonatologist immediately after birth. Acquired malnutrition is detected, a study of the coprogram and feces for dysbacteriosis, a biochemical blood test, etc.).

Treatment of malnutrition in children

Treatment of postnatal malnutrition of the 1st degree in children is carried out on an outpatient basis, malnutrition of the II and III degrees - in a hospital. The main measures include the elimination of the causes of malnutrition, diet therapy, the organization of proper care, and the correction of metabolic disorders.

Diet therapy for malnutrition in children is implemented in 2 stages: clarification of food tolerance (from 3-4 to 10-12 days) and a gradual increase in the volume and calorie content of food to the physiological age norm. The implementation of diet therapy for malnutrition in children is based on fractional frequent feeding of the child, weekly calculation of the food load, regular monitoring and correction of treatment. Feeding children with weakened sucking or swallowing reflexes is carried out through a tube.

Drug therapy for malnutrition in children includes the appointment of enzymes, vitamins, adaptogens, anabolic hormones. With severe malnutrition, children are given intravenous administration of protein hydrolysates, glucose, saline solutions, and vitamins. With malnutrition in children, massage with elements of exercise therapy, UVI is useful.

Forecast and prevention of malnutrition in children

With timely treatment of hypotrophy of I and II degrees, the prognosis for the life of children is favorable; with malnutrition III degree mortality reaches 30-50%. To prevent the progression of malnutrition and possible complications, children should be examined weekly by a pediatrician with anthropometry and nutrition correction.

Prevention of prenatal fetal malnutrition should include adherence to the regimen of the day and nutrition of the expectant mother, correction of the pathology of pregnancy, exclusion of the impact on the fetus of various adverse factors. After the birth of a child, the quality of nutrition of a nursing mother, the timely introduction of complementary foods, the control of the dynamics of an increase in the body weight of a child, the organization of rational care for a newborn, and the elimination of concomitant diseases in children become important.

Dystrophy(Greek dys - disorder, trophe - nutrition) develops mainly in young children and is characterized by impaired absorption of nutrients by body tissues. There are the following types of dystrophies: 1) dystrophy with a lack of body weight (hypotrophy); 2) dystrophy with body weight corresponding to height or some excess of mass over length (paratrophy); 3) dystrophy with overweight (obesity) (Table 1).

Hypotrophy(Greek hypo - under, below trophe - nutrition) - a chronic eating disorder with a lack of body weight. This is a pathophysiological reaction of a young child, accompanied by a violation of the metabolic and trophic functions of the body and characterized by a decrease in food tolerance and immunobiological reactivity. According to WHO, malnutrition (malnutrition) is diagnosed in 20-30% or more of young children.

Etiology: According to the time of occurrence, congenital (prenatal) and acquired (postnatal) malnutrition are distinguished (Table 1). The causes, clinic and treatment of intrauterine growth retardation are discussed above in the section "Antenatal malnutrition".

There are 2 groups of acquired malnutrition according to etiology - exogenous and endogenous (Table 1). With careful collection of anamnesis data, a mixed etiology of malnutrition in a child is often established. With exogenous causes, primary malnutrition is diagnosed, with endogenous causes - secondary (symptomatic).

Exogenous causes of malnutrition:

1. Nutritional factors- Quantitative underfeeding in case of hypogalactia in the mother or feeding difficulties on the part of the mother or child, or qualitative underfeeding (use of an age-inappropriate mixture, late introduction of complementary foods).

2. Infectious factors- intrauterine infections, infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, repeated acute respiratory viral infections, sepsis.

3. Toxic factors- the use of low-quality milk mixtures with an expired shelf life, hypervitaminosis A and D, drug poisoning.

4. Disadvantages of care, regime, education.

Endogenous causes of malnutrition:

1. Perinatal encephalopathy of various origins.

2. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

3. Congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, brain and spinal cord.

4. Primary malabsorption syndrome (deficiency of lactase, sucrose, maltase, cystic fibrosis, exudative enteropathy) or secondary (intolerance to cow's milk proteins, "short gut" syndrome after extensive bowel resections, secondary disaccharidase deficiency).

5. Hereditary immunodeficiency states.

6. Hereditary metabolic disorders.

7. Endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, adrenogenital syndrome).

8. Anomalies of the constitution.

Pathogenesis:

With malnutrition, the utilization of nutrients (primarily proteins) is impaired both in the intestine and in tissues. In all patients, the excretion of nitrogenous products in the urine increases with a violation of the ratio between urea nitrogen and total urine nitrogen. A decrease in the enzymatic activity of the stomach, intestines, pancreas is characteristic, and the level of deficiency corresponds to the severity of malnutrition. Therefore, a nutritional load that is adequate for a healthy child can cause acute indigestion in a patient with II-III degree malnutrition. With malnutrition, the functions of the liver, heart, kidneys, lungs, immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems are disrupted.

Of the metabolic disorders, the most typical are: hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, aminoaciduria, a tendency to hypoglycemia, acidosis, hypokalemia and hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and hypophosphamenia.

Classification:

According to the severity, three degrees of malnutrition are distinguished: I, II, W: (Table 1). The diagnosis indicates the etiology, time of onset, period of the disease, comorbidity, complications. It is necessary to distinguish between primary and secondary (symptomatic) malnutrition. Primary malnutrition can be the main or concomitant diagnosis and is usually the result of undernutrition.

Secondary malnutrition- complication of the underlying disease. Diagnosis

malnutrition is competent in children up to 2-3 years of age.

Clinical picture:

All clinical symptoms of malnutrition in children for the following groups of syndromes:

1. Trophic_disorder syndrome- thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer, lack of body weight and disproportionate physique (Chulitskaya and Erisman indices are reduced), a flat weight gain curve, trophic skin changes, muscle thinning, decreased tissue turgor, signs of polyhypovitaminosis.

2. Syndrome of reduced food tolerance- loss of appetite up to anorexia, development of dyspeptic disorders (regurgitation, vomiting, unstable stool), decrease in secretory and enzymatic functions of the gastrointestinal tract.

3. CNS dysfunction syndrome- violation of emotional tone and behavior; low activity, the predominance of negative emotions, sleep disturbance and thermoregulation, delayed psychomotor development, muscle hypo-, dystonia.

4. Syndrome of decreased immunobiological reactivity- a tendency to frequent infections - inflammatory diseases, their erased and atypical course, the development of toxic-septic conditions, dysbiocenoses, secondary immunodeficiency states, a decrease in nonspecific resistance.

