MALNUTRITION IN HOSPITALISED CHILDREN

Key words: Malnutrition, Hospital care, Enteral feeding, Parenteral nutrition

In spite of the evidence on the influence of nutritional status on the prognosis of many chronic diseases, not enough attention is paid to ensure adequate nutrition in patients affected by chronic diseases, particularly when they are admitted to hospital. Simple tools such as growth charts and Z-score should always be used to assess the nutritional status of these patients. Special attention should be given to periods of enhanced growth, such as infancy and puberty, when malnutrition is more likely to occur. Artificial nutrition (parenteral, or enteral through nasogastric feeding) is indicated also in patients admitted for acute diseases when oral feeding is still inadequate after the first 48 hours of illness.