Kwashiorkor why big belly

If kwashiorkor is not treated, if the normal percentages are not reached and maintained or if treatment comes too late, it is a life-threatening condition. Images of poor, grimy villages complete with their impoverished villagers are pitiful and difficult to view. Understanding what those pictures are made of might just facilitate advocacy. November 7, 0.

November 1, 0. October 28, 0. Collins to continue to serve as the NIH Director. I'm thinking about tomorrow. If you have comments or questions not related to the current discussions, please direct them to Ask NIH. You are encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas. NIH Director's Blog. Search Search Only Director's Album. Toggle navigation. Who Knew? Francis Collins A child suffering from kwashiorkor. Posted In: Health , Science Tags: bacteria , diet , digestion , distended bellies , fecal , fecal samples , gut , gut bacteria , gut-dwelling microbes , immune , immune response , intestine , kwashiorkor , Malawi , Malawian , Malawian diet , malnutrition , microbes , microbiome , poor diet , starvation , therapeutic diet , twins , undernutrition.

Collins, M. 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.

Marasmus is another type of malnutrition that can affect young children in regions of the world where there's an unstable food supply. Signs of marasmus include thinness and loss of fat and muscle without any tissue swelling oedema. This source seems less authoritative, but also suggests that weakened abdominal muscles due to protein deficiency also play a role: The swollen belly is the result of not only that enlarged liver, but also the loss of muscle mass, which leads to weak abdominal muscles.

Improve this answer. Lawnmower Man Lawnmower Man 1 1 silver badge 2 2 bronze badges. References Klein S. Protein-energy malnutrition. Goldman's Cecil medicine. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; c Ashworth A. Nutrition, food security and health.

Nelson textbook of pediatrics. Philadelphia: Elsevier; c Malnutrition-associated liver steatosis and ATP depletion is caused by peroxisomal and mitochondrial dysfunction. J Hepatol. Adhish Adhish 1, 1 1 gold badge 3 3 silver badges 14 14 bronze badges. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google.

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