Malnutrition is dangerous for anyone, but especially for children. Malnutrition also doesn’t happen only to people who have very little to eat – it can also happen to those who have enough calories but not enough nutrition. This is what happened to an eight-year-old boy in Malaysia, who has permanently lost his eyesight due to a poor diet.
Malnutrition: Discovering the Devastating Impact
This young boy has reportedly had a poor diet essentially since the day he was born. The child’s diet, which primarily consisted of chicken nuggets, sausages, and cookies, has led to severe consequences, leaving him severely malnourished. It is unclear as to why the child’s diet was so poor, whether it was due to economic difficulties or if the child was just a severely picky eater. His condition was actually discovered by his teachers at school, when one day he asked the teacher why he couldn’t see anything. Both he and his teachers were scared and confused, and he was promptly taken to the hospital for a thorough examination. Subsequent medical assessments revealed that the child was suffering from an extreme vitamin A deficiency. This condition has serious implications for eye health and vision – the boy, sadly, had gone blind.
Understanding the Medical Condition
As the diagnosis unfolded, medical professionals pointed towards optic atrophy as a probable cause for the boy’s blindness. Optic atrophy is characterized by long-term damage to the optic nerve fibers, leading to irreversible vision impairments, including becoming blind. Unfortunately, even with supplements and improved nutrition from this point forward, it is unlikely that the damage done will be at all reversible. The boy will likely be blind for the rest of his life.
Not An Isolated Incident
Sadly, the boy in Malaysia is not the only case of blindness caused by malnutrition. A 12-year-old boy in Massachusetts has also gone permanently blind as a result of his extremely limited diet. The child, who suffers from autism, had developed a severe aversion to certain food textures. As a result, his diet mainly consisted of plain hamburgers, fries with ranch, donuts, and juice boxes.
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Symptoms
He first started experiencing vision problems, including darkening of vision in the mornings and evenings. Within six weeks, his condition deteriorated to the point where he could no longer walk without help. He frequently collided with walls and doors, until finally, one night, he woke up screaming that he couldn’t see.
Upon admission to the hospital, it was discovered that his restricted diet had left him severely deficient in crucial nutrients necessary for maintaining healthy optic nerves. Despite receiving supplements and feeding therapy, medical experts fear that the boy’s vision loss may be irreversible.
British Teen Gone Blind
A British teenager from Bristol has also been left blind due to extreme malnutrition. His diet generally consisted of french fries, potato chips, and occasional slices of ham. Despite being previously healthy and not taking any medication, his repetitive diet, mainly consisting of chips and crisps, led to critical nutrient deficiencies, including anemia, vitamin B12, copper, selenium, and vitamin D. Initially presenting with chronic fatigue at the age of 14, the boy was diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The boy in Massachusetts was also diagnosed with the same thing. This is a challenging condition that limits food choices based on aversion to certain textures.
The teenager’s condition has led to mineral loss from his bones and vision impairment, with blind spots impairing his central vision. The boy in the UK has retained peripheral vision and can navigate independently, but the loss of central vision makes activities like driving, reading, watching TV, and recognizing faces challenging and nearly impossible. His life will never be the same.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
As already mentioned, both the boy in Massachusetts and the UK suffer from avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). This is a condition that affects many children, but in particular affects autistic children. Roughly half of autistic children suffer from ARFID to varying degrees, usually because they have highly sensitive sensory systems. This disorder can cause individuals to restrict their variety of foods due to anxiety related to taste, texture, or smell.
Examinations for both boys revealed that they had optic atrophy, just like the boy in Malaysia. Again, this is a condition where cells in the optic nerve waste away due to long-term damage. The damage is done due to severe deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, copper, and zinc, all of which contribute to compromised vision.
