Ready‐to‐use therapeutic food for home‐based treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013•cochranelibrary.com
Background Malnourished children have a higher risk of death and illness. Treating severe
acute malnourished children in hospitals is not always desirable or practical in rural settings,
and home treatment may be better. Home treatment can be food prepared by the carer, such
as flour porridge, or commercially manufactured food such as ready‐to‐use therapeutic food
(RUTF). RUTF is made according to a standard, energy‐rich composition defined by the
World Health Organization (WHO). The benefits of RUTF include a low moisture content …
acute malnourished children in hospitals is not always desirable or practical in rural settings,
and home treatment may be better. Home treatment can be food prepared by the carer, such
as flour porridge, or commercially manufactured food such as ready‐to‐use therapeutic food
(RUTF). RUTF is made according to a standard, energy‐rich composition defined by the
World Health Organization (WHO). The benefits of RUTF include a low moisture content …
Background
Malnourished children have a higher risk of death and illness. Treating severe acute malnourished children in hospitals is not always desirable or practical in rural settings, and home treatment may be better. Home treatment can be food prepared by the carer, such as flour porridge, or commercially manufactured food such as ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF). RUTF is made according to a standard, energy‐rich composition defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The benefits of RUTF include a low moisture content, long shelf life without needing refrigeration and that it requires no preparation.
Objectives
To assess the effects of home‐based RUTF on recovery, relapse and mortality in children with severe acute malnutrition.
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