The burden of pediatric malnutrition in the PICU

Malnutrition

Nutrition & Disease Management

The metabolic stress response taking place in the critically ill predisposes the child to malnutrition. A high protein turnover is evident because of skeletal muscle breakdown for the needed amino acids to serve various physiologic functions. Overcoming malnutrition in PICU entails assessment of baseline nutritional status and adopting nutrition algorithms, when available.