The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-04-29
THE HEALTH CENTER
Conducted by Viola Hahn, Public
Health Nurse ~
The Growing Child

Maryland State Board of Health and
the County Health Officer.
6. MalnutritiGn Should Be Treated
Malnutrition is condition of I'M
der-nourishment commonly measured
by underweight. It is seen in boys
and girls at any period after infancy
or in childhood.
1t is an important condition, very
often neglected, and when neglected
may lead to serious consequences. It.
may lay the foundation for poor
physical development or i'll health in
adult life or may lead to some serious
disease like tuberculosis.
How to Recognize Malnutrition
Children suffering from malnutri-
ton are not only much below normal
weight for height, but they gain much
more slowly han they should. At the
ages of 6 to 10 years, when healthy
child gains to 5 pounds year,
they may gain only to 2 pounds, or
even none at all; from IL to Is years,
when healthy children should gain
from 6 to Ia pounds year, they may
gain only or pounds.
Children with malnutrition do not
al behave the same way. Some are
pale, dull and listless, with dark
rings under the eyes, tire easily, and
have no ambition-for work or play;
their work in school is often so poor
that they must frequently repeat their
grades. Others are nervous and fret
full, hard to please and hard to man,
age; they eat and sleep badly. Still
others are over-ambitious, constantly
active, restless; they find it difficult
to concentrate.
Why Malnutrition Develops
Children get into condition of NAL
nutrition because their growth is not
watched. To grow in height and gain
regularly in weight is just as much a
sign of health in boy or girl Of 8 or
10 as ina baby. Mothers have learn
ed to weigh their babies; they must
also learn that it is just as important
TO WEIGH their older boys and girls.
WI en- children do not grow or gain
regularly in wei hit. something is
-w~on~. If these boys and gir's are
WEIGHED REGULARLY every month this
condition of malnulrition would be
discovered and not allowed to go on to
serious consequences.
The causes Of malnutrition are in
most csras not difficult to find. Anon
the most important are:
l. The child does not get sufficient
food.
q He does not get the right kind
If food. He spoils his appetite for
simple foods needed for growth, such
as milk, cereals, vegetables, etc, by
excessive indulgence in candy, sweets.
pastry. and other indieestible food.
8. He eats irregu.arly, between
meas. spoiling his DIGESTION by cakes
and trash.
a. He bolts his food, never taking
time enough at meals TO chew his food
properly, but washes it down with
water.
I. s. He drinks tea and coffee instead
of water and milk.
6. He does not get enough sleep:
at 10 or II years he does not get to
bed until 10 o'clock or after, when
he should be in bed at o'clock, and
sleep with windows wide open.
z. He suffers from habitual consti-
patton.
8. He gets too much stimulation
and emotional INSTRUMENTATION pic
lures and other evening entertain
ments.
9. He plays too hard; too many
hours or in too active and intense
manner.
10. He is overworked in school
md out; sometimes he has too many
extra lessons or classes outside of
school hours.
IL. Malnutrition may also be
caused or aggravated by such things
S decayed teeth, enlarged or diseas.
I'd tonsils or adenoids, and it may be
the beginning of.some serious disease
IL. In places where malaria OF
hookworm are present malnutrition is
often the result of these infections
A wise man largely avoids the
dear school of experience and edu-