Differences between Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

March 12, 2019

S.N	Biochemical parameter	Kwashiorkor		Marasmus
1.	Age of onset	Pre-school children (1-5 years)		Weaned infants(<1 year)
2.	Nutritional cause	Low protein intake		Low calorie intake
3.	Weight of body	60-80% of normal		Less than 60% of normal
4.	Growth	Mild retardation		Severe retardation
5.	Oedema	Present		Absent
6.	Facial appearance	Moon face		Like old man’s face
7.	Abdomen	Protruding		Shrunken
8.	Skin	Dermatitis		Dry and atrophic
9.	Muscles	Undergo wasting		Weak and atrophic
10.	Subcutaneous fat	Present		Absent
11.	Appetite	Poor		Voracious feeder
12.	Serum albumin	0.5-2 g/dl		2-3 g/dl
13.	Ribs	Not very prominent		Become very prominent
14.	Serum K⁺	Decreased		Normal
15.	Serum cortisol	Normal or decreased		Increased
16.	Hair		Hair changes absent	Hair changes common.
17.	Prognosis		Better	Worse

Image source: otosection

References:

i) https://www.healthline.com/health/kwashiorkor-and-marasmus

ii) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322453#causes

Differences between Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

Tags:kwashiorkor, marasmus, oedema, prognosis, prominent, serum

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Shailesh Koirala

I am Shailesh Koirala