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Volume 5
Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine
Page 55
Joint Meeting on
2
nd
Annual Conference on
&
Pediatric Nursing and Healthcare
23
rd
World Nutrition & Pediatrics Healthcare Conference
Health Care, Nutrition & Pediatrics Meet 2019
June 17-18, 2019
June 17-18, 2019 Dubai, UAE
Marwa Bebars, Neonat Pediatr Med 2019, Volume 5
Special nutritional needs of children with malignancies
Marwa Bebars
Dubai Health Authority, UAE
M
alnutrition is an unspecific term used to define an inadequate nutritional condition. It is characterized
by either a deficiency or an excess of energy with measurable adverse effects on clinical outcome.
Malnutrition describes the consequences of insufficient protein-energy intake. An adequate protein-
energy balance is a prerequisite for age-appropriate growth and maintenance. Malnutrition also comprises
circumstances of elevated energy supply resulting in overnutrition with an increase in adipose tissue. Even
though malnutrition has been defined or described in many ways, no consensus exists regarding a specific
definition to identify children at risk. The WHO recommends the weight-for-height index to assess the
nutritional status of childrenandadolescents.However, it is proposed that a loss inbodyweight of 5%constitutes
acute malnutrition and a height-for-age value below the 5
th
percentile may reflect chronic undernourishment
in children. Ironically, many children suffering from cancer do not meet these criteria. Particularly those with
large solid abdominal masses (e.g. embryonal neoplasms such as neuroblastoma,hepatoblastoma, or Wilms
tumor) may present with normal weight despite severe malnutrition. Nutritional depletion may furthermore
be masked in children by edema due to corticosteroid treatment. Even if no gold standarddefinition for
undernourishment in children exists, concise definitions are needed for the institution of preventive
policies. We provide a critical review of the current state of research and knowledge related to the nutritional
management in childhood cancer.
Biography
Marwa Bebars has completed her Masters degree in Pediatrics from Zagazig University and Post-doctoral studies in Pediatric Oncology from
Cairo University School of Medicine. She is a Member of Royal College of Pediatric and Child Health. She is currently working as a Senior
Specialist in Dubai Hospital Tertiary Reffral Hospital and also published more 15 papers in reputed.
mabebarsmohamed@dha.gov.ae