[Therapeutic management of malnutrition]

THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF MALNUTRITION The management of malnutrition, in addition to its etiological assessment, requires the evaluation of its severity, the determination of protein and energy requirements and the measurement of the patient's food intake. These elements help define the management. For moderate malnutrition with still significant intakes, the first line of treatment is dietetic advice (stopping restrictive diets, enriching the diet) and oral nutritional supplements. In case of severe malnutrition and/or in case of failure of the oral treatment, there is an indication for artificial nutrition. This is enteral in the first instance, parenteral in case of intestinal failure or failure of enteral nutrition. Although the prescription of artificial nutrition is reserved for hospital doctors, the general practitioner is involved in the orientation of the patient and in the follow-up of this treatment.