Malnutrition

00:00 Before we step away from the topic of altered nutritional states, it's only fair that we consider malnutrition not because we see a lot of it in the United States.

00:12 But mainly because these two malnutrition conditions will appear over very likely appear on your exams.

00:21 First, let's look at kwashiorkor.

00:24 This condition has a very interesting origin for it's name.

00:30 In which the name comes for a second child or literally that child which follows the first.

00:38 And it's a name that came up in Ghana where this condition seems to happen fairly frequently across Africa in much poorer regions than the US for sure.

00:51 But it results from a protein deficiency.

00:54 And the point here is it has a very distinct presentation other than just serious malnutrition of all caloric intake.

01:04 So generally, we'll see kwashiorkor appear in slightly older children.

01:10 And the reason is based on the name.

01:14 As one child has been breast feeding and the mother becomes pregnant with another child.

01:20 And that child, the first child is weaned because the second child needs the nutrition.

01:26 Than that child that's weaned is going to go on less high protein diet.

01:31 Usually rice or higher carbohydrate diet.

01:35 So the symptoms of kwashiorkor result from not malnutrition but a protein deficiency which causes the edema and the classical sort of protruding belly.

01:48 Often with kwashiorkor you will see that there is some subcutaneous fat as oppose to marasmus, which is actual severe malnutrition.

01:59 Where we see sort of the skin and bones effect.

02:03 Usually marasmus or serious malnutrition will occur in very young children.

02:11 Of course it could occur anytime.

02:13 We've certainly seen older adults with malnutrition.

02:17 But the distinction here is purely because this type of malnutrition is very likely to appear on an exam.

02:25 Difference protruding belly versus the skin and bones look.

02:30 So in short I think we've covered all of the high yield kind of material that you need to know.

02:38 Highlighted the big pieces that you need to know for altered states of nutrition with aging and pregnancy.

02:45 And now you know the difference between marasmus and kwashiorkor.

02:50 I look forward to seeing you in another lecture.