Table 10.

Latest recommended criteria for assessing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) (130)

Condition	Indicator	Cut‐off
Severe wasting †	Weight‐for‐height*	<−3 SD
Severe wasting †	MUAC	<115 mm
Bilateral oedema †	Clinical sign

MUAC, mid‐upper arm circumference; SD, standard deviation. *Based on WHO Growth Standards (121). ^†bilateral oedema is an indicator of SAM independent of the anthropometric measures of low weight‐for‐height and/or low MUAC; the presence of bilateral oedema and/or severe wasting indicate the need for urgent action.