How to Prevent Malnutrition

The World Health Organization defines malnutrition as the cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients and energy and the body's demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific functions. More recently, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) workgroup defined pediatric malnutrition as an imbalance between nutrient requirement and intake, resulting in cumulative deficits of energy, protein, or micronutrients that may negatively affect growth, development, and other relevant outcomes. This study examined the incidence of malnutrition in children between the ages 0-5 years, hospitalized in General Pediatrics, department of pediatrics, University Hospital Centre ?Mother Theresa?, Tirana, Albania, from January to December 2015. It brings to our attention the possible causes, likely consequences and the main topics on preventing malnutrition. Its also focused on the need to educate mothers and societies on good nutrition and adequate diet that should be given to the infants.