Table of Contents
What causes kwashiorkor and marasmus?
Like marasmus, kwashiorkor is a type of malnutrition caused by protein deficiency. It mainly occurs in children who are weaning off breast milk, while marasmus can develop in infants. If your diet has a lot of carbohydrates and very little proteins, you may develop kwashiorkor.
What causes enlarged liver in kwashiorkor?
Dermatitis with dry and peeling skin and hypopigmented hair can be a result of the protein malnutrition. In severe cases, hepatomegaly can occur due to decreased production of lipoprotein.
What causes Oedema in kwashiorkor?
The hallmark of kwashiorkor is oedema. According to the ‘classical’ theory, an inadequate intake of protein leads to a low plasma albumin concentration, which in turn causes oedema.
What causes rickets in a child?
The most common cause of rickets is a lack of vitamin D or calcium in a child’s diet. Both are essential for children to develop strong and healthy bones. Sources of vitamin D are: sunlight – your skin produces vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun, and we get most of our vitamin D this way.
Do I have rickets?
pain – the bones affected by rickets can be sore and painful, so the child may be reluctant to walk or may tire easily; the child’s walk may look different (waddling) skeletal deformities – thickening of the ankles, wrists and knees, bowed legs, soft skull bones and, rarely, bending of the spine.
How does kwashiorkor affect your health?
Kwashiorkor severely weakens the immune system and makes the patient susceptible to various infectious diseases. The side effects of kwashiorkor usually include failure to gain weight or grow taller, fatigue, flaky rash, and irritability .
What are the effects of kwashiorkor?
The side effects of kwashiorkor usually include failure to gain weight or grow taller, fatigue, flaky rash, and irritability. Kwashiorkor may cause complications like coma, permanent mental and physical disability, shock, and stunted growth and height.
What affect does kwashiorkor?
Kwashiorkor is another severe form of protein-energy malnutrition where the main deficiency is protein. Severe cases of malnutrition can lead to kwashiorkor. Unlike marasmus, kwashiorkor causes the body to retain fluid in the lower legs, feet, arms, hands, and face, leading to a swollen appearance.
What is the prevention for kwashiorkor?
Prevention. The best way to avoid kwashiorkor is to eat nutritious diet rich in carbohydrates, fats (10% of the total calories) and proteins (12% of the total calories).