Hypotrophy I degree characterized by thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer in all parts of the body and especially on the abdomen. The fatness index of Chulitskaya is reduced to 10-15. Tissue turgor and muscle tone are reduced, the fat fold is flabby. Characterized by pallor of the bones and mucous membranes, a decrease in firmness and elasticity of the skin. The growth of the child does not lag behind the norm. The body weight deficit is 10-20%. The weight gain curve is flattened. The child's health is not disturbed. Psychomotor development corresponds to age. The child is restless, does not sleep well. Immunological reactivity is not broken.

Hypotrophy II degree. The subcutaneous fat layer is absent on the abdomen, chest, sharply thinned on the limbs, preserved on the face. Severe pallor, dryness, decreased elasticity of the skin. The fatness index of Chulitskaya is 0-10. Reduced tissue turgor (a skin fold hangs down on the inner surface of the thighs) and muscle tone. Active rickets in children is manifested by muscle hypotension, symptoms of osteoporosis, osteomalacia and hypoplasia. The body weight deficit is 20-30% (in relation to height), there is a lag in growth. The body weight gain curve is flat. Appetite is reduced. Food tolerance is reduced. Often regurgitation and vomiting are observed. Characterized by weakness and irritability, the child is indifferent to the environment. Sleep is restless. The child loses already acquired motor skills and abilities. Thermoregulation is impaired, and the child quickly cools or overheats.

Most children develop various diseases (otitis media, pneumonia, pyelonephritis), which are asymptomatic and long-term.

The chair is unstable (often liquefied, undigested, rarely constipation). Significantly reduced acidity of gastric juice, secretion and activity of enzymes of the stomach, pancreas and intestines. Subcompensated intestinal dysbacteriosis develops.

Hypotrophy III degree(marasmus, atrophy). Primary malnutrition of the III degree is characterized by an extreme degree of exhaustion: the external child resembles a skeleton covered with skin. The subcutaneous fat layer is absent. The skin is pale gray, dry. Extremities are cold. Skin folds do not straighten out, as there is no elasticity of the skin. Characterized by thrush, stomatitis. The forehead is covered with wrinkles, the chin is pointed, the cheeks are sunken. The abdomen is distended, distended, or bowel loops are contoured. The chair is unstable.

Body temperature is often lowered. The patient quickly cools on examination, easily overheats. Against the background of a sharp decrease in immunological reactivity, various

foci of infection that are asymptomatic. Significantly reduced muscle mass. The weight gain curve is negative. The body weight deficit exceeds 30% in children of appropriate height. The Chulitskaya index is negative. The child is severely retarded. With secondary malnutrition of the III degree, the clinical picture is less severe than with primary ones, they are easier to treat if the underlying disease is identified and there is an opportunity to actively influence it.

Thanks

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

Introduction

Term hypotrophy occurs when adding two Greek words: hypo - below, trophe - food. Hypotrophy should be understood as one of the types of chronic malnutrition that develops in children at an early age. In hypotrophics, weight may be reduced, or there may be a lack of growth.

From birth, the child begins to significantly gain in body weight, all his organs grow, including the bones of the skeleton. If the baby is not properly fed and cared for, the first signs of malnutrition will immediately begin to appear in the form of a disruption in the functioning of various organs and systems. Most often, malnutrition develops due to a lack of protein and calories in the diet. With the initial lag in body weight, disturbances from the gastrointestinal tract begin, which leads to a violation of the absorption of nutrients. As a rule, children also suffer from a lack of vitamins and trace elements in their diet.

Causes of malnutrition

The causes leading to the occurrence of malnutrition are both internal and external factors. It is customary to distinguish between a primary pathology, in which there is a lack of nutrition, and a secondary one, when, against the background of various diseases or other harmful factors, the nutrients from the food taken are simply not absorbed by the body.

Internal factors include diseases of various internal organs involved in digestion, that is, nutrients, under the influence of any reasons, cannot be absorbed by the body. Here, for example, it is appropriate to say that the violation can be both at the level of the gastrointestinal tract, and at the tissue and cellular level. In this case, various metabolic disorders occur in the cell itself. Cellular energy reserves gradually decrease. In the case of their complete depletion, the natural process of cell death begins.

Internal causes of malnutrition

The immediate internal causes of malnutrition are:
  • Encephalopathy that occurs in the fetus during pregnancy. Here we are talking about the fact that during the period of intrauterine development in the fetus, the normal activity of the central nervous system is disturbed, with a secondary disruption of the work of all internal organs and systems.
  • Underdevelopment of lung tissue. Insufficient oxygen enrichment of the blood leads to metabolic disorders in the body, and slows down the development of organs and systems.
  • Congenital pathology of the gastrointestinal tract - when such phenomena as constipation or vomiting are constantly present (with Hirschsprung's disease, dolichosigma, impaired location of the pancreas).
  • Frequent abdominal operations that lead to "short bowel" syndrome. The natural physiological process of food digestion is disturbed.
  • Hereditary diseases of the immune system, leading to a decrease in the body's defenses, inability to fight infection.
  • Some endocrine diseases. Hypothyroidism is a disease of the thyroid gland, in which growth and metabolic processes in the body slow down. Pituitary dwarfism is a disease of the central organ of the endocrine system, as a result of which a sufficient amount of growth hormone is not produced.
  • Metabolic diseases that are inherited. For example, galactosemia (intolerance to milk and dairy products), fructosemia is a similar disease in which the child's body does not absorb the fructose contained in vegetables and fruits. Rarer hereditary pathologies related to metabolic disorders include: leucinosis, Niemann-Pick disease, Tay-Sachs and others.
Unfavorable external factors leading to the emergence and development of malnutrition are less common. However, don't underestimate them. The constant impact of external factors that negatively affect the growth and development of children over a long period is reflected not only in a lack of weight or height, but can lead to rather sad consequences for the general condition and health of the child in the future.

External causes of malnutrition

External factors affecting the development of malnutrition include:
1. nutritional factors. This includes several categories of reasons:
  • Firstly, the quantitative underfeeding of the baby occurs due to the underdevelopment of the female breast (flat nipple, inverted nipple) or lack of female milk. On the part of the child, the cause may be: an underdeveloped lower jaw, constant vomiting, a short frenulum at the lower edge of the tongue.
  • Secondly, insufficient feeding with mother’s high-quality breast milk, or improper use of the nutrient mixture, late introduction of supplementary feeding or complementary foods to the child, insufficient intake of all necessary and useful ingredients in the baby’s diet also leads to chronic malnutrition and the development of malnutrition.
2. infectious diseases. A bacterial or viral infection can appear at any stage in the life of a pregnant woman or child. The chronic course of diseases such as pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections can significantly slow down the full development of the child. With these diseases, immunity is reduced, as well as significant depletion of the body and weight loss.
On average, the body spends 10% more energy with mild infectious diseases. And in the case of moderate infectious and inflammatory processes, energy costs increase significantly, and can reach about 50% of the total energy costs of the whole organism.
3. Intestinal lesions , namely its mucous membrane, lead to impaired absorption of nutrients and the development of malnutrition.
4. toxic factors. Long-term exposure to toxic toxic substances, hazardous waste products of chemical production, poisoning with vitamins A or D, drugs - all this has an extremely adverse effect on the body of children, especially infants.

