Question
Treatment for non-responsive Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) includes all except:
| A. |
No edema reduction by day 4
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| B. |
Appetite not increased by day 4
|
| C. |
Weight-for-height reaches -2 z-score
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| D. |
Failure to gain at least 5 g/kg/day by day 10
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Show Answer
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Correct Answer » C
Explanation
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|
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) management follows WHO protocols, and treatment response is closely monitored using specific clinical and anthropometric indicators.
A child is labeled non-responsive (treatment failure) when expected improvement does not occur within defined timelines.
WHO Criteria for Non-response in SAM
A child is considered non-responsive if:
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Appetite does not improve by day 4
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Edema does not start reducing by day 4–5
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Weight gain is less than 5 g/kg/day by day 10
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Persistent complications or clinical deterioration
Management of Non-Responsive SAM:
- Investigate and treat underlying infections (e.g., TB, HIV, sepsis).
- Review therapeutic feeding protocols to ensure caloric and micronutrient adequacy.
- Monitor for conditions like malabsorption, metabolic disorders, or neglected social factors.
Weight-for-height reaches -2 z-score represents recovery, not non-responsiveness, and is thus the correct answer for what is not included in the criteria for non-responsive SAM.
