Introduction
At one time it was thought that kwashiorkor resulted from a lack of protein in the diet. It is now known to be a poor adaptation to famine.
It is also known as protein caloric malnutrition.
Symptoms of kwashiorkor
1. Chronic infection
2. Retarded growth
3. Deterioration of hair, skin and nails
4. Poor digestion of food
5. Moon face
6. Anemia
Symptoms of kwashiorkor in adults
In adults, starvation results in a variety of symptoms, including:
1. Dryness of hair and nail
2. Edema in the limbs and on the face
3. Wasting of muscle and organ
4. Restlessness
Kwashiorkor is commonly found in children between 1-5 years of age.
Treatment
The treatment of starving people is difficult not only because of lack of money and political reasons . Infections such as gastroenteritis, cholera, and pneumonia often aggravate the plight of the starving and the final cause of many deaths.
When digestion is poor due to changes in the intestine, small frequent feeds of formulated food have to be given, and recovery may be very slow.
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