WHO child growth standards and the identification of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children

Overview

The statement presents the recommended cut-offs, summarizes the rationale for their adoption and advocates for their harmonized application in the identification of 6 to 60 months old infants and children for the management of severe acute malnutrition. It reviews the implications on patient load, on discharge criteria and on programme planning and monitoring. It also recommends the increase of the MUAC cut-off for defining severe acute malnutrition in children 6 months to 5 years of age from 110 mm to 115 mm.