KWASHIORKOR

Kwashiorkor is a form of severe malnutrition. It is more frequent in developing regions because newborns and children do not have sufficient protein or necessary nutrients.

The kwashiorkor’s main sign is an excess of fluid in the body’s tissues, which produces swelling beneath the skin (oedema). It generally starts in the legs, but it may spread to the rest of the body, such as the face.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of kwashiorkor include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Swelling of the belly, feet, and ankles
  • Irritability
  • Shock
  • Changes in hair and skin color and texture
  • Diarrhea
  • Failure to acquire weight or grow
  • Damaged immune system that might result in more severe and frequent infections
  • Flaky rash

DIAGNOSIS

If your doctor suspects that you have kwashiorkor, they will first check you to look for signs of an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) and edema. Following that, your doctor may conduct urine and blood tests to assess the level of sugar and protein in your blood.

Other tests may be conducted on your urine or blood to check for malnutrition and protein deficiency symptoms in your body. These tests may be used to detect muscle deterioration and evaluate renal function, general health, and physical development. These tests include the following:

  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • Potassium blood levels
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Arterial blood gas
  • Creatinine blood levels
  • Urinalysis

TREATMENT

If kwashiorkor is discovered early enough, it may be treated with specially designed ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) or milk-based feeds. Sugar, milk powder, peanut butter, vegetable oil, and minerals and vitamins are common ingredients in RUTF.

More thorough care in a hospital is required in extreme situations or where problems, such as infections, have already occurred.

Hospital treatment frequently involves:

  • Keeping the individual warm – kwashiorkor might make it more difficult to generate body heat
  • Antibiotics are used to treat infections – kwashiorkor dramatically increases the infection’s risks
  • Introducing tiny amounts of food slowly, then increasing the food’s amount
  • Preventing or treating low blood glucose
  • Dehydration is treated with a carefully prepared rehydration solution
  • Addressing mineral and vitamin deficiencies – vitamin supplements are often included in special RUTF and milk feeds

Moreover, the treatment usually lasts between 2 and 6 weeks.

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