Kwashiorkor is a form of severe malnutrition caused by insufficient protein intake despite adequate overall calorie consumption, and it is characterized by fluid retention, or edema, and an enlarged liver containing excess fat. It differs from marasmus, the other major form of severe childhood malnutrition, in which the deficiency extends to overall energy intake rather than protein specifically. Research has also pointed to a possible role for deficiencies in antioxidant micronutrients in how the condition develops.
Facts
Classification
ICD-10 ChapterIV: Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 1 Communicable or Non-communicable Transmission Route Causative Agent
Causative Agent (category) First Described Connections
Treated By
Therapeutic nutritional feeding (parenteral nutrition in severe cases) is standard treatment for kwashiorkor.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter IVQuote, List of chapters, Chapter IV
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
2. World Health Organization: Noncommunicable diseases (fact sheet)
World Health OrganizationLead section, transmission-route statement (inferred from disease-category)
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
Main Types section
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
View the Source 3. Kwashiorkor (Wikipedia)
- Name introduced by Williams in 1935, article intro
- It is thought to be caused by sufficient calorie intake, but with insufficient protein consumption (or lack of good quality protein).
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