Malnutrition threatens the lives of millions of children under age 5, causing about 500,000 deaths per year in low- and middle-income countries. Short courses of antibiotics paired with a therapeutic peanut butter-based food are the standard of care for treating severe acute malnutrition in children — but using antibiotics in this vulnerable population is controversial; […]
Antibiotic treatment in malnourished children improves gut microbiome development (Links to an external site)
![Shown is a child whose upper arm circumference is being measured to determine the child’s muscle and fat mass. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that antibiotic treatment in malnourished children improves growth and promotes persistent gut microbiome improvements.](https://pediatrics.wustl.edu/app/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1442725132_1200-X-800-700x467-1-300x200.jpg)