MARASMUS.
This is a Greek word that means “DYING AWAY”. This is one
of the severe forms of malnutrition that occur due to early weaning followed by
inadequate feeding with diluted cow's milk, it leads to wasting of body muscles
or loss of body fats hence, the diet becomes deficient both in calories as well
as proteins form. The child with affected can not grow usually as a normal
child grow The child looks emaciated i.e. he lives on his own meat.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF MARASMUS?
As we have already discussed above there are a lot of
causes like protein, carbohydrates, and others minerals deficiency, vitamin
deficiency, and some kind of infection e.g. bacterial and viral, etc. But
besides these, there are also some causes which may lead to cause Marasmus in
children they are as below
1. Famine
2. Fasting.
2. Poverty.
3. Starvation
4. Crop Failure.
5. Anorexia Nervosa
6. Coma and Stroke. in this case children cannot eat and
drink so lead to marasmus.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MUSEUMS
1. Irritability.
2. Lack
of Energy.
3. Immune deficiency.
4. There is no edema.
6. The hair is thin and dry
7. Loss of subcutaneous fats
8. Reduction of the Muscle mass
9. Chronic diarrhea is very common
10. Shrinkage of the vital organs like heart and lungs
12. Other infections (T.B. etc.) are also present
frequently.
13. Very low body weight so he/she feel dizziness and
vertigo
all these results from gross lack of calories for a
logged period along with shortage of protein and other nutrients. it is most
common in infants and children below 15 months supplying good quality proteins
in diet that is egg, milk, and fish can prevent it. during the weaning period,
good quality proteins must be added to their diets.
HOW TO PREVENT PREVENTION...?
1. Children require balanced nutritional food at the
appropriate times. 2. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed till weaning.
3. Children should be encouraged to wean properly.
4. Vaccination is critical because it protects against
deadly diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and whooping cough.
5. Parents should be encouraged to use family planning
techniques.
6. A thorough examination is required to detect any flaws
or diseases that may be present. Proper Immunization of children to prevent
infections
KWASHIORKOR
This is another form of Protein Energy Malnutrition that
is said to be a very severe one. This occurs when after prolonged breastfeeding
child is weaned on a low protein diet. This is a severe clinical condition due
to deficiency of proteins along with another amount of calories case p but CHO
Supply 1s inadequate.
This condition is most commonly occurs in children aged
one to three years.
Supplying quality proteins in a diet that is egg, milk,
and fish can prevent it. During the weaning period, good-quality proteins must
be added to their diets.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MARASMUS
1. Child is about two years old and looks apathetic and
lethargic.
2. There is generalized edema with skin pigmentation and
thickening on buttocks, inner thighs, and perineum. Latter cracks also appear.
3. The hair is dry, thin, and straight. Their color
changes to reddish or yellow.
4. A pale band in long hair may be apparent (tag sign)
5. Abdomen 1s protuberant (Potbelly) due to hepatomegaly
and ascites.
6. Moon-like face i.e. swollen round face.
INVESTIGATIONS
1. Blood examination shows anemia, but blood hematocrit
may be high due to dehydration.
2. Electrolyte disturbance is common.
3. Blood is also examined for a malarial parasite.
4. Biochemical test of blood shows low plasma insulin and
high cortisol levels, i.e. opposite to Marasmus.
5. Stools are examined for worm infestation.
6. Chest X-ray 1s done to find tuberculosis.
Marasmus Kwashiorkor.
In this case, a child is thin and wasted. He is
edematous. It is a severe form of PEM.
HOW TO TREAT
The patient is treated accordingly mostly it's seen based
on observation so if he/she is having hypoglycemia (low level of glucose or
sugar) treated first the glucose level, in case of hypothermia ( low
temperature then normal )treated first. If he/she is some kind of infection
e.g. bacterial or viral etc. treated and the same case is with electrolyte
imbalances. electrolytes imbalance can be balanced through providing calcium,
potassium, etc. in different forms
For better, we will need to carry out this three-phase.
(i) Resuscitation Phase.
the child shows improvement day by day and becomes normal
like others children with the passage of time flour, butter, pulses, egg fish,
and cereal are added according.
(ii) Re.feeding Phase.
vit. A, D, B. Complex, and K are also given. Severe
anemia is treated by giving small packed cell transfusion slowly.
(iii). Rehabilitation Phase.
Gradually as the child improves more energy is given by
improving his food intake. Infection i.e. diarrhea, malaria T..B. or worm
infection are treated according
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