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Global Impact and Public Health Initiatives
While cases of severe vitamin A deficiency leading to blindness are relatively rare in developed countries like the United States, it remains a pressing concern in many parts of the world. Vulnerable populations, including infants, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, face increased risks of inadequate nutrient intake, raising the importance of targeted public health interventions to address nutritional deficiencies and safeguard vision health. This is also a more pressing concern in autistic populations, where people are more likely to suffer from ARFID. It can be extraordinarily difficult for parents and healthcare providers to overcome this mental health disorder.
Understanding Malnutrition in Children
Malnutrition is a serious condition that occurs when a child’s diet lacks the appropriate balance of essential nutrients. There are two main forms of malnutrition: undernutrition, which involves insufficient nutrient intake, and overnutrition, which results from excessive consumption. As already mentioned, malnutrition doesn’t actually refer to a lack of food, but a lack of nutrients. This can be caused by a lack of food, there is no doubt about that, but it can also occur in high calorie diets that simply lack nutrition. As was demonstrated in previously mentioned cases of the three boys from three different places in the world, they all had enough calories to eat. The problem was that the calories they were consuming were almost completely void of micronutrients, aka vitamins and minerals.
Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition
Recognizing the signs of malnutrition in children is crucial for early intervention. Common indicators include unintentional weight loss, with a 5% to 10% reduction over 3 to 6 months being a significant red flag. Children with a BMI (Body Mass Index) below 18.5 are at risk of malnourishment. Other signs that a child could be at risk for malnutrition include:
- those displaying a lack of interest in eating and drinking
- persistent fatigue and weakness
- increased susceptibility to illnesses
- delayed growth or inadequate weight gain
Identifying these symptoms promptly is essential for seeking appropriate medical attention. If you notice these symptoms in your child, seek medical attention immediately. If you are a parent of a very picky eater, consider talking to your healthcare provider about what can be done to overcome this problem. Usually, there are therapeutic options to help your child overcome their aversion to many tastes, textures, and smells. In the meantime, supplements can be prescribed to help ensure your child is receiving adequate nutrition. If you are a child worker (teacher, daycare, or any other position that works closely with children), don’t be afraid to mention it to the parents if you see certain signs or symptoms. You will have to be careful and respectful in your approach, but if done the right way, you may be able to help those parents get their child the help that they need.
Risk Factors and Prevention
Malnutrition can affect any child, but certain factors may increase the risk, including long-term health conditions that impact appetite and nutrient absorption, difficulties swallowing, social isolation, limited mobility, low income, and specific medical needs. To prevent malnutrition, parents should ensure that their child consumes a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, starchy foods, protein sources, and dairy products. Seeking advice from a GP or specialist can be beneficial for children with health conditions that elevate the risk of malnutrition. For example, it is well documented that children with autism are more likely to suffer from ARFID. If you already notice that your autistic child is picky with food, don’t wait until you notice other problems. Speak with your doctor right away so they can help you find the best course of action that supports your child’s unique needs.
Treatment and Support
The treatment for malnutrition in children is highly dependent on how malnourished the child is and what the underlying causes are. For some children, it is simply a need for more calories. This can be solved with calorie-dense foods, snacks, and drinks to help them boost their calorie intake. For others, supplementation with vitamins and minerals may do the trick. For others, however, it may require more specific interventions. These can include therapy, special tests and exams, and even different medical procedures to address the underlying cause. As always, it is never a bad idea to get multiple opinions, especially if you don’t think your concerns are being addressed properly.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the signs and symptoms of malnutrition in children is vital for parents to ensure the well-being and healthy development of their children. For the boys in Malaysia, Massachusetts, and the UK, the problem was not addressed until it was too late to save their vision. Early recognition, seeking medical advice, and promoting a balanced diet are key to preventing and addressing malnutrition in children. While being pickier eaters is normal for children, there are plenty of signs already mentioned here that this has gone too far. By staying informed and vigilant, parents can play a crucial role in safeguarding their child’s nutritional health.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is for information only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about your medical condition and/or current medication. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here.
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