| Marasmus | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
Child suffering with Marasmus in India |
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| ICD-10 | E41-E42 |
| ICD-9 | 261 |
| DiseasesDB | 7826 |
| eMedicine | ped/164 |
| MeSH | D011502 |
Marasmus is a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency.
A child with marasmus looks emaciated. Body weight may be reduced to less than 80% of the average weight that corresponds to the height . Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor occurrence increases after 18 months. It can be distinguished from kwashiorkor in that kwashiorkor is protein wasting with the presence of edema.
The prognosis is better than it is for kwashiorkor.[1]
The word “marasmus” comes from the Greek μαρασμός marasmos "consumption" from μαραίνειν marainein "to consume, exhaust."
Contents |
The malnutrition associated with marasmus leads to extensive tissue and muscle wasting, as well as variable edema. Other common characteristics include dry skin, loose skin folds hanging over the buttocks (glutei) and armpit (axillae), etc. There is also drastic loss of adipose tissue (body fat) from normal areas of fat deposits like buttocks and thighs. The afflicted are often fretful, irritable, and voraciously hungry.
Marasmus is generally known as the gradual wasting away of the body due to severe malnutrition or inadequate absorption of food. Marasmus is a form of severe protein deficiency and is one of the forms of protein-energy malfunction (PEM). It is a severe form of malnutrition caused by inadequate intake of proteins and calories.
Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially protein and carbohydrates.
It is necessary to treat not only the symptoms but also the complications of the disorder, including infections, dehydration, and circulation disorders, which are frequently lethal and lead to high mortality if ignored.
Ultimately, marasmus can progress to the point of no return when the body's machinery for protein synthesis, itself made of protein, has been degraded to the point that it cannot handle any protein. At this point, attempts to correct the disorder by giving food or protein are futile.
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