Clinical signs and symptoms of malnutrition by degree

The clinical picture of malnutrition is largely associated with insufficient food intake. In addition, an important place in the symptoms of the disease is occupied by violations of the normal functioning of organs and systems. All clinical signs and symptoms are usually divided into syndromes. Syndrome is a set of symptoms in the defeat of any organ or system.

With malnutrition, there are several main syndromes:
1. The first of these is a syndrome in which the trophic function of organs and tissues is disturbed. Here we are talking about the fact that metabolic processes in the organs and tissues of the body slow down, body weight drops, the subcutaneous fat layer becomes much thinner, the skin becomes lethargic and flabby.
2. Another important syndrome is a syndrome in which there is a violation of digestive functions. The entire digestive tract is affected. Less hydrochloric acid and pepsin are produced in the stomach, and there are not enough enzymes in the intestines to process the food bolus.
The main symptoms of the syndrome of digestive disorders are:

  • stool disorder, which can manifest itself both in the form of constipation and diarrhea;
  • the chair becomes unformed, shines;
  • with a more detailed examination of the stool, I find in it undigested food residues.
3. Syndrome of dysfunction of the central nervous system. Obviously, the lack of nutrition in a child is reflected in his central nervous system. Such children are often restless, they have negative emotions, scream, sleep is disturbed. Also, for a long time, you can notice a clear lag in the development of the child (physical and mental). Decreased muscle tone, children are lethargic, lethargic.
4. The next important syndrome that requires special attention is a syndrome in which hematopoiesis and the protective functions of the immune system are disturbed. A decrease in the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes with hemoglobin) manifests itself in the form of anemia. Decreased resistance to various infections leads to the fact that such children often suffer from chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases, and all symptoms are mild and atypical.

In each individual case, more than one of the above syndromes may be expressed. The manifestations of malnutrition also depend on the predominance of the lack of any component of food. For example, during protein starvation, symptoms of hematopoiesis and a decrease in the body's defenses prevail.

There are three degrees of malnutrition. This separation is necessary for the convenience of assessing the general condition of the child and for planning the amount of treatment. But in reality, the degrees of malnutrition are stages of the same process, following one after another.

Hypotrophy of the first degree

Initially, the body tries to compensate for the lack of nutrients with the accumulated subcutaneous fat layer. Fats from the depot migrate into the blood, pass through the liver and turn into energy to maintain the normal physiological activity of organs and systems.

Initially, fat reserves disappear in the abdomen, then in other places. The degree of depletion of the subcutaneous fat layer is assessed by different methods. The most practical, and at the same time informative method, is the Chulitskaya index. This method is based on measuring the circumference of the shoulder in two different places, then the hips and lower legs, and the child's height is subtracted from the resulting amount. The norm for a child up to a year is 20-25 cm. Another method is to measure the skin fold in four different places: on the abdomen to the left of the navel, on the shoulder, in the area of ​​​​the shoulder blades, and finally, on the thigh from the outside. With normal growth and development of the child, the skin fold is approximately 2-2.5 cm. In the first degree of malnutrition, the Chulitskaya index is 10-15 centimeters, and the skin fold slightly decreases.

Symptoms of hypotrophy of the first degree:

  • Fat folds are flabby, muscle tone is reduced, elasticity and firmness of the skin is lost.
  • The growth of the child initially corresponds to age norms.
  • Body weight is reduced from approximately 11% to 20% of the original.
  • General health is normal. There is rapid fatigue.
  • There are no disorders of the central nervous system. Sleep disturbing, intermittent.
  • The child is a little irritable, may spit up the food he has eaten.

Hypotrophy of the second degree

The changes are the same as in the first degree, but the difference is that they deepen a little, and other characteristic symptoms also appear:

Signs of malnutrition of the second degree:

  • The subcutaneous fat layer is very thin on the legs, arms, and may be absent on the abdomen or chest.
  • The Chulitskaya index decreases, and varies from one to ten centimeters.
  • The skin is pale, dry.
  • The skin is flabby, easily shifts into folds.
  • Hair and nails become brittle.
  • Muscle mass on the limbs decreases, body weight decreases by about twenty to thirty percent, and stunting is also noted.
  • Thermoregulation is disturbed, such children quickly freeze, or also quickly overheat.
  • There is a high risk of exacerbation of chronic infections (pyelonephritis, otitis media, pneumonia).
  • Violation of resistance to the food taken. In connection with trophic disorders of the villi and the intestinal mucosa, digestion is disturbed, in particular the absorption of nutrients. Dysbacteriosis appears, that is, pathogenic bacterial flora predominates. Children appear: increased gas formation, bloating and discomfort in the abdomen. Frequent constipation or diarrhea, often alternating one after another.
  • Decreased muscle tone. Due to the significantly reduced muscle tone, the abdomen protrudes outward, and the impression of a frog's abdomen is created.
  • The lack of vitamin D and calcium in the body leads to additional development of muscle weakness, the development of symptoms of osteoporosis (washing out of calcium from the bones). At the same time, the bones of the skull become soft, the large and small fontanelles remain open for quite a long time.
  • On the part of the central nervous system, a number of pathological disorders similar to those in the first degree of malnutrition are also revealed. Children are restless, cannot fall asleep, often act up. Then the characteristic symptoms of overexcitation of the central nervous system are gradually replaced by lethargy and apathy towards the outside world.

Hypotrophy of the third degree

Reflects the fullness of the clinical picture of the disease. At this degree, violations of the work of all organs and systems are most pronounced. The primary cause of the disease determines the most serious condition of the child, the ineffectiveness of the measures taken to remove the child from this condition, and his further recovery. The third degree of malnutrition is characterized by a strong depletion of the body, a decrease in all types of metabolism.

