Acute malnutrition
Acute malnutrition is a condition that results from insufficient intake of energy, nutrients, and/or infection over a short time period. It is caused by a decrease in food intake and/or an illness or infection. Acute malnutrition typically manifests in weight loss and is detected by measuring weight and height, or by the size of the upper arm (mid- upper arm circumference) and referred to as wasting in children less than 5 years of age and thinness in children and adolescents 5-19 years of age and adults.