MALNUTRITION

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 Malnutrition
Malnutrition is an imbalance between the nutrients
your body needs to function and the nutrients it gets. It can
mean under nutrition or over nutrition. You can be
malnourished from an overall lack of calories, or you might
have a protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency. You might also
have more excess calories than your body knows what to do
with.
 Definition of Malnutrition
Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy
and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘under
nutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height),
underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack
of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related no
communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).
 TYPES OF MALNUTRITION

• Malnutrition can mean under nutrition or over nutrition. It can also mean an
imbalance of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) or micronutrients
(vitamins and minerals).
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KWASHIORKOR AND
MARASMUS.

Kwashiorkor and marasmus are the two main types of severe protein-energy under
nutrition recognized by healthcare providers worldwide. The main difference
between them is that kwashiorkor is predominantly a protein deficiency, while
marasmus is a deficiency of all macronutrients — protein, carbohydrates and fats.

Marasmus symptoms Kwashiorkor symptoms

weight loss an inability to grow or gain weight

dehydration edema, or swelling of the hands and feet

stomach shrinkage stomach bulging

 MEANING OF KWASHIORKOR
• Kwashiorkor is a disease marked by severe protein malnutrition and bilateral
extremity swelling. It usually affects infants and children, most often around the
age of weaning through age 5. The disease is seen in very severe cases of
starvation and poverty-stricken regions worldwide.
WHAT CAUSES KWASHIORKOR?

•Kwashiorkor is caused by a lack of protein in the diet.

• Every cell in your body contains protein. You need protein in your
diet for your body to repair cells and make new cells.
•A healthy human body regenerates cells in this way constantly.
• Protein is also especially important for growth during
childhood and pregnancy
•If the body lacks protein, growth and normal body functions will
begin to shut down, and kwashiorkor may develop.
•Kwashiorkor is most common in countries where there is a limited
supply or lack of food.
•It is mostly found in children and infants in sub-Saharan Africa,
Southeast Asia, and Central America .
 SYMPTOMS OF KWASHIORKOR
1. The symptoms of kwashiorkor include:
2. change in skin and hair color (to a rust color) and texture
3. fatigue
4. diarrhea
5. loss of muscle mass
6. failure to grow or gain weight
7. edema (swelling) of the ankles, feet, and belly
8. damaged immune system, which can lead to more frequent and severe infections
9. irritability
10. flaky rash
11. shock
 DIAGNOSIS

• Your doctor will first look at physical symptoms.

They’ll also ask questions about your access to
food, any history of eating disorders, and
medications you’re taking. They may also ask
about your current mental state or mood.
 Treatment
•They may do a skin test to determine if your immune system is
working correctly. They may take a stool sample to rule out
other issues related to diarrhea if diarrhea is a symptom. Your
doctor may also test your urine or your blood to help identify a
nutrition deficiency.
•Even with treatment, children who have had kwashiorkor may
never reach their full growth and height potential. If treatment
comes too late, a child may have permanent physical and
mental disabilities.
•If left untreated, the condition can lead to coma, shock, or
death.
 KWASHIORKOR TREATED
Kwashiorkor can be corrected by eating more protein and
more calories overall, especially if treatment is started early.
•You may first be given more calories in the form of
carbohydrates, sugars, and fats.
•Once these calories provide energy, you will be given foods
with proteins.
• Foods must be introduced and calories should be increased
slowly because you have been without proper nutrition for a
long period.
•Your body may need to adjust to the increased intake.

•Your doctor will also recommend long-term vitamin and

mineral supplementation to your diet.
 DEFINITION OF MARASMUS

• Marasmus is a severe form of malnutrition — specifically, protein-energy

under nutrition. It results from an overall lack of calories. Marasmus is a
deficiency of all macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
 MARASMUS AFFECT
• Marasmus can affect
anyone who lacks overall
nutrition, but it
particularly affects
children, especially
infants, who require
more calories to support
their growing bodies.
• It is more common in
developing countries with
widespread poverty and
food scarcity, and where
parasites and infectious
diseases may contribute
to calorie depletion.
 MARASMUS DISEASE EFFECT ON BODY
• When the body is deprived of energy from food, it begins to feed on its
own tissues — first adipose tissue (body fat) and then muscle.
• It also begins shutting down some of its functions to conserve energy.
Cardiac activity slows down, causing low heart rate, low blood pressure
and low body temperature.
• In some cases, this leads to heart failure. The immune system is also
compromised, making undernourished people more prone to infection
and illness and slower to recover.
 THE MAIN CAUSES OF MARASMUS

The main causes affecting all ages include

• Poverty and food scarcity

• Wasting diseases such as AIDS
• Infections that cause chronic diarrhea
• Anorexia
Additional causes affecting children include

• Inadequate breastfeeding or early weaning of infants

• Child abuse/neglect

Additional causes affecting adults include

• Dementia.
• Elder abuse/neglect
 EXTERNAL SIGNS OF MARASMUS
• Visible wasting of fat and muscle.
• Prominent skeleton.
• Head appears large for the body.
• Face may appear old and wizened.
• Dry, loose skin (skin atrophy).
• Dry, brittle hair or hair loss.
• Sunken fontanelles in infants.
• Lethargy, apathy and weakness.
• Weight loss of more than 40%.
• BMI below 16.
 OTHER SYMPTOMS AND COMPLICATIONS CAN
MARASMUS CAUSE.
• Dehydration.
• Electrolyte imbalances.
• Low blood pressure.
• Slow heart rate.
• Low body temperature.
• Gastrointestinal malabsorption.
• Stunted growth.
• Developmental delays.
• Anemia.
• Osteomalaciaor rickets.
 MARASMUS TREATED

Stage 2:
Nutritional Stage 3:
Stage 1:
Rehydration rehabilitation Follow-up and
and prevention
stabilization
Analysis on Malnutrition
PARENTS FEEDBACK
•Children will be more likely to eat healthy
foods if they see their parents eating them
and liking them, so set a good example!
•Be adventurous: Give them as much of a
variety of healthy foods as possible – the
more foods they try, the more foods they
will like.
Thanking
You