Overview

This guideline provides global, normative, evidence-informed recommendations and good practice statements on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema (acute malnutrition) in children under 5 years of age. The guideline supersedes the 2013 WHO Guideline: updates on the management of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children.

The recommendations in this guideline are intended for a wide audience, including policymakers, expert advisers, and technical and programme staff involved in the design, implementation and scaling up of programmes for the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema. 

Operational guidance is being developed for policymakers, health workers and programme managers on how to implement these recommendations and good practice statements.

The guideline is also published in digital format on MAGICapp here