Characteristic signs and symptoms of hypotrophy of the third degree:

  • By appearance, you can immediately determine that there is a chronic lack of nutrition. The subcutaneous fat layer is absent in almost all places, including the face. The skin is dry, pale and so thin that the child looks like a mummy.
  • When you try to form a skin fold with your fingers, there is practically no resistance of healthy skin. The elasticity of the skin is so reduced that the fold does not straighten out for a long time after releasing the fingers. Deep wrinkles form all over the body.
  • Muscle mass and body weight as a whole are so small that the fatness index according to Chulitskaya is not determined, or is negative. The overall weight loss is 30% or more of normal values.
  • On the face, the retraction of the cheeks is visible, the cheekbones protrude forward, the sharpening of the chin is pronounced.
  • Manifestations of lack of vital trace elements and vitamins are clearly expressed.
  • Lack of iron affects the appearance of cracks in the corners of the mouth (jamming), as well as anemia.
  • The lack of vitamins A and C manifests itself in the form of appearance on the mucous membranes: bleeding and atrophy (death, reduction in size) of the gums, stomatitis in the form of small whitish rashes.
  • The abdomen is greatly distended due to the weakness of the muscles that support it.
  • Body temperature often jumps up and down due to the fact that the thermoregulation center in the brain does not work.
  • Immunity is sharply reduced. You can detect signs of sluggish chronic infections. Inflammation of the middle ear - otitis, inflammation of the kidneys - pyelonephritis, pneumonia - pneumonia.
  • The child's growth lags behind the average.

Options for the course of malnutrition

A lag in the growth and development of a child can be present at every stage of its development, starting mainly from the second half of pregnancy, and ending with the period of primary school age. At the same time, the manifestations of the disease are characterized by their own characteristics.

Depending on the period of development of hypotrophic manifestations, there are four variants of the course of hypotrophy:

  • intrauterine malnutrition;
  • hypostatura;
  • alimentary insanity.

Intrauterine malnutrition

Intrauterine malnutrition originates in the prenatal period. Some authors call this pathology intrauterine growth retardation.

There are several options for the development of intrauterine malnutrition:
1. Hypotrophic- when the nutrition of all organs and systems is disturbed, the fetus develops very slowly, and does not correspond to the gestational age.
2. Hypoplastic- this variant of development means that along with insufficient general development of the fetal organism, there is also some lag in the maturation and development of all organs. Here we are talking about the fact that organs and tissues at birth are not sufficiently formed, and do not fully perform their functions.
3. Dysplastic the variant of the course of malnutrition is characterized by uneven development of individual organs. Some, such as the heart, liver, develop normally, corresponding to the gestational age, while others, on the contrary, lag behind in their development, or develop asymmetrically.

Hypostatura

Hypostatura - the term originates from the Greek language, and means hypo - below, or under, statura - growth, or size. With this variant of the development of malnutrition, there is a uniform lag both in the growth of the child and in his body weight.

The only difference from true malnutrition is that the skin and subcutaneous fat layer do not undergo strong changes.

Hypostatura, as one of the variants of the course of malnutrition, occurs secondarily in chronic diseases of some internal organs. The development of hypostature is usually associated with transitional periods of growth and development of the child. One of these periods falls on the first six months of a child's life. At the same time, they begin to gradually add food products, milk formulas to mother's milk - in other words, to supplement the child. The appearance of this pathology in the second year of life is associated primarily with congenital chronic diseases. Here are the most common ones:

  • Congenital malformations of the cardiovascular system. Violation of blood circulation leads to insufficient flow of oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues.
  • Encephalopathies in combination with endocrine disorders also have an extremely adverse effect on the metabolism in the body, delaying development and growth.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a disturbed development of the lung tissue during the period of intrauterine development of the fetus. In this case, there are serious complications associated with breathing and the delivery of oxygen to the blood.
As mentioned above, children with hypostature are predominantly stunted. It has been proven that the elimination of the cause that caused this pathology gradually leads to the normalization of the growth of such children.

Kwashiorkor

The term kwashiorkor is commonly used to refer to such a variant of the course of malnutrition, which occurs in countries with a tropical climate, and where plant foods predominate in the diet.

In addition, there are specific disorders in which the body receives less, does not synthesize or does not absorb protein foods at all.

Disorders that contribute to the development of kwashiorkor include:

  • Long-term indigestion, manifested by persistent unstable stools - in other words, the child has chronic diarrhea.
  • In diseases of the liver, its protein-forming function is disrupted.
  • Kidney disease, accompanied by increased loss of protein along with urine.
  • Burns, excessive blood loss, infectious diseases.
Insufficient consumption of protein products (meat, eggs, dairy) leads to a peculiar course of this pathology, expressed in four main and constant symptoms:
1. Neuropsychiatric disorders- the child is apathetic, lethargic, he has increased drowsiness, lack of appetite. When examining such children, it is often possible to identify a lag in psychomotor development (late in holding his head, sitting, walking, speech is formed with a great delay).
2. Edema due to a lack of protein molecules in the blood (albumin, globulins, etc.). Albumins maintain oncotic pressure in the blood by binding water molecules to themselves. As soon as protein deficiency occurs, water immediately leaves the vascular bed and penetrates into the interstitial space - local swelling of the tissues is formed. In the initial stages of the disease, mainly internal organs swell, but this fact escapes the attention of parents. In the developed (manifest) stages of the disease, peripheral tissues swell. Edema appears on the face, feet, limbs. An erroneous idea is created that the child is healthy and well-fed.
3. Decreased muscle mass. Muscle mass, and with it strength, is significantly reduced. Protein starvation causes the body to borrow its own proteins from the muscles. There is a so-called atrophy of muscle fibers. Muscles become flabby, lethargic. Together with the muscles, the nutrition of the underlying tissues and subcutaneous fat is disrupted.
4. Delay in the physical development of children. It is accompanied by a lack of growth rate, while body weight is reduced much less. Children with kwashiorkor are short, squat, and their physical activity is below normal.

In addition to the constant symptoms, children with kwashiorkor have other signs of the disease that occur with varying frequency.

Common symptoms are:
1. Color change, softening of thinning and, eventually, hair loss on the head. Hair becomes lighter, and in later manifestations of the disease, or in older children, discolored or even gray strands of hair are found.
2. Dermatitis is an inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin. Redness, itching, cracks appear on the skin. Subsequently, the skin in the affected areas exfoliates, and traces remain in this place in the form of light spots.

Rare symptoms include:
1. Dermatosis - red-brown spots of a rounded shape.
2. Hepatomegaly is an abnormal enlargement of the liver. The liver tissue is replaced by adipose and connective tissue. The liver is not able to form enzymes and other active substances necessary for the normal function of the whole organism.
3. Kidney dysfunction. The filtration capacity is reduced. In the blood, harmful metabolic products accumulate.
4. Stool disorders are permanent. The child has persistent diarrhea. The feces are shiny and smell unpleasant.

Summing up the material presented, we can say with confidence that kwashiorkor is a disease that is extremely rare in countries with a temperate climate. Countries located in this geographic latitude have a developed social status and standard of living, so the possibility of malnutrition and a deficiency in the diet of proteins and calories is practically excluded.

Alimentary insanity

Alimentary marasmus (exhaustion) occurs in children of primary and secondary school age. With insanity, there is a lack of both proteins and calories.

