Page 46 - Coespu 2018-4

third of all childhood deaths are linked to malnutrition. Food shortages and intestinal parasites are
leading causes of malnutrition in the developing world;
Acute conditions such as surgery,
severe burns, infections, and trauma
can drastically increase short-term
nutritional requirements. People
who have been malnourished for
some time may have weakened
immune systems and a poorer
prognosis. They frequently take
longer to heal from surgical
procedures and must spend more
days in the hospital. For this reason,
many doctors screen and then
monitor the nutritional status of
their hospitalized patients. Patients
having surgery are frequently evaluated both prior to surgery and during their recovery process;
chronic diseases may be associated with nutrient loss, increased nutrient demand, and/or
malabsorption. Malabsorption may occur
with chronic diseases such as celiac
disease, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic
insufficiency, and pernicious anemia. An
increased loss of nutrients may be seen
with chronic kidney disease, diarrhea and
excessive bleeding. Sometimes, both the
conditions and their treatment can cause
malnutrition through decreased intake.
An example of this are the decreased
appetite, difficulty swallowing, and
nausea associated both with cancer (and
chemotherapy). People who chronically
abuse drugs and/or alcohol might not get enough nutrients, lose too many nutrients and/or cannot
absorb a sufficient amount of nutrients;
and finally elderly people require fewer calories but continue to require adequate nutritional
support. They are often less able to absorb nutrients due in part to decreased stomach acid
production and are more likely to have one or more chronic ailments that may affect their
nutritional status. At the same time, they may have more difficulty preparing meals and may have
less access to a variety of nutritious foods. Older people also frequently eat less due to a decreased
appetite, decreased sense of smell, and/or mechanical difficulties with chewing or swallowing.

How can be done the diagnosis of malnutrition?
The evaluation of malnutrition can be done through physical examinations, laboratory tests and
imaging and radiographic scans.

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