Imagine how health would be affected in economic devastation in a world already reeling from a massive health pandemic.
Tumbling purchasing power would leave many families and nations hungry. Inadequate or improper diets would push many more to the brinks of malnutrition, at present an urgent global problem.
For a child, life’s precious first 1,000 days, is crucial for lifelong health and a time to capitalise on, for growth and cognitive potential.
Instead with scarce nutrition at this time, it may set fundamentals for long term diseases. For a woman, malnutrition can affect her unborn child and even unfairly impact generations to come.
What exactly is malnutrition?
Do we realise that malnutrition includes not only a state of deficiencies but also states of excesses or imbalances?
Being underweight, that is being wasted, stunted or both, being overweight, obese or having too much or too little vitamins and minerals are all types of malnutrition.
Nutrition and immunity
The importance of nutrition is such that it influences a network linking our immunity, metabolism and our hormones.
A malnourished child has to cope with an initially increased metabolism. So the focus of food energy is to survive. There is very little extra energy to fight infections. After all immune cells are like any other cells in the body and need the energy to function.
When a malnourished person has to fight infections the body doesn’t do it quite right, because there seems to be a lot of unnecessary inflammatory processes.
So the malnourished person is really in a state of immune deficiency, and this is only the tip of the iceberg, because nutrition functions in so many ways.
When protein, an extremely important nutrient in a diet is reduced, frequent infections occur because immune cells contain proteins. Malnourished individuals also suffer because intestinal barriers, which keep infections within the gut, do not function properly. So there is not only the risk of frequent infections but also the risk of dangerous spread of infections.
It’s important that micronutrients are balanced in the diet. Iron deficiency increases the risk of infections yet too much of it can predispose to infections, hence, popping in iron tablets without medical advice is dangerous.
Vitamin A and iodine deficiencies may be more subtle in the early stages but also increase infection risks.
Obesity, at the other end of the malnutrition spectrum, in H1N1 and in Covid-19 pandemics, is also a risk factor for both diseases.
We aren’t always aware that we have nutritional deficiencies
We may not realise that the face of malnutrition is so varied today that many may actually be suffering from one deficiency or the other, without knowing it.
Since nutrition is so important to fight infections, how we respond to infections would really depend on our holistic nutrition. For example, in this pandemic, although we know of some of its risks, yet we are aware that some without any such risks have succumbed to Covid-19.
Hence taking a balanced diet and immunising against diseases with available vaccines and keeping up-to-date on newly approved vaccines are necessary.
Vaccinations in malnutrition
Since malnutrition causes so many problems, one may wonder if undernourished children can respond well to vaccines.
Well, the best strategy is to do both - improve their nutrition and to vaccinate them.
Fortunately, even undernourished children can respond well to vaccination although some differences in their vaccine responses may depend on how undernourished they are.
These children are important target groups for vaccination because of their risks of severe infections. Infections can tip the balance of nutrition in any child, but vaccinations work by protecting from them.
Studies indicate that even when children suffer stunting and wasting, vaccines can normalise growth in a number of them.
Vaccinations allow the undernourished child to use precious calories for growth and development of body and brain instead of simply wasting it on fighting infections.
Additionally, let's not overlook the fact that by vaccinating them, the numbers of vaccinated individuals in a population increase, and that's important for herd immunity.
DR PRAMEELA KANNAN KUTTY is a professor of paediatrics, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional, Malaysia - Mkini
Good article. I like the part that generations affected Omg!!!
ReplyDeleteVery clear writing now I try to understand my grandchildren must vaccinate also
Very well written and commendable by Prof Prameela. Vaccination is definitely essential for everyone. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe importance of Vaccinations have been wonderfully explained in simple words. One of a few articles that truly talks about the importance of Vaccinations in an Undernourished child. Very very informative, excellent write up. Thank you for sharing this informations. These informations can be used to educate the public as well .
ReplyDeleteSpend just a few minutes reading this and it might change the future of generations! Never overlook the small things that we do which will bring tremendous effects in the future. Great piece of information delivered by the writer. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell written article about the importance of vaccinating a child especially malnourished children. Very informative article, thank you for the write up.
ReplyDeleteA great article written by Dr. Prameela Kannan Kutty, who clearly explained about Malaysia issue on malnourishment and infection. She gave a solution of it , which is treat the deficiency and give vaccination. Thts all but it make huge difference. I appreciate that the writer can pointed out this issue. Vaccination is very important for our kids and we should never miss any kids in taking vaccination . Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteAlways a delight to read one of your articles. Truly appreciate your clearly written and thought provoking discussion on the relation of vaccination and how it deeply affects the nutritional status of a child. You have a gift in integrating the issues community faces but choses to ignore. I look forward to reading your next informative work!
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ReplyDeleteWell written article from one of the senior pediatrician in malaysia Prof Pramella Kannan Kutty. Really worth reading. The writer clearly pointed out the issues of malnourishment and the importance of vaccination to overcome the problems. Surely this article will benefit alot of the people out there. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of this covid 19 pandemics, it makes us realised about how much importance of our own self-immunity when it comes to the battle between human and the virus.This write up gave us clues about not only vaccination can assist in creating the herd immunity ,also for those malnourished children who are at great risk of getting serious disease,they should be vaccinated for better health. Amazing write up, truly agree with the view of the writer.
ReplyDeleteThis articles point out the important of nutrition and vaccination for a child. Thank you the writter to share this important message. It is so informative and i should share to my friends and family to contribute in fighthing this covid19 !
ReplyDeleteThis articles point out the important of nutrition and vaccination for a child. Thank you the writter to share this important message. It is so informative and i should share to my friends and family to contribute in fighthing this covid19 !
ReplyDeleteA timely reminder to everyone as the pandemic rages on. So much attention is given to the plight of the COVID 19 patients (rightly so) that children's need for vaccination seems to be overlooked. Malnutrition is a serious threat for children from the low income groups. The government is doing its part but parents play the greatest role. They must get their children vaccinated without giving excuses such as their financial distress and lack of help. This article is an eye opener not to sideline vaccination and interestingly, the given definition of malnutrition will enlighten readers of the two extreme points ; deficiency and excess, thus readers can review their diets and give priority to children's healthy growth. We need to obliterate the unnecessary exertion of the body's immune system to fight diseases and vaccination is the answer.
ReplyDeleteWell written article by Prof Prameela Kannan Kutty. Vaccination in malnourished child is well elaborated. It is clear indeed that vaccination is an inportant thing not only in a malnourished but also in a normal child. This information though can be used to provide awareness to the public who still doesnt now the importants of vaccination. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVaccination had always been a major topic in the field yet its light was dimmed by the pandemic recently. This article served like a reminder to all healthcare personnel that vaccination is not only important, but it is even more crucial in malnourish children. We had known then children are the key to future and providing them a healthy growing environment is the least we can do. One way I had always believed in is by vaccination, as highlighted by Prof Prameela, as it is an act of "killing 'too many' birds with one stone." Thank you for this informative piece! -Fiona
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