Antibiotics Cut Death Rates in Children with Malnutrition

Settings and participants. Researchers enrolled children with uncomplicated cases of SAM at 18 feeding clinics in rural Malawi. Children presenting to the clinics were measured for weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference. Eligible patients were 6 to 59 months of age presenting with kwashiorkor (edema), marasmus (weightfor-height z score of less than –3), or both (marasmic kwashiorkor) and able to receive outpatient treatment (assessed on their ability to successfully consume a 30-g test feeding of RUTF). Eligible patients were enrolled upon written and oral consent from their caretakers.