Symptoms of Underweight in Children That Must Be Cautious

Recognizing the various symptoms of Little Children experiencing growth disorders must be understood by parents. One sign that is seen is the Little has less weight. If Little is thin, you are advised to be careful. Because, there are many reasons and causes of underweight, such as genetic factors, lack of nutrition, and certain medical conditions.

Prevalence of Children with Underweight in Indonesia

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2016, there were around 8.9 percent of children who experienced below normal weight (thin) and around 3.7 percent who entered the very thin category. To be aware of underweight, children need to carry out a weight-loss routine, i.e. at the age of newborn to 5 years. There is a normal body weight reference for Little One issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the Health Towards Card (KMS). Health workers at the Puskesmas and Posyandu will weigh the Little One's weight. If after weighing the KMS results show the child's weight is in the zone between the black line and the red line (z score is between -3 SD to <-2SD), the Mother must be careful, because it means the child's weight is at below normal, which if left untreated, Little could be malnourished.

This is Skinny which is not Normal

Malnutrition or malnutrition is a common nutritional problem throughout the world. WHO or the world health agency estimates that around 181.9 million or 32 percent of children living in developing countries experience malnutrition or malnutrition, and around 5 million cases of child deaths under the age of 5 in the area are caused by malnutrition. It is important for you to know the cause of your child experiencing underweight. Some things that can cause your little one is underweight, including:

• Genetic factors.
• Poor nutrition.
Food provides the energy and nutrients your child needs to make him healthy. If your child does not get enough calories and nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, he can experience malnutrition.
• Certain medical conditions:
  - Having an infection.
  - There are problems in the intestine, heart, hormones, lungs, and liver.
  - Children with cystic fibrosis who have difficulty absorbing nutrients. This disease attacks the pancreas, the organ in charge of producing enzymes needed for digestion.

In addition to having a thin body, other signs that can be considered to know your little one is underweight, are the ribs of your little one who are clearly visible when you bathe him, the size of clothing that does not increase after a few months, his weight does not increase, and prone to illness .

Do This to Increase Your Child's Weight

Underweight in Little is not something that can be considered trivial. It is important for mothers to always check routinely the health condition of the child to the nearest puskesmas or posyandu. If your baby's weight does not increase during two consecutive routine checks, then immediately take your baby to the nearest health worker for further examination. For babies under 6 months of age, breast milk is the main source of intake. If underweight occurs at this age, where babies are still consuming breast milk, consult a doctor to find out the cause. While for children over the age of 6 months who experience underweight, some of these ways can help your child to gain weight:

• Let your child eat fatty foods, which contain good fat. You can spread butter on the bread, add grated cheese on top of the paste, add mayonnaise on the sandwich, or if he is 4 years or older, you can add peanut butter to him.
• Give your baby a high calorie snack such as cheese, peanut butter biscuits, meat, or yogurt.
• Make soup using milk instead of water. Making milk soup plays a role in increasing the calorie intake of your child.
• Eat bananas and avocados as a snack between meals.
• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
• Choose lean protein. Such as nuts, fish, eggs, and other protein sources.

In addition, you can also give him additional intake in the form of milk with calories and nutrients that are specially formulated to prevent and overcome this case of malnutrition. Despite wanting to gain weight Little, does not mean you are free to give all kinds of intake to him. Do not give high calorie intake that is less healthy, such as sweet drinks, sweets, or cakes, because these drinks and foods do not contain good nutritional value. If you have implemented a number of methods above but your child still has a thin body and experiencing some symptoms of underweight, it helps you immediately consult the condition of your baby to a pediatrician or nutritionist.