I recently returned to the US for a bit of respite. One of the things I love most about returning to Haiti after a break in the US is to not be able to recognize kids in the malnutrition center because they have gained so much weight. Marvensky is one such child. He is approaching his first birthday. He came to us weighing 4.4 kg. He had edema secondary to kwashiorkor, and so his weight decreased to 4.1 kg when the edema resolved. H e did not gain weight and subsequently was diagnosed with tuberculosis. It can take up to 2 months of treatment for tuberculosis for children to start gaining weight. Marvensky did not start gaining weight until week 5 of treatment for tuberculosis, but is growing well now, weighing 6.9 kg.
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