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Why can body weight underestimate the severity of wasting in a child with kwashiorkor?

Correct answer: A. Oedema adds fluid weight to the measurement

  • A. Oedema adds fluid weight to the measurement
  • B. Fever increases the child's muscle mass
  • C. Dehydration increases the measured body weight
  • D. Short stature always causes a false weight reading

Explanation

Bilateral oedema adds extracellular fluid and may conceal marked loss of muscle and fat. Therefore, weight alone may make the child's nutritional state appear less severe than it is.

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About Childhood Nutrition and Malnutrition

Childhood nutrition covers essential nutrients, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, dietary assessment, growth monitoring and age-appropriate feeding practices. Questions distinguish protein-energy malnutrition, including marasmus and kwashiorkor, from micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin D and iodine deficiency, using clinical signs and anthropometric findings.

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