General Information About Marasmus
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the extreme emaciation of infants and children, consuming all their calorie and protein stores due to chronic starvation.
Kwashiorkor is caused solely by protein deficiency despite caloric intake, and it causes water accumulation (swelling) in the abdomen. In Marasmus, there is no swelling; the child is merely skin and bones.
Early weaning from breast milk, transition to inadequate and poor-quality complementary foods, chronic diarrhea, and poverty are the biggest causes.
Extreme weight loss, complete wasting of muscles, the face taking on the appearance of an elderly person (senile facies), growth failure, and low body temperature.
It is diagnosed clinically when the child's height and weight remain far below the percentile curves. Blood tests show severe anemia and immune deficiency.
Giving too much food suddenly (Refeeding Syndrome) can be fatal. In the hospital, fluid and mineral losses are corrected, followed by gradual, frequent feeding with special calorie and protein-rich formulas.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
