Clinical term | Clinical measure | Classification | |
Moderate acute malnutrition | Severe acute malnutrition | ||
Wasting* | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) | 11.5 to 12.4 cm | <11.5 cm |
Weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ)¶ | –2 to –3 | <–3 | |
Kwashiorkor | Symmetrical pitting edema | Absent | PresentΔ |
WHO: World Health Organization.
* Severe wasting is also known as marasmus. Either WHZ or MUAC criteria can be used independently to diagnose moderate or severe acute malnutrition.
¶ The Z-score (standard deviation score) is defined as the deviation of the value for an individual from the median value of the reference population, divided by the standard deviation of the reference population. In this case, the reference population is defined by WHO growth standards.
Δ All children with kwashiorkor (edematous malnutrition) are considered to have severe acute malnutrition regardless of other anthropometric measurements. The edema can be further classified as 1+ if it is only located in the feet or lower legs, 2+ if edema extends to the arms or upper body, or 3+ if it extends to the face.Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?