A 3-month-old male (spontaneous vaginal delivery at term to G3P2 31-year-old woman) infant is presented to the pediatric clinic for a routine examination and care. He has a history of normal prenatal sonograms and excellent prenatal care. He is being breastfed. On examination, the baby, appears to be severely malnourished with his skin appears wrinkled and tented. His vital signs include a pulse of 130 bpm, respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, temperature of 98.2° F (36.8° C), and blood pressure of 127/71 mm Hg.
His weight is 2.9 kg, which is below the 3rd percentile for an infant of this age, and he is measured at 53 cm long, which also falls below the 3rd percentile for his age. His head circumference is 37.3 cm (also below the 3rd percentile). He weighs less now than he did at birth. His abdomen appears bloated, but no evidence of any organomegaly is present. He has no appetite and…
