It is more common in areas that experience low food security, possibly due to a natural disaster, drought, conflict, or low economic activity. Edema can mask how little body weight a child has. The child may appear to be a typical weight or even plump, but this appearance is swelling due to fluid, not the presence of fat or muscle.
When diagnosing kwashiorkor in a child, doctors begin by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. They will look for the characteristic skin lesions or rash, as well as edema on the legs, feet, and, sometimes, the face and arms. In some cases, the doctor may order blood testing for electrolyte levels, creatinine, total protein, and prealbumin.
Children with kwashiorkor tend to have low blood sugar levels, as well as low levels of protein, sodium, zinc, and magnesium.
According to the worldwide relief organization Unicef , marasmus is the most common form of acute malnutrition in food shortage emergencies.
This condition affects both children and adults. Although kwashiorkor is a condition that relates to malnutrition, merely feeding a child or adult will not correct all of the deficiencies and effects of the condition. If a child has been living without sufficient protein and nutrients for a long time, they can find it difficult to take in food. It is, therefore, essential to reintroduce food carefully to avoid refeeding syndrome.
Refeeding syndrome involves life threatening electrolyte and fluid shifts that occur with rapid refeeding of malnourished individuals. Many children with kwashiorkor will also develop lactose intolerance. As a result, they may need to avoid milk products or take enzymes so that their body can handle milk. Doctors treating the condition will first give carbohydrates , then add in proteins, vitamins , and minerals. The reintroduction of food may take a week or more to accomplish safely.
Children with kwashiorkor may not grow to an expected height due to malnutrition at an early age. The condition also makes a person more vulnerable to infection, which, alongside a weakened immune system, can lead to life threatening complications. Kwashiorkor is a type of severe malnutrition that is most common in children. It occurs due to a lack of protein in the diet, which affects the balance and distribution of fluids in the body and often leads to a swollen belly.
Effective treatment can usually reverse many of the signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor. It is important to reintroduce foods slowly and carefully to avoid refeeding syndrome. Every cell in your body contains protein. You need protein in your diet for your body to repair cells and make new cells.
A healthy human body regenerates cells in this way constantly. Protein is also especially important for growth during childhood and pregnancy. If the body lacks protein, growth and normal body functions will begin to shut down, and kwashiorkor may develop. Kwashiorkor is most common in countries where there is a limited supply or lack of food.
A limited supply or lack of food is common in these countries during times of famine caused by natural disasters — such as droughts or floods — or political unrest. A lack of nutritional knowledge and regional dependence on low-protein diets, such the maize-based diets of many South American countries, can also cause people to develop this condition. This condition is rare in countries where most people have access to enough food and are able to eat adequate amounts of protein.
It can also be a sign of an underlying condition, such as HIV. If kwashiorkor is suspected, your doctor will first examine you to check for an enlarged liver hepatomegaly and swelling. Next, blood and urine tests may be ordered to measure the level of protein and sugar in your blood. Other tests may be performed on your blood and urine to measure signs of malnutrition and lack of protein.
These tests may look for muscle breakdown and assess kidney function, overall health, and growth. These tests include:. Kwashiorkor can be corrected by eating more protein and more calories overall, especially if treatment is started early. You may first be given more calories in the form of carbohydrates, sugars, and fats.
Once these calories provide energy, you will be given foods with proteins. Foods must be introduced and calories should be increased slowly because you have been without proper nutrition for a long period. If kwashiorkor is found early, it can be treated with either specially formulated milk-based feeds or ready-to-use therapeutic food RUTF.
RUTF is typically made up of peanut butter, milk powder, sugar, vegetable oil, and added vitamins and minerals. More intensive treatment in hospital is needed in severe cases or where there are already complications, such as infections. How well a person recovers from kwashiorkor depends on how severe their symptoms were when treatment began. If treatment was started early, the person will usually recover well, although children may never reach their full growth potential and be shorter than their peers.
If treatment was started in the later stages of protein malnutrition, the person may be left with physical and intellectual disabilities. Marasmus is another type of malnutrition that can affect young children in regions of the world where there's an unstable food supply. Signs of marasmus include thinness and loss of fat and muscle without any tissue swelling oedema.
Like kwashiorkor, marasmus is caused by a lack of the right types of nutrients. Tests may need to be done to rule out other causes of thinness. The treatment for marasmus is similar to that for kwashiorkor.
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