Kwashiorkor

The word kwashiorkor, originally introduced in 1935, comes from the Ga language of Ghana of West Africa. It can be translated as “disease or sickness of the displaced child.” Kwashiorkor is a type of malnutrition that was commonly seen in older infants or young children after quickly weaning from breastfeeding, usually as a result of another child or pregnancy.

Severe protein and essential amino acid deprivation coupled with sufficient caloric intake can lead to kwashiorkor malnutrition at the time of weaning to a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet. Superimposed bacterial, parasitic, or viral infection can exacerbate kwashiorkor malnutrition. This form of protein deficiency is more often seen in children in less developed countries with inadequate food supplies due to socioeconomic, political, religious, educational, sanitation, and environmental factors. In the USA, kwashiorkor malnutrition can also be seen in the chronically ill or elderly. Kwashiorkor malnutrition is also called...