Final answer:
The most direct result of undernutrition linked to death in childhood is reduced resistance to infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most direct result of undernutrition linked to death in childhood is reduced resistance to infection. Undernutrition weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to infectious diseases and making them more prone to become sicker when they have infections. This can ultimately lead to death if they do not receive proper treatment and nutrition. The result of undernutrition most directly linked to death in childhood is reduced resistance to infection. Undernutrition and infectious diseases in children have a dangerous synergistic relationship where each condition exacerbates the other. Undernourished children are weakened, resulting in a compromised immune system which makes them more susceptible to infectious diseases and likely to become sicker when they do contract an infection. As illnesses such as infectious diseases require more nutrient intake, being undernourished can drastically reduce a child's capacity to fight off these infections, leading to an increased risk of death. Other impacts of undernutrition, like impaired cognitive development and growth stunting, certainly have long-term consequences and can affect quality of life and well-being into adulthood. However, the immediate risk of death in children is most closely tied to their lowered resistance to infections, which can be directly life-threatening.