Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition Network

Inclusion criteria (hospitalized participants): * Children 2 months-23 months. * Admitted to hospital. * Planning to remain within the hospital catchment area and willing to come for specified visits during the 6 month follow up period. * Parent or guardian consents on child's behalf. Inclusion criteria (community participants): * Aged 2 to 23 months * Living in the same community as the acutely ill children recruited. * Not having an acute illness requiring hospital admission * Absence of known, but untreated HIV or TB * Not admitted to hospital within the last 14 days * Not previously included in the study * Parent or guardian consents on child's behalf. Exclusion Criteria (all participants): * Requiring immediate resuscitation at admission to hospital\* * Unable to tolerate oral feeds while in his/her usual state of health * Underlying terminal illness that in the opinion of the treating physician is likely to lead to death within 6 months (e.g., cancer, congenital heart disease) * Diagnosed with a condition that in the opinion of the treating physician is likely to require surgery within 6 months * Diagnosed chromosomal abnormality (syndromically or genetically diagnosed abnormality) * Primary reason for admission is poisoning, trauma or a surgical condition * Previously enrolled in this study * Sibling currently or previously enrolled in this study (\* children requiring resuscitation will be defined as those with on-going cardiac or pulmonary arrest or judged to b…