Explain about the Kwashiorkor - protein energy malnutrition?
Kwashiorkor is an African word, meaning a "disease of the displaced child", who is deprived of adequate nutrition. It is one of the most important florid forms of PEM occurring,'mostly in children between the ages of 1 and 3 years, when they are completely weaned (taken off the breast). The three essential manifestations or signs of kwashiorkor are:
- Oedema (swelling of feet),
- Growth failure, and
- Mental changes
In addition, there may be changes in hair and skin associated with infection and micronutrient deficiencies. Refer to Figure which illustrates the clinical forms of PEM. Frequent infections, particularly diarrhoea and respiratory infections, aggravate the condition. Most of the children with severe PEM would have recovered from a recent attack of measles.