marasmus

Marasmus
Classification and external resources
Child suffering with Marasmus in India
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 normal weight for that height.^{[citation needed]} Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor occurrence increases after 18 months.

The prognosis is better than it is in kwashiorkor.^[1]

Signs and symptoms

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 glutei, axillae, etc. There is also drastic loss of adipose tissue from normal areas of fat deposits like buttocks and thighs. The afflicted are often fretful, irritable, and voraciously hungry.

Causes

Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially protein and calories.

Treatment

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.

Epidemiology

Disability-adjusted life year for protein-energy malnutrition per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002.^[2]

     no data      less than 10      10-100      100-200      200-300      300-400      400-500      500-600      600-700      700-800      800-1000      1000-1350      more than 1350

See also

• Starvation
• Cachexia
• Emaciation
• Kwashiorkor

References