Alex: male, age unknown. Alex is very thin with loose skin. He is
miserable, irritable and apathetic with oedema. His parents died due to HIV/AIDS
and he is suspected to be HIV infected.
Fatima: female, aged 1 year 8 months. Fatima has generalised oedema,
including feet, legs, hands, arms and face, peeling skin and thin hair. Fatima’s
parents are poor. Their village has no electricity or water.
Sheema: female, aged 2 years. Sheema is very thin with loose skin.
She is miserable, irritable and apathetic but has no oedema. Her mother is
a single parent, working long hours and has no education.
Paula: female, aged 6 months. Paula appears quiet. She is a bit thin
with a slightly swollen stomach. She had a normal birth weight and was breastfed
for one month. After that, she has been bottle fed and had several episodes
of diarrhoea and vomiting due to contaminated water.
Kofi: male, aged 4 years 6 months. Kofi appears to have a good weight
for his age. He seems happy and calm. He is one of 8 children. His parents
are educated.
Ola: female, aged 1 year 1 month. Ola has Malaria. She has oedema
of feet, lower legs, hands and lower arms. Her mother can only afford to
feed her with watery maize porridge
Jack: male, aged 3 years 3 months. Jack is short compared with his
friends and he is thin. He is alert. His father is a widower and struggles
with looking after him and his sister, Annie.
Adam: male, age unknown. Adam has no oedema. He is very thin and he
is living in a refugee camp and his mother is quite ill.
Nkosi: female, aged 8 months. Nkosi seems to be a happy child. Her
eyes are clear and bright. Her skin is healthy and glowing. Her parents understand
how and what to feed her to keep her well.
Mary: female, aged 3 years 1 month. Mary weighs more than her same
aged friends but is shorter than them. Her parents are busy with their jobs
with little time to cook.
Annie: female, aged 6 years 1 month. Annie is quite tall but thin.
She is quiet. Her father is a widower and struggles with looking after her
and her brother, Jack.
Page 3 of 4
Introduction
Look at the children on the right. Click each child in the Nutrition Community
and see their background information.
Q. Which index would you use to assess Alex and Adam’s malnutrition?
a) Weight-for-height/length
b) Height-for-age
c) Weight-for-age
d) BMI
Click the reset button if you would like to try again.
Feedback
The correct answer is a). Alex and Adam’s ages are unknown and the severity of their malnutrition should be assessed weight-for-height
or weight-for-length index. Age is also needed if using BMI (Body
Mass Index) for children.
Please complete the question.
