Desnutrición Infantil Marasmo y Kwashiorkor

Abstract

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a multisystem disease, which affects all organs and systems of the human being. It’s produced by a drastic, acute or chronic decrease in the availability of nutrients either due to insufficient food intake, inadequate absorption, excessive loss of intake or the combination of two or more of the aforementioned factors. PEM is the most notorious nutritional disease in third world countries due to its high prevalence and its relationship with mortality statistics. It’s also linked to the deterioration of physical growth, as well as poor social and economic development. Infantile malnutrition is a difficult problem to eradicate. One of the most important phases in the life of human beings takes place from when the baby is in the womb up until the child reaches five years of age. What happens at this stage could have irreversible physical physical and mental effects on a person’s development. If there is one thing in the fight against infantile malnutrition and poverty, that is to guarantee that children under the age of three receive adequate nutrition because this is the most critical stage in their psychological and physical development. That could be by Etiology: Primary: When it originates from an insufficient intake of nutrients. Secondary: When it’s caused by an underlying disease which leads to an inadequate ingestion or absorption of nutrients; for example, repeated episodes of diarrhea or infections of the respiratory ways; or the excessive utilization of nutrients. The terms marasmus and kwashiorkor according to clinical terms are used to describe advanced or third grade protein-calorie malnutrition. Marasmus is characterized by loss of muscle mass and depletion of body fat; while kwashiorkor is characterized by a marked normal or increased muscular atrophy with normal or excess body fat and the presence of peripheral oedema. In a high percentage of cases malnutrition is caused by low ingestion of nutrients, which is not enough to cover the body requirements. Adding to them at any time infection increases the severity of this case.