Why are malnourished children more susceptible to measles and diarrheal diseases?

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rickets, a nutritional disease — nutritional disease Children with rickets. The disease, which most commonly strikes children, causes bone deformities such as bowlegs. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium.

Malnourished children are more susceptible to measles and diarrheal diseases primarily because severe malnutrition acts as a significant cause of immune deficiency.1

When a child’s diet is grossly deficient in protein, the body’s immune system suffers from the atrophy of the thymus. This leads to a deficiency of helper T cells, which in turn causes a serious impairment of both antibody responses and cell-mediated immunity. Because these critical defense mechanisms are compromised, children become particularly vulnerable to infections such as measles and diarrhea.1

Fortunately, these immune impairments are often reversible; the thymus and the broader immune system can typically recover their full function if the child receives adequate nutrition.1