Kwashiorkor

Uncommon card · No. 77407

Kwashiorkor ( KWOSH-ee-OR-kor, -⁠kər) is a form of severe protein malnutrition characterized by edema and an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates. It is thought to be caused by insufficient protein consumption (or lack of good quality protein) despite adequate calorie intake. It is different from marasmus, which is malnutrition of all sources of energy including protein. Recent studies have found that a lack of antioxidant micronutrients such as β-carotene, lycopene, other carotenoids, and vitamin C as well as the presence of aflatoxins may play a role in the development of the disease. However, the precise causes of kwashiorkor are not fully understood. It is most often associated with inadequate food supply. In at-risk populations, it is most likely to develop after infants or children are weaned from breast milk, which contains amino acids vital to a child's growth, and begin consuming a diet high in carbohydrates, including maize, cassava, or rice. Occurrences in high-income countries...

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