LL4: Physical Development-Marasmus

Marasmus

Marasmus is a very severe form of malnutrition based on the child's energy deficiency. It comes from the Greek word "marasmos" meaning(decay). Also, marasmus is also resulted by a severity of nutrient deficiency, especially when it comes to protein, carbohydrates and lipids. The average child living with this particular disease will look weak and thin due to the deficiency of food. When dealing with this disease, the body weight is cut down a little less than 60% in comparison to the average normal body weight for any age. The occurrence of this disease goes up before the child turns a year old. It can be easily known in comparison to kwashiorkor. The only difference between the two is the likely course of this disease is better. The very sad part of it is this: because of the unavailability of treatment in which is adequate, half of the children who are severely malnourished.

What are the signs and symptoms of this disease?

Marasmus is known by a body in which looks shrunk, wasted appearance, muscle mass being lost as well as fat mass being applied under the skin. The most affected parts of the body than it is anything else are the groups within the muscle limbs and buttocks. It's not linked with severe edema. In addition, unusual body temperature (hypothermia, pyrexia), anemia, dehydration (known for constantly being thirsty and eyes shrinking), hypovolemic shock (radial pulse being weak, too cold to the extent, consciousness going down), tachypnea (pneumonia and heart failure), abnormal manifestations (distension, decreased or metallic bowel sounds, big or small liver, blood or mucus in the stools), ocular manifestations (corneal lesions associated with vitamin A deficiency), and dermal manifestations (evidence of infection, purpura, and ear, nose, and throat symptoms).

Most majority of times, marasmus can take its toll on the body to the no-return point after everything is lost, especially the body's ability to have protein synthesis. The only cure to treat both the causes and complications as well as other matters is to give food or protein.

Source: Marasmus-Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marasmus

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