To establish the cause and make an accurate diagnosis, find out:

  • From the history of the onset of the disease, they learn what the body weight of the child was even before the first signs of malnutrition appeared.
  • The socio-economic situation in which the child's family is located.
  • If possible, find out the daily diet.
  • Whether there is vomiting or chronic diarrhea, and how often it occurs.
  • Is this child taking any medications? For example, anorexigenic, which suppress appetite, or diuretics, which remove many useful nutrients from the body, including protein.
  • Are there any disorders of the central nervous system: stressful situations, alcohol or drug addiction.
  • In adolescence, in particular in girls, starting from the age of 12, they find out the presence and evaluate the regularity, frequency and duration of the menstrual cycle.
All of the above factors directly or indirectly affect the state of the body, affect all organs and systems, inhibiting their functional performance. Thus, they predispose to the development of alimentary insanity.

Among all the symptoms that appear with alimentary insanity, permanent and rare symptoms are distinguished.

Permanent symptoms include:

  • weight loss reaches up to 60% of normal, age-appropriate;
  • decrease in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer;
  • reduction in the mass of muscle fibers;
  • the limbs of the patient become very thin;
  • many wrinkles appear on the face, the skin fits all the facial bones and it seems as if this is the face of an old man.
Rare symptoms are:
  • Diarrhea is chronic. The chair is liquid, shines, with an unpleasant smell.
  • Thinning and clarification of hair, which eventually begin to fall out.
  • Exacerbation of chronic infections is a very frequent companion of an organism weakened by malnutrition.
  • Thrush is a fungal disease that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina and urethra. They are manifested by whitish discharge, itching and discomfort in these places.
  • Symptoms of multivitamin deficiency, depending on the lack of certain vitamins and minerals.
An objective examination of such children reveals many pathological changes among all organs and systems:
  • Eye changes are manifested by inflammation of the eyelids, the formation of new small vessels on the cornea. Grayish plaques appear in the inner corners of the eyes (lack of vitamin A).
  • In the oral cavity, inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane and gums are observed. The tongue increases in size (due to a lack of vitamin B 12).
  • The heart is enlarged. Insufficient strength of cardiac impulses leads to stagnation of blood in the veins, swelling of the lower extremities appears.
  • Weakness of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall causes a sagging, protruding abdomen. The liver protrudes beyond the lower edge of the right hypochondrium.
  • Explicit neurological disorders are manifested in nervousness, increased irritability, muscle weakness, and a decrease in tendon reflexes.
Functional changes reflect the degree of pathological disorders associated with protein-calorie deficiency:
  • Memory worsens, mental and cognitive abilities, including working capacity, decrease.
  • Decreased visual acuity. A lack of vitamin A causes a decrease in vision at dusk.
  • The sharpness of taste sensations is also reduced.
  • A lack of vitamin C leads to increased capillary fragility. Small punctate hemorrhages can be seen on the skin after a slight pinch.

Lack of essential fatty acids

If there is a deficiency of essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids), specific symptoms immediately appear, characteristic of their insufficient consumption. Linolenic and linoleic acids are found in large quantities in vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, soybean).

In most cases, this variant of malnutrition appears in infants who lack the nutrition of mother's milk. Cow's milk and other milk mixtures do not contain essential fatty acids in the amount necessary for the energy and plastic costs of a young organism. Depending on the deficiency of one or another fatty acid, the symptoms of the disease will differ slightly from each other.

With a lack of linoleic acid, the following symptoms appear:

  • Dryness of the skin with exfoliation of the superficial stratum corneum.
  • Wound healing continues for a long period.
  • Thrombocytopenia - a reduced number of platelets (blood cells responsible for its clotting) in the blood. The lack of platelets leads to increased fragility of small vessels, with accidental minor domestic injuries of the skin, bleeding lengthens. Insignificant tweaks cause the appearance of many small-point hemorrhages.
  • Prolonged loose stools (diarrhea).
  • Periodic exacerbations of infectious diseases (for example, skin or lungs).
Lack of linolenic acid leads to:
  • numbness and paresthesia (tingling sensation) of the lower and upper extremities;
  • general muscle weakness;
  • visual impairment.
In general, the severity of pathological changes and the lag in body weight from growth depend on many reasons, including the duration of protein and calorie starvation in boys and girls. Therefore, timely clarification of the causes leading to the development of alimentary insanity can prevent all pathological consequences.

Diagnosis of malnutrition

Basic provisions

Approaching the stage of diagnosing malnutrition, course options, possible complications from other organs, several points must be taken into account.

Detection of important clinical signs in all major systems involved in the pathological process. This includes the following violations:

  • fatness disorders - manifested in the form of thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer and trophic changes;
  • digestive disorders - include changes in food resistance;
  • metabolic disorders: protein, fat, carbohydrate, mineral, vitamin;
  • functional disorders of the central nervous system.
An important and main criterion for diagnosing this pathology is the size of the subcutaneous fat layer. The thinner this layer, the more pronounced the violation of the general condition of the body.

The second point that should not escape the attention of doctors is the differentiation of pathological changes that occur during malnutrition, with other similar diseases, with a decrease in height, body weight, and overall physical development of children.

Symptoms of children with hypostatura are very similar to a disease such as nanism. This is a pathology of the central endocrine organs (hypothalamus and pituitary gland), in which growth hormone, somatotropin, is not produced. With this disease, unlike hypostatura, there are no pathological changes in the form of thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer and other trophic disorders. All organs develop evenly, although they are reduced in size.

Assessment of the child's condition and determination of the degree of pathological changes is also determined by the nature of the feces. Initially, with malnutrition, the stool is scanty, colorless, with a characteristic fetid odor. In the future, violations of the functional ability to process food through the gastrointestinal tract lead to the fact that the stool becomes plentiful, shiny, it contains the remains of undigested food, muscle fibers. Infection with pathogenic bacteria of the intestinal mucosa entails dysbacteriosis (diarrhea, bloating and discomfort in the abdomen).

Due to insufficient intake of protein, the body uses internal reserves (from muscles, adipose tissue), the metabolic products of which are excreted by the kidneys in the form of ammonia. The urine of such patients has the smell of ammonia.

Laboratory research

Due to the fact that with malnutrition there is a variety of pathological changes, laboratory tests will be variable, depending on the predominant lesion of a particular organ. For example, with anemia, there will be a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the bloodstream.

In biochemical analyzes, signs of impaired liver function, lack of vitamins and trace elements can be detected.

Instrumental diagnostic methods

They are used in cases where there are significant complications from the internal organs. Widespread methods are: electrocardiographic examination of the heart, electroencephalogram of the brain, ultrasound examination of other internal organs.

