Kwashiorkor:
It is found that it can occur at any time but often it starts between the ages 11/2 to 4 years. Mostly it is found in babies who will fed with small amount of breast milk and other foods, which is very low to his need. It is a serious sickness and needs urgent medical care. Deficiency of protein rich food cause kwashiorkor, however he will get some protein from breast milk and other stable food but he used that small amount of protein for produce energy for his daily need. Therefore, he has no protein left to row and make his body strong. We call this wet malnutrition because is body is swollen (edema) especially the face, forearms, hands, legs and feet. The belly and the genitals may also be swollen. Because of swelling and because he have even some fat, the child with kwashiorkor look plump rather than thin. But if you look at his upper arms, you will find them surprisingly thin.
The child is unhappy, cries over long periods or sits still and has no interest in anything, even in food. The skin is pale which may have sores with fluid coming out of it or the skin peels off. The skin may have dark brown patches. The hair pale, brownish, thin and breaks off easily. The child may also have anemia and vitamin A deficiency.
Marasmus:
A child with Marasmus is younger, between 6 months to 2years old. It is usually seen in children from poor families who were given diluted milk from an early age. Marasmus develops because the child does not eat enough of any kind of food. In other words, he is starved.
The child is thin and wasted. There is no fat between the skin and bones. They are called “skin and bones” children. The belly is distended. The skin is wrinkled and he looks like an old man. A child with marasmus is usually hungry.
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