Kwashiorkor is a childhood disease caused by malnutrition, particularly a lack of protein, and is most common in poorer regions of the world. The term comes from the Ga language and was coined by Jamaican pediatrician Cicely D. Williams. Diagnosis is made by performing protein level and blood tests, and treatment involves providing sufficient nutrients. Children with kwashiorkor may never reach their optimal level of growth.
Kwashiorkor is a childhood disease characterized by malnutrition, which means that patients suffering from the condition lack certain nutrients in their diets. While this disease is usually associated with a protein deficiency, other types of deficiencies are also listed as contributing factors. This particular disease is most common in poorer regions of the world, where poverty, famine and lack of knowledge about nutrition contribute to unbalanced diets. The disease is incredibly rare in wealthier countries.
The term “kwashiorkor” comes from the Ga language which is mainly spoken in the southeastern region of the West African country of Ghana. Jamaican pediatrician Cicely D. Williams came up with the term when she worked in Ghana between 1929 and 1935, at a time when the region was under British colonization and known as the Gold Coast. Seeking to solve the mystery of babies ending up with swollen bellies, swollen legs and lighter-than-normal skin pigmentation, Williams asked an African nurse if there was a name for the condition. The nurse replied that it was called “kwashiorkor,” referring to an illness an older child gets when a new brother or sister arrives. Interpreting the term as a condition that occurs when weaned babies don’t get enough food, Williams published her findings in a 1935 paper discussing maternal and infant care.
Before Williams arrived on the Gold Coast, kwashiorkor was misdiagnosed as pellagra. This is a condition caused by a deficiency of the vitamin niacin, also known as vitamin B3. Pellagra shares symptoms with kwashiorkor such as diarrhea, although it is mainly characterized by dementia and inflammation of the skin known as dermatitis. This disorder is also distinct from marasmus, which is another protein deficiency disease, in that marasmus lacks edema and sufficient calorie intake, although it also has weight loss and energy depletion.
Since Williams’ work, it has become accepted in the medical community that this disorder is a result of low protein intake. Lack of micronutrients such as iron, iodine and vitamin C as well as antioxidants such as albumin, glutathione, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E are also cited as contributors. Diagnosis is made by performing certain protein level and blood tests, and treatment usually consists of giving the child food with sufficient amounts of the elements mentioned above. Unfortunately, even when treated, children with kwashiorkor can never reach their optimal level of growth.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
