Malnutrition remains a global health concern and contributes significantly to childhood mortality. Nearly half of all deaths in children <5 years ofage are attributed to undernutrition, especially in developing countries. It is important to differentiate between acute and chronic malnutrition,as the management and mortality for these two conditions differ. Management should follow integrative management protocols to ensurethat mortality and morbidity are minimised. General principles for inpatient management of acute malnutrition can be divided into twophases, i.e. the initial stabilisation phase (usually in the first week) for acute complications, and the much longer rehabilitation phase. Theinitial phase lasts approximately 1 week and involves intensive monitoring and treatment. Severe acute malnutrition remains a problemin public health, especially in developing countries. Adhering to programmatic approaches for diagnosis and management ensures lowermortality rates and better outcomes
