The use of Antibiotics for the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Review

Abstract

Severe acute malnutrition contributes to the mortality of about a fifth of children who die before the age of five and those that are not killed by malnutrition are more likely to be affected by infectious diseases, which may impair their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition predisposes the previous sufferer with poor overall health that can be life-long. Diseases such as Malaria, diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, HIV/AIDS and intestinal parasites related diseases are all observed to be attributed to malnutrition. The use of antibiotics for therapeutic management of severe acute malnutrition significantly reduced the mortality rates especially in complicated severe acute malnutrition. However, undernourished children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition should not be given antibiotics unless they show signs of clinical infection.