Malnutrition can be caused by undernutrition or overnutrition, leading to serious health problems. Undernutrition can cause kwashiorkor, marasmus, and micronutrient deficiency, while overnutrition can lead to obesity. Micronutrient deficiency can cause anemia, scurvy, and rickets.
Malnutrition can be divided into undernutrition and overnutrition. Undernutrition, or when someone does not get enough calories or nutrients, can be due to an insufficient diet or a problem in assimilating nutrients. Overnutrition occurs when too many nutrients are ingested. Both types of malnutrition can lead to serious health problems that can be fatal.
The main types of malnutrition caused by undernourishment include kwashiorkor, marasmus and micronutrient deficiency. Kwashiorkor is a disorder that occurs when the body has adequate caloric intake but does not get enough protein and necessary nutrients. Symptoms of kwashiorkor include edema, anemia, stunted growth, diarrhea, and skin patches. Kwashiorkor usually occurs in children five years of age and younger living in famine-prone regions because young children require adequate nutrition for healthy growth and development.
Marasmus is a type of protein-energy malnutrition. This condition occurs when a person is not getting enough protein or calories. Symptoms include diarrhea, emaciation from loss of fat and muscle, decreased metabolism, slower heart rate, and low blood pressure. Marasmus is often seen in the elderly and in populations where people lack knowledge about nutrition.
Micronutrient malnutrition occurs when a person does not get enough vitamins or minerals to maintain health. Some of the leading causes of death worldwide are the result of the types of malnutrition sustained by micronutrient deficiency. One of the most common forms of malnutrition is anemia, or iron deficiency. When the anemia is severe, it can cause extreme lethargy, headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath, as well as delayed speech and gait development in children under the age of five. People may also show symptoms of pica, which means a person has a desire to eat a substance that isn’t food, such as dirt.
Some other common types of malnutrition are scurvy and rickets. Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C. Its symptoms include fatigue, skin spots, and bleeding from mucous membranes. Scurvy was formerly common among sailors who lacked access to fresh fruits and vegetables on long sea voyages. This disease occurs today in famine-stricken regions and industrialized countries where some people eat too much processed food that lacks nutrients.
Rickets most often occurs when a person does not get enough vitamin D. It can also be caused by not getting enough calcium. Rickets is often found in children living in developing countries. It causes bone softening, which can lead to fractures and deformities.
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