Reprted by:

Mah Noor

Nutritionist

Relief Pakistan

TALHA

Weak and suffering from skin allergy, 7 months old Talha came to his local CMAM site

Bhagal with his parents. After reviewing his symptoms, the nutrition assistant immediately

registered and referred him to the Stabilization centre established in District Health Quarter,

Layyah.

History taken from his parents and his full medical examination summarized:

Name: Talha S/O Muhammad Asif

Age: 7 months

MUAC: 10.2 cm

Weight: 5 kg

Oedema: nil

Category: Severely Malnourished with Medical Complications

His father works in factory and earns 7000 monthly;

He is youngest and has 3 brothers and 2 sisters;

He was at mix feeding just because mother can

find time for homely activities without knowing

the destructive results of that.

Presenting complaints:

Acute diarrhea

Abdominal distention

Fever

Skin allergy

Restlessness

Management Strategy:

During 6 days of his admission in SC, he was treated for

complications and intensive nutritional therapy.

Then he was referred back to OTP for management of severe acute malnutrition. Subsequent

follow-up visits to Bhagal CMAM site showed steady progress for him and he was

transferred to SFP for management of moderate acute malnutrition.

Progress at the follow-ups:

Visit MUAC (cm) Weight (kg)

1st 10.2 5

2nd 10.3 5

3rd 10.3 5.1

4th 10.6 5.2

5th 10.7 5.6

6th 10.9 5.6

7th 11.2 5.7

8th 11.5 5.9

9th 11.7 5.9

Submitted to SFP

10th 11.9 6.2

11th 12.1 6.5

12th 12.2 6.6

13th 12.4 6.8

14th 12.4 6.7

15th 12.6 7.3

16th 12.8 7.6

His parents were extensively counseled time to time including breastfeeding, harmful impacts

of bottle feeding and mix feeding, how to identify signs of malnutrition, prepare nutritious

meals for their children, and practice good hygiene in order to keep their family healthy.

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/hunger-issues?open&lpos=ctr_txt_malnutrition

Remarks from his parents:

When my son was admitted to SC, I and my Husband were very worried. We didnt know

what is wrong with our child, he always remains ill, says her mother. We have consulted

every doctor but after sometime he became again ill. Then there i was told about malnutrition

and that a malnourished child is more prone to disease. We need food to stay alive, but also to

stay strong. Without proper nutrition, our immune system is not efficient, so disease enters

through germs like bacteria and can attack easily. Then a cycle begins, when we have a

disease, we become malnourished more easily. But now I am confident because now my baby

is healthy and I know how to save my children from malnutrition within my economic limits.

Thanks to the programme like this.