ABSTRACT
Nutrition is a fundamental part of the assessment of any child. It is relevant to all aspects of medical practice, with impaired nutrition being a significant risk factor for ill health and a major concern in hospitalized patients. Poor nutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, including delayed recovery from surgery and, as a consequence, longer hospital stays. Nutrition can be impaired as a consequence of poor intake or impaired absorption or because needs exceed intake in the child with increased requirements. This is negative energy balance. There are many pathological, psychological and social factors that contribute to this, and the key to effective intervention is multidisciplinary input using a sound knowledge base of the underlying mechanisms and different interventions available. It is important also to be aware of the emerging problem of over-nutrition, with childhood obesity now reaching epidemic proportions with implications for the short and long term.
