Nutrition Assessment of the Critically Ill Child

Abstract

Nutrition assessment is an integral part of the evaluation of the critically ill child. The goal of nutrition assessment is to identify those children who are malnourished and those who are at risk of becoming malnourished. Malnutrition is known to affect wound healing, infection rate, mortality, and morbidity, making early identification of children at risk essential. An initial assessment consists of a complete history and physical examination. The history and physical examination findings are then evaluated in conjunction with appropriate laboratory and anthropometric measurements. Through vigilant nutrition assessment, prompt, appropriate nutrition support can be provided to the critically ill child.

Assessing nutritional status in children with chronic liver disease

“…Medication can also lead to anorexia and alterations in gastrointestinal function, like malabsorption of vitamins and minerals (e.g. laxatives, antibiotics, antacids and cholestyramine), therefore, the history should also include a review of all the medications the child had been on over the previous 6 months 5 …”

Nutritional management in the critically ill child with acute kidney injury: a review

“…Weight at the time of hospital admission should be documented, but a history of pre-illness weight should be obtained since the critically ill child may present with fluid overload and weight gain [15]. Triceps skin-fold thickness and mid-arm circumference may be used in children when weight or age data are not reliable.…”

“…There is no evidence that intakes for children on dialysis [including PD and hemodialysis (HD)] should exceed those for normal children, although dietary energy intake may need to be reduced for children on PD to compensate for the energy [15][16][17] Anthropometric measurements (triceps skin fold thickness, mid arm circumference)…”

Feeding the child with liver disease: A review and practical clinical guide

“…Serial measurements of mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and tricep skin folds (TSF) using standard technique can be used to calculate arm muscle area, which reflects muscle mass and is sensitive to nutrition status (Table 1). 11–13 …”