The swollen belly that is a kwashiorkor symptom is common in children with the condition. Unlike other types of malnutrition, children with kwashiorkor can appear to be full or overfed because of the distended stomach.
Children with kwashiorkor develop nutritional edema, which is swelling caused by fluid collecting in and around tissues, mostly affecting the legs and abdomen. Micronutrient deficiency, especially nutrients with anti-oxidants, might be an additional cause of the swelling, according to Mother and Child Nutrition.
Doctors diagnose kwashiorkor by performing a physical examination, urinalysis and blood tests. Patients slowly begin to eat a controlled diet and are given mineral and vitamin supplements. Severe cases of kwashiorkor may require more extensive treatment. A well-balanced diet that provides a variety of nutrients aids in the prevention of most types of malnutrition.
Kwashiorkor can be prevented with a daily diet that includes carbohydrates, at least 10 percent of the total calories in fats and 12 percent of the total calories in proteins, according to the National Institutes of Health. Gail Sessoms, a grant writer and nonprofit consultant, writes about nonprofit, small business and personal finance issues.
She volunteers as a court-appointed child advocate, has a background in social services and writes about issues important to families. This last contributes to higher rates of gastroenteritis swelling of the gut , tuberculosis, HIV, pneumonia, septicemia and measles. Historically, it has been thought that kwashiorkor was caused by a deficiency of protein in the diet, which caused an imbalance in the gastro-intestinal system which would explain the water retention.
Some claim that the disease is caused by metabolic changes themselves caused by physiological stress that lead to the depletion of certain antioxidants, although studies could not prove this.
Each of these theories makes sense since those most likely to develop kwashiorkor are children who live in extreme poverty where overcrowding and outbreaks of disease are common. In addition, other risk factors include unhygienic living conditions and food storage where mold develops , and the presence of diarrhea, dehydration, starvation and serious diseases like HIV and TB.
Next, although protein is a key part of treating kwashiorkor, too much too soon can be fatal. Because sufferers have weakened livers, too much protein will overwhelm this organ and cause it to fail.
Notably, some children quickly develop lactose intolerance, although soy milk appears to be an adequate substitute.
Kwashiorkor is rare in developed countries such as the UK, but it can occasionally happen as a result of severe neglect, long-term illness, a lack of knowledge about good nutrition, or a very restricted diet. Kwashiorkor can often be diagnosed based on a child's physical appearance and questions about their diet and care.
However, a blood test and urine test may be done to rule out other conditions. This can include tests to:. Other tests may include growth measurements, calculating body mass index BMI , measuring body water content, taking a sample of skin biopsy or hair for testing. If kwashiorkor is found early, it can be treated with either specially formulated milk-based feeds or ready-to-use therapeutic food RUTF.
RUTF is typically made up of peanut butter, milk powder, sugar, vegetable oil, and added vitamins and minerals. More intensive treatment in hospital is needed in severe cases or where there are already complications, such as infections. How well a person recovers from kwashiorkor depends on how severe their symptoms were when treatment began. If treatment was started early, the person will usually recover well, although children may never reach their full growth potential and be shorter than their peers.
If treatment was started in the later stages of protein malnutrition, the person may be left with physical and intellectual disabilities.
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