Ultrasound is used when the borders of the heart are enlarged, the liver is enlarged, or there are other pathological changes in the abdominal cavity.
If necessary, or in doubtful cases, the attending physician prescribes the appropriate instrumental diagnostic method at his discretion.
Diagnosis of malnutrition and the degree of pathological changes is not an easy task, and requires a lot of patience, care and experience from the doctor.

Hypotrophy treatment

To treat malnutrition, it is not enough to take medicines in the form of vitamin preparations, or start intensive feeding. Therapy of such a disease should include a whole range of measures aimed at eliminating the cause of malnutrition, maintaining an optimal balanced diet for age, as well as performing therapeutic measures to eliminate complications associated with malnutrition.

Complex therapy includes:

  • Determination of the cause that caused malnutrition, simultaneously with an attempt to regulate and eliminate it.
  • Diet therapy, which is selected individually in each specific case, and also depends on the degree of pathological disorders in the body.
  • Detection of chronic foci of infection that contribute to the development of malnutrition, as well as their active treatment.
  • Symptomatic treatment, which includes the use of multivitamin and enzyme preparations.
  • Appropriate regimen with proper care and educational activities.
  • Periodic courses of massage and therapeutic exercises.

diet therapy

D Chemotherapy is a fundamental method of treatment for malnutrition. The appointment of appropriate food products depends on many factors, in particular on the degree of exhaustion of the body. But the most important thing in the approach to diet therapy is the degree of damage to the gastrointestinal tract or central nervous system. Not in all cases it happens that with a large decrease in the subcutaneous fat layer, the patient felt bad.
When prescribing diet therapy, several basic principles (stages) are followed:
1. Initially, the resistance of the digestive system to the food consumed is checked. That is, how badly the gastrointestinal tract is affected, and whether food can be fully processed and absorbed by the body.
The period of clarification of food resistance in duration takes from several days with the first degree of malnutrition, up to one and a half to two weeks with the third degree. This process involves the doctor monitoring how the food is absorbed and whether there are any complications in the form of diarrhea, bloating, or other symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder.
From the first day of treatment, the daily amount of food should not exceed the usual age:
  • 2/3 for hypotrophics of the first degree.
  • 1/2 for hypotrophics of the second degree.
  • 1/3 for hypotrophics of the third degree.
2. The second stage is marked by the fact that the patient is in a transitional stage. In other words, the prescribed complex treatment, together with the appropriate diet, has a beneficial effect on restoring the health of the child.
In this period, there is a gradual compensation of missing trace elements, vitamins and other nutrients. There is a decrease in the number of meals, but the calorie content and quantitative volume increase. Every day, a small amount of the mixture is added to each meal, until the full volume of nutrition is fully restored, in accordance with age.

3. The third period in diet therapy is the stage of enhanced food intake. Only after complete restoration of the functional activity of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient can increase the load of food.
In the third period, intensive feeding is continued, however, with a restriction of protein intake, since the increased intake of protein products is not fully absorbed by the body.
During each stage of diet therapy, the stool is periodically checked for the content of residual dietary fiber and fat (coprogram).

Other, no less important conditions when prescribing a diet are:
1. Reducing the periods between feedings. And the frequency of feeding itself increases several times a day, and is:

  • with hypotrophy of the first degree - seven times a day;
  • in the second degree - eight times a day;
  • in the third degree - ten times a day.
2. The use of easily digestible food. Mother's milk is best, and in the absence of it, milk mixtures are used. The choice of milk formula is made taking into account the individual characteristics of each child, as well as in case of a shortage of one or another nutritional ingredient in the daily regimen of the patient.

3. Maintaining adequate periodic nutritional control. For this purpose, special diaries are kept, where the amount of food eaten is noted. Systematic control is simultaneously performed for stool, diuresis (number and frequency of urination). If nutrient mixtures are administered intravenously, then their amount is also recorded in the diary.

4. Fecal samples are taken several times a week for the presence of undigested dietary fiber and fatty inclusions.

5. Every week, the child is weighed, and additional calculations are made to calculate the required amount of nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates).

The criteria for the effectiveness of dietary therapy are:

  • normalization of the condition and elasticity of the skin;
  • improving the appetite and emotional state of the child;
  • daily weight gain, an average of 25-30 grams.
In the most severe cases, with malnutrition of the 3rd degree, the child cannot eat on his own. In addition, his gastrointestinal tract is significantly damaged, and cannot process food. In such cases, children with malnutrition are transferred to parenteral nutrition (nutrient solutions are injected intravenously). Also, various compositions of minerals and electrolytes (disol, trisol) are used parenterally, which replenish the missing volume of fluid in the body and regulate metabolism.

Care of patients with malnutrition

An integrated approach in the treatment of malnutrition provides for proper care for such children. At home, children with the first degree of malnutrition can be treated, but provided that there are no other concomitant diseases, and the risk of complications is minimal. Inpatient treatment of hypotrophy of 2-3 degrees is carried out in a hospital without fail, together with the mothers of babies.
  • The conditions for staying in the wards should be as comfortable as possible, and are as follows: the lighting complied with all regulatory standards, ventilation was carried out twice a day, the air temperature was optimal, within 24-25 degrees Celsius.
  • Daily walks in the fresh air serve both as hardening and as a prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (congestive pneumonia).
  • Periodic gymnastic exercises and massage courses will help restore reduced muscle tone, and will have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body.
Correction of the disturbed balance of intestinal microflora is carried out with the use of lacto- and bifidobacteria. These medicines come in the form of capsules that are taken several times a day. These drugs include: bifidumbacterin subtil, yogurt.

Enzyme therapy

Enzyme therapy is used for reduced functional capacity of the gastrointestinal tract. The drugs taken replace the lack of gastric juice; amylases, pancreatic lipases; this group of drugs includes festal, creon, panzinorm, diluted gastric juice.

vitamin therapy

It is an essential part of the treatment of malnutrition. Reception begins with parenteral administration (intravenously, intramuscularly) of vitamins C, B 1, B 6. With the improvement of the general condition, they switch to enteral (through the mouth) intake of vitamins. Subsequently, multivitamin complexes are used in courses.

Stimulant Therapy

Designed to improve metabolic processes in the body. In severe cases, immunoglobulin is prescribed, which protects the body from the increasing harmful effects of pathogenic microorganisms, increases defenses and prevents chronic infection from developing.
Preparations dibazol, pentoxiffilin, ginseng - improve peripheral blood circulation, access of oxygen and nutrients to internal organs and tissues. Activate the work of the central nervous system.

