How many people does kwashiorkor affect




















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.

Your body may need to adjust to the increased intake. Even with treatment, children who have had kwashiorkor may never reach their full growth and height potential. 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. A look at anasarca, a condition that causes a general swelling of the body. Included is detail on how it is diagnosed and the outlook for the…. Edema, or water retention, occurs when fluid builds up in the tissues of the body. Learn about edema here. A calorie is an amount of energy that a particular food provides. Consuming more calories than needed will result in weight gain, consuming too few….

Tests may need to be done to rule out other causes of thinness. The treatment for marasmus is similar to that for kwashiorkor. Page last reviewed: 28 August Next review due: 28 August Symptoms of kwashiorkor As well as oedema, symptoms of kwashiorkor can include: loss of muscle mass an enlarged tummy "pot belly" regular infections, or more serious or long-lasting infections red, inflamed patches of skin that darken and peel or split open dry, brittle hair that falls out easily and may lose its colour failure to grow in height tiredness or irritability ridged or cracked nails Kwashiorkor can be fatal if it's left untreated for too long because children become very vulnerable to infections.

What causes kwashiorkor? Although kwashiorkor can affect people of all ages, it's more common in children than adults.

Diagnosing kwashiorkor Kwashiorkor can often be diagnosed based on a child's physical appearance and questions about their diet and care. This can include tests to: measure blood sugar and protein levels check how well the liver and kidneys are working by testing the urine and blood for anaemia measure the levels of vitamins and minerals in the body Other tests may include growth measurements, calculating body mass index BMI , measuring body water content, taking a sample of skin biopsy or hair for testing.

Treating kwashiorkor If kwashiorkor is found early, it can be treated with either specially formulated milk-based feeds or ready-to-use therapeutic food RUTF.

Hospital treatment usually involves: treating or preventing low blood glucose keeping the person warm — kwashiorkor can make it harder to generate body heat treating dehydration with specially formulated rehydration solution treating infections with antibiotics — kwashiorkor greatly increases the risk of infections treating vitamin and mineral deficiencies — vitamin supplements are usually included in the special milk feeds and RUTF slowly introducing small amounts of food, then gradually increasing the amount of food The treatment usually takes 2 to 6 weeks.

Recovering from kwashiorkor How well a person recovers from kwashiorkor depends on how severe their symptoms were when treatment began.



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