Treatment for malnutrition varies depending on a number of factors, such as:
- whether you are mildly, moderately or severely malnourished
- the underlying cause of your malnutrition
- whether you are able to cook healthy meals for yourself
- whether you are able to eat and digest food normally
Depending on these factors you will either be treated at home under the supervision of a dietitian or other qualified health professional, or admitted to hospital.
Treatment at home
The dietitian will discuss with you what changes you should make to your diet. Recommended diet plans will depend on your individual circumstances but it is likely you will be advised to increase gradually your intake of protein, carbohydrates, water, minerals and vitamins. You may also be given additional supplements or foods that are especially high in energy, such as high protein bars.
Your body mass index (BMI) will be regularly measured to monitor your improvement.
You can also discuss the cause of your malnutrition with your dietitian as you may need additional support. For example, if poor mobility makes it difficult for you to cook for yourself you may benefit from having a part-time carer to help you with shopping and cooking.
If you find it difficult to swallow food or drink you may need to eat very soft or pureed food or require an artificial method of feeding, which is usually a feeding tube. There are two types of feeding tubes:
- a tube that is passed down your nose and into your stomach (nasogastric tube)
- a tube that is surgically implanted directly into your stomach (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or PEG, tube)
Nasogastric tubes are designed for short-term use and may be considered if you are likely to need a feeding tube for up to six weeks.
PEG tubes are designed for long-term use and last for around two years before they need to be replaced.
If you have a condition that severely affects your ability to digest food, or your digestive system has been damaged, then you may need to be fed nutrients through a tube directly into your veins. This is known as parenteral nutrition.
While it is possible to have parenteral nutrition at home, access to the equipment is often limited so you may be required to visit the hospital on a daily basis, at least at first. Your GP will be able to advise on the treatment that will be best for you.
Treatment in hospital
If you are admitted to hospital with malnutrition you may be seen by a number of different health professionals who will be involved in your care. This may include:
- a doctor who specialises in treating digestive conditions (a gastroenterologist)
- a dietitian
- a nurse specialising in nutrition
- a pharmacist
- a psychologist
- a social worker
If you are able to swallow food without any difficulty then you can be treated with a high energy diet.
If you are unable to swallow food, you will required either a feeding tube (if your digestive system is working properly) or parenteral nutrition (if your digestive system is not working properly).
You may also require additional treatment for the underlying cause(s) of your malnutrition.
The medical term for having problems swallowing is dysphagia. Read more about the treatments for dysphagia.
If your malnutrition is due to a digestive condition such as Crohn’s disease then you may require a short-term course of corticosteroids (steroid medication) to reduce inflammation inside your digestive system.
The amount of time you will spend in hospital depends on your general state of health and the underlying cause of your malnutrition.
Treating children
In the UK most cases of malnutrition are caused by long-term health conditions, not lack of food, so they do not usually require hospital treatment.
These types of cases can usually be treated by giving your child additional nutrients, usually supplements and high-protein food. The underlying cause of their malnutrition may also need to be treated.
For example, children who become malnourished as a result of cystic fibrosis (a condition that ‘clogs’ up the lungs and digestive system with a sticky mucus) will need to take a medication before eating that makes it easier for the body to digest food.
In the rare case of a child being severely malnourished due to a lack of food, they are given a special feeding formula called F-75 that increases the amount of calories (energy) they are getting.
Severely malnourished children need to be fed and rehydrated with great care and so cannot be given a normal diet straight away.
Once their condition stabilises then they can gradually be introduced to a normal diet.
Malnutrition due to lack of food is a child protection issue so the police and social services need to be informed.
