Kwashiorkor is the condition that occurs mainly due to protein deficiency. Kwashiorkor is a Ghanaian word that refers to the birth position of a child and is used to describe the illness a child develops when the next child is born. Typically it appears in small children after nursing is stopped, as they receive insufficient proteins and too much of their caloric intake.
Kwashiorkor usually develops rapidly as a result of protein deficiency or more commonly is precipitate by an illness such as a measles or other infection.
In kwashiorkor, the protein deficiency is more marked than the energy deficiency, leading to much reduced protein synthesis. One effect of this is that the liver cannot make enough blood plasma protein.
Without protein to maintain fluid balance and low serum albumin levels, the child’s limbs and abdomen become swollen with edema – a distinguishing feature of kwashiorkor.
Kwashiorkor usually develops in children older than 6 months, generally when they cease to nurse.
The symptoms of kwashiorkor include: low body weight, edema, moon-face. Swollen abdomen, dry and brittle hair, skin conditions and irritability.
Protein deficiency - Kwashiorkor
Nutrition is a scientific discipline that encompasses a structured body of knowledge. It includes various fields such as clinical nutrition, community nutrition, public health, food policy, and food science. At its core, nutrition is the study of how the body utilizes food. It is essential to life. Understanding nutrition enables us to make better dietary choices by determining the necessary nutrient intake, identifying optimal food sources, and recognizing beneficial or harmful food components.
Popular articles
-
Selenium is a vital trace mineral that plays a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, including antioxidant defense, thyroid hormone met...
-
Unlike many other intense sweeteners, aspartame is metabolized by the body. Aspartame is metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract to aspar...
-
Fish and seafood products, have a high nutritional value regarding beneficial amounts of protein, lipids as well as essential micronutrients...
-
Potassium, a vital mineral and electrolyte, plays a central role in maintaining overall health. One of its most crucial functions is regulat...
-
Salivary amylase, also known as ptyalin, is a crucial enzyme in the digestive process, produced by the salivary glands. This enzyme initiate...