This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: None, Subject name: Pediatrics
[{'content': 'The deficit in weight for height in a 3-year-old child indicates – \nSelect and explain. \nA. Acute malnutrition, B. Chronic malnutrition, C. Concomittant acute and chronic, D. Under weight', 'role': 'user'}, {'content': 'Answer: A \nExplanation: SURVEILLANCE OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT\n\nSurveillance of growth and development is an important component of the routine anticipatory care of children.\nThe main purpose of growth surveillance is to identify those children who are not growing normally. Surveillance for physical growth can be done in the following ways.\n\n1) Weight for age \n\nMeasurement of weight and rate of gain in weight are the best single parameters for assessing physical growth. The weight should be carefully repeated at intervals:\nBirth -1 year\xa0→ Monthly\nThe second-year\xa0→ Every two months\n2-5 years\xa0→ Every 3 months\nThese measurements when compared with the reference standards of the weight of children of the same age, the trend of growth becomes obvious.\nWeight for age can be used to classify malnutrition and determine its prevalence.\n80 % of the median weight for age of the reference is cut off point below which children should be considered malnourished.\n\n2) \xa0 Weight for age \n\nHeight is a stable measurement of growth as opposed to body weight.\nWhereas weight reflects only the present health status of the child, height indicates the events in the past\xa0also.\n\nLow height for age :\n\nThis is also known as nutritional stunting or dwarfing.\nIt reflects past or chronic malnutrition.\nThe cutoff point commonly taken for the diagnosis of stunting is 90 percent of the united states NCHS height for age.\n\n3) Weight for height\n\nWeight in relation to height is now considered more important than weight alone. \nIt helps to determine whether a child is within range of normal weight for his height.\n\nLow weight for height\n\nThis is also known as nutritional wasting or emaciation (Acute malnutrition).\nIt is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity.\nA child who is less than 70% of the expected weight for height is classed as severely wasted.\n\n4) Head and chest circumference \n\nChest circumference\nAt birth → Less than 2 cm from head circumference\n6-9 months →Two measurements become equal\n> 6-9 months → Overtakes head circumference\nIn severely malnourished children this overtaking may be delayed by 3 to 4 years.', 'role': 'assistant'}]