ICD·index Chapters ENESDE
5B50-5B7Z block

Undernutrition

Definition

Despite significant improvements in the past 3 decades, childhood undernutrition continues to be a serious and persistent public health problem. Globally, in 2011, one in four preschool age children (26%, 165 million) was estimated to be stunted, whereas one in six (16%, 101 million) was underweight, and one in 12 (8%, 52 million) wasted. The highest rates of undernutrition are found in Africa and Asia. Maternal and child undernutrition are associated with adverse functional consequences, including low immune response, poor cognition and intellectual capacity, lost productivity, and poor reproductive performance. In the aggregate (including fetal growth restriction, stunting, wasting, and deficiencies of vitamin A and zinc along with suboptimal breastfeeding) undernutrition is a cause of 3.1 million child deaths annually or 45% of all child deaths in 2011.

Inclusions

  • Malnutrition NOS

Exclusions

25 subordinate codes

Nearby in Nutritional disorders