Effect of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) Supplement After an Episode of Malaria Falciparum on Weight

The Effectiveness of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in Catch up Growth in Children After an Episode of P. Falciparum Malaria

The primary objective of this study is to determine to what extent provision with RUTF will promote catch up growth in children following an acute uncomplicated episode of P. falciparum malaria.

Anorexia due to infection might lead to weight loss. In many settings total recovery is problematic what might result in a permanent lower weight. A short period high quality food supplementation could improve weight gain after an infection.

Children aged 6-59 months presenting with malaria caused by P. falciparum who are provided with a RUTF supplement (Plumpynut®) of 500 kcal/day for 2 weeks will show significantly better catch up growth compared to a similar patient group not provided with RUTF (at 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-intervention).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 6 to 59 months, and
• Positive rapid diagnostic test (Paracheck®) and
• Thick smear showing infection with P. falciparum and
• Informed consent from parents or guardian aged at least 18 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who are exclusively breast fed or
• Children who are severely malnourished (MUAC <110 mm and/or bilateral oedema, or WHO weight-for-Height criteria <3 Z-scores) or
• Presence of general danger signs or signs of severe malaria as defined by the WHO criteria, or
• Known history of allergy to malaria drugs, or
• Having a sibling enrolled in the study.