Symptomatic treatment

Each hypotrophic person has some kind of complications. Therefore, depending on the pathological condition, drugs are prescribed that support their performance and functional activity:
  • With anemia, iron preparations (sorbifer, totem) are prescribed. If a child has a very low hemoglobin value (below 70 g/l), he is prescribed a red blood cell transfusion.
  • With rickets, vitamin D is prescribed, as well as preventive courses of physiotherapy. For this purpose, irradiation with ultraviolet rays using a special quartz lamp is used.

Prevention of the development of malnutrition

1. Even during pregnancy, it is necessary to apply preventive measures for the correct regimen of a pregnant woman. Proper care, proper nutrition and prevention of the influence of harmful environmental factors will minimize the risk of malnutrition at birth.
2. Starting from birth, a very important point in the prevention of malnutrition is the natural feeding of the mother of her baby. Mother's milk contains a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins necessary for a young body, and most importantly - in an easily digestible form.
3. Under conditions of shortage of women's milk, the child is supplemented with nutritious milk mixtures. One of the main rules of supplementary feeding is that it should be done before breastfeeding.
4. Starting from the age of six months, the child must begin to feed. There are several main rules for complementary foods:
  • The child must be completely healthy.
  • Eat food according to the age of the child.
  • Complementary foods are introduced gradually, and before breastfeeding. The child eats with a small spoon.
  • The change of one type of feeding is replaced by one type of complementary foods.
  • The food you eat should be rich in vitamins and essential minerals.
5. Timely diagnosis of infectious diseases, rickets and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, will allow you to start appropriate treatment, and prevent the development of malnutrition.

Summing up the above material, it should be noted that the prognosis for the development of malnutrition depends primarily on the causes that participated in the occurrence of this pathological condition. The conditions of the external and internal environment, the nature of feeding, as well as the age of the patient - all this plays a big role in the development of malnutrition. With alimentary insufficiency, the outcome of the disease is usually favorable.

Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

The body is reduced by 11-20% due, the mass-growth coefficient is 56-60 (normally more than 60). The fatness index of Chulitskaya reaches 10-15 (normally 20-25). The clinical symptoms of this condition are moderate restlessness, greed for food, decrease in the number of bowel movements, slight pallor of the skin, thinning of the subcutaneous fat in the trunk area. Psychomotor development corresponds to age. immunological reactivity and Tolerance, -i; and. 1. The ability of the organism to endure the unfavorable influence of some. factors. Lat. tolerance - patience. 2. The state of the body's immune system, in which it cannot synthesize antibodies in response to the introduction of a certain. antigen, but retains immune reactivity to other antigens; used in organ and tissue transplants. 3. Decrease in the effectiveness of drugs when they are used repeatedly. Syn: addiction.

"> tolerance to food may be reduced.

HypotrophyII degrees characterized by pronounced changes in all organs and systems. The child lags behind in weight by 21 - 30%, in height by 2 - 4 cm. The Chulitskaya index decreases to 10 - 0, the mass-height coefficient is below 56. Such children have poor appetite, periodically vomiting, unstable stools, sleep is disturbed. There is a lag in psychomotor development: the child does not hold his head well, does not sit, does not stand up, does not walk. Thermoregulation is disturbed. During the day, fluctuations in body temperature of more than one degree are observed. The subcutaneous fat is sharply thinned not only on the abdomen, but also on the trunk and limbs.

The skin is pale, pale gray; dryness and peeling of the skin (signs of polyhypovitaminosis) are noted. Reduced elasticity, turgor of tissues and muscles. (!LANG:Hair, pl. (unit hair, -a; m.). Horny threads on the skin of mammals and humans, forming a hairline that protects the body from mechanical damage and heat loss; from keratin, are derivatives of the epidermis, but the hair follicles that give rise to V. are immersed in the dermis of the skin and are usually associated with the sebaceous glands, the life expectancy of V. in humans is about 2-4 years, then instead of the fallen ones after 50-90 days appear new; V. contain pigments that determine their color, which changes over time due to depigmentation (graying) depending on age and individual characteristics.Diseases: alopecia, hypertrichosis, hirsutism, dermatoses, carbuncle, sycosis, trichophytosis, acne, favus , folliculitis, furuncle.

">Волосы!} pale, brittle. Immunological tolerance is sharply reduced, therefore, somatic Pathology, -i; and. 1. Medico-biological. a science that studies the development and morphological manifestations of common disease processes, etc. diseases. From Greek. pdthos - suffering, illness and ... logic. Sections: pathological anatomy, pathological physiology. 2. Common name. painful processes and deviations from any norm in the body.

"> pathology
proceeds oligosymptomatically and atypically.

Almost every child with II degree malnutrition has rickets and (or) anemia.

HypotrophyIII degrees usually develops in children who were born with symptoms of prenatal malnutrition, and premature. The lag in body weight exceeds 30%, in growth - more than 4 cm. The clinical picture is manifested by anorexia, a decrease in thirst, general lethargy, a decrease in interest in the environment, and a lack of active movements. The face is senile, expresses suffering, cheeks are sunken, Bish's lumps are absent. The subcutaneous fat layer is practically absent. The fatness index of Chulitskaya is negative. There is a delay in psychomotor development (previously acquired ones are lost).

Breathing shallow, sometimes noted Temporary or irreversible cessation of breathing with a decrease in the excitability of the respiratory center or its damage. From Greek. dpnoia - lack of breath.

">apnea. Heart sounds are weakened, deaf, there may be a tendency to bradycardia, arterial hypotension. The abdomen is enlarged due to flatulence, the anterior abdominal wall is thinned, loops of the intestines are contoured. Constipation alternates with soapy-lime stools.

Most patients have rickets, anemia, dysbacteriosis, septic course of infections.

Diagnostics.(!LANG:Diagnosis, -a; m. A brief medical report on the disease and the patient's condition, made on the basis of an anamnesis and a comprehensive examination. From Greek - recognition, diagnosis, -i; g. 1. A set of techniques and methods 2. Dialysis, m. excretion of toxic substances from the body with the introduction of a dialyzing solution into the abdominal cavity.

">Диагноз!} based on the clinical picture of the disease. All patients have metabolic disorders to varying degrees: hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia and potassium, hypovitaminosis, acidosis, signs of rickets and anemia. The coprogram may contain starch, neutral fat, слизь!} , muscle fibers. Most children have Dysbiosis is a violation of the mobile balance of microflora, which normally inhabits non-sterile cavities and human skin. It occurs with the irrational use of antibacterial drugs, which leads to the death of a significant part of the normal microflora that is sensitive to drugs, and the rapid reproduction of flora resistant to them. The most common forms are: fungal - candidiasis and bacterial, caused by representatives of the genus Proteus, C. difficile, the genus Escherichia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their associations.

">dysbiosis
intestines of varying severity.

Differential Diagnosis

The disease is differentiated in order to determine the causative factor of malnutrition and identify the underlying disease.

