Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)
MAM represents a significant public health challenge. While less immediately life-threatening than SAM, it increases the risk of mortality and impairs long-term physical and cognitive development.
1. Diagnostic Criteria
| Indicator | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Weight-for-Height (WFH) | Z-score between -3 and -2 SD of the WHO child growth standards. |
| MUAC | Mid-Upper Arm Circumference ≥ 11.5 cm and < 12.5 cm. |
2. Key Management Principles
- Supplementary Feeding: The primary intervention is providing supplementary food to bridge the nutritional gap.
- Education: Promoting optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.
- Health Integration: Essential to manage underlying infections and monitor growth progress regularly.
NEET PG Hint: Understand that MAM is often the “gateway” to SAM if left unaddressed. While SAM requires clinical stabilization, MAM is managed largely through community-based Supplementary Nutrition Programmes (SNP) to prevent progression to SAM.