Poverty, food insecurity, and lack of nutritional knowledge.
| | Kwashiorkor | | :--- | :--- | | "Wasting" | "Edematous malnutrition" | | Chronic energy deficit | Acute protein deficit | | Severe weight loss | Edema (feet, hands, face) | | No edema | Moon face, skin lesions | | Old man's face (loss of buccal fat) | Flaky paint dermatosis | | Appetite preserved (initially) | Apathetic, miserable | Protein Energy Malnutrition Ppt
Waterlow Classification (Distinguishing Wasting vs. Stunting) Indicates acute malnutrition. Poverty, food insecurity, and lack of nutritional knowledge
Amina's family struggles to make ends meet. Her father, a farmer, has been unable to grow enough crops to feed his family due to drought and poor soil quality. As a result, Amina's diet consists mainly of carbohydrates, such as rice and cornmeal, with little to no protein-rich foods like meat, fish, or eggs. Amina's family struggles to make ends meet
While often associated with poverty and food insecurity in developing countries, PEM can also occur in developed nations due to chronic disease-related malnutrition or lack of nutritional support.
PEM remains a significant public health challenge, predominantly affecting low-income countries but also presenting in vulnerable populations in high-income nations. Malnutrition accounts for more than 50% of all infant mortality in developing countries, especially in the under-five age group.
Leakage of cell membranes releases intravascular fluid and proteins into tissues, resulting in oedema. Immunity is weakened, making the child susceptible to diseases.