Treatment

It is necessary to observe all the principles of complex treatment, depending on the degree of malnutrition.

Treatment of malnutrition of the first degree is carried out at home and is aimed at eliminating alimentary factors that cause. With malnutrition II and III degree, the child is sent to the hospital to identify diseases that contribute to the development of malnutrition, and their treatment. At the same time, great importance is attached to the proper organization of the daily regimen and nutrition, child care.

Children are hospitalized in separate ward-boxes, which are allowed to be visited by a limited number of medical workers (in order to prevent infectious diseases in a child). The room is ventilated, wet cleaning is carried out 2 times a day. Temperature, -s; and. Physiol. An indicator of the thermal state of the human and animal body, reflecting the ratio of heat production and heat transfer processes. Lat. temperatura from temperatio - the correct ratio, the normal state.

">Temperature the air in the ward is maintained in the range of 25 - 26 °C. Careful care of the skin and visible mucous membranes is carried out. It is necessary to prescribe a general massage and physiotherapy exercises (taking into account the condition of the child).

The general principles for malnutrition are:

1) the use in the nutrition of children of women's milk and adapted lactic acid mixtures ("Lactofidus", etc.), mixtures for feeding children with reduced body weight ("PreNan", "Alfare");

2) increase in the frequency of feeding up to 7 - 8-10 times (according to the degree of malnutrition);

3) weekly calculation of nutrition for, fats and, daily monitoring of the child's condition (keeping a food diary, control weighing, accounting for fluid balance, stool nature) and analysis of the coprogram (1 time in 3-4 days);

4) compliance with the principle of three-phase nutrition: the period of clarification of food tolerance (Table 12.1), the period of transitional and optimal nutrition.

At malnutritionI degrees calculation of nutrition during the period of diet therapy is carried out on the proper body weight. In the second period (transitional nutrition), protein deficiency is corrected (cheese, yolk, acidophilus paste, protein enpit), fat (fat enpit, vegetable oil, cream), carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits, cereals). In the third period, energy demand increases by 20% of the age norm.

At malnutritionII degrees in the first period, careful individual feeding is carried out. The calculation of nutrition for proteins and carbohydrates is carried out on the actual body weight plus 20%, and - on the actual body weight. In the second period, the amount of food corresponds to the daily age requirement. Correction is carried out for proteins, fats and carbohydrates (see earlier). In the third period, the daily energy requirement also increases by 20% compared to the age norm.

At malnutritionIII degrees in the first period, proteins and carbohydrates are calculated based on the proper body weight, and fat - only from the actual one. A larger volume of daily food requirement (75%) is replenished with liquid (vegetable and fruit decoctions, electrolyte solutions). With anorexia, low food tolerance, partial parenteral nutrition is prescribed with amino acid mixtures (polyamine, alvezin new, amikin, levamine, protein hydrolysates). If there are indications, fatty en-pits, solutions with glucose (1 U / 5 g of glucose) are used. The management of the patient in the second and third periods of diet therapy is carried out according to general principles (similar to malnutrition of I and II degrees).

The criteria for the effectiveness of diet therapy, depending on its period, are:

  • at the first stage - improvement of emotional tone, daily increase in body weight by 25 - 30 g (the amount of food should correspond to that calculated according to the actual body weight);
  • the second stage - in addition to an increase in body weight, appetite normalizes, the condition of the skin and subcutaneous
    fat layer, digestion of food, psychomotor development skills are restored;
  • the third stage - body weight is completely restored, psychomotor development, the functional state of organs and systems of the body, immune status are normalized, concomitant deficient conditions (rickets, anemia, hypovitaminosis) are corrected.

Replacement enzyme therapy with pancreatic drugs Specialized organs or a group of cells that synthesize and secrete substances - secrets. Depending on the place of secretion, there are endocrine glands (endocrine), which do not have special excretory ducts and secrete the substances they produce - hormones - directly into the blood or lymph, and external secretion glands (exocrine), which have excretory ducts through which the secret is excreted either on the surface of the body (sweat, lacrimal, milk), or in hollow organs (for example, in the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system).

"> glands(creon, panzinorm, mezim-forte) is carried out for all patients with malnutrition (according to the results of the co-program).

Anabolic drugs for malnutrition are used with caution, since in conditions of nutritional deficiency they can cause profound disturbances in protein and other types of metabolism. Retabolil is usually prescribed at a dose of 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight once every 2 to 3 weeks. Carnitine chloride has anabolic properties.

Vitamin therapy. Treatment and prevention of vitamin deficiency and many other diseases with the help of vitamins. From vitamin and therapy. vitamins, -ov; pl. (unit vitamin, -a; m.). Low molecular weight organic substances, which are indispensable nutrients for humans and animals, are coenzymes, that is, components of enzymes, which means that they are directly involved in all metabolic processes, o From lat. vita - life; the term was proposed in 1912 by the Polish scientist K. funk.

">Vitamin Therapy carried out with a stimulating and substitution purpose (B 1g B 6, A, PP, B 15, B 5, E, etc.). In severe forms of malnutrition, vitamins are prescribed parenterally.

In order to stimulate the reduced defenses of the body (with II and III degrees of malnutrition), preference should be given to passive immunotherapy. In such cases, native plasma, plasma enriched with specific antibodies (antistaphylococcal, antipseudomonal, etc.), immunoglobulins are prescribed. During the period of re-convalescence, non-specific Immunostimulators, -ov; pl. (unit immunostimulant, -a; m.). A group of immunodrugs that stimulate or normalize the body's immune responses, immunotherapy, and; and. Method of treatment inf. and some other diseases through immunization.

">immunostimulants(methyluracil, apilac, adaptogens, etc.).

To correct intestinal dysbiosis, courses of biological preparations (bifidumbacterin, bifikol, bactisubtil, etc.) and prebiotics (hilak-forte, duphalac, etc.) are prescribed. Rickets and iron deficiency anemia are being treated. The removal of a child from hypotrophy of the I degree takes 1 month, and from the II and III degrees - up to 3-5 months.

Forecast. With malnutrition, the prognosis depends on its cause, the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the child, environmental conditions, and the severity of the condition.

With alimentary malnutrition of the first degree, the prognosis is usually favorable. Hypotrophy II and III degrees can lead in the future to disruption of the formation of the nervous and endocrine systems.

Prevention. Preventive measures include timely treatment of pathology in a pregnant woman, preservation of natural feeding with the rational introduction of complementary foods in children at 1 year of age, monitoring of the main anthropometric indicators in children who are bottle-fed, treatment of diseases accompanied by diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, etc.

Vaccination. A form of active immunization, the use of vaccines for the specific prevention of various infectious diseases in humans and animals.

">Vaccination carried out according to an individual plan.

Similar posts