Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are diseases of severe malnutrition, usually observed in developing countries.

Kwashiorkor is a disease caused by protein deficiency, presenting with swelling of the belly (secondary to edema), skin lesions, fatty change of the liver, and anemia.

Marasmus is caused by a deficiency of all nutrients, or a total caloric deficiency. The classic clinical finding in Marasmus is muscle wasting.

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