Kwashiorkor
Disease information
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor
.
It is
a
special form of malnutrición, in which the contribution of calories is adapted,
but
the one of proteins insufficient.
Rare in our means, where the undernourishment usually is mixed.
One appears in
children
of two to five years of age.
Causes.
Poor
protein
feeding.
The
mother
is typical in the sub - Sahara countries when having another son and to wean the patient (the main
protein
source
for the African suckling babies is maternal milk) happening to feed it only with cereals.
When needing they proteins, the water of the blood leave towards the skin, reason why they are swollen (they are the
children
with belly of the noticiarios)
Signs and symptoms.
The small ones present / display edemas (swelling) progressive in the members, face and abdomen.
Alterations of the hair; fragility and decoloración.
Irritability.
Hepatomegalia (swelling of the
liver
) that contributes to the swelling of the belly.
Important
muscular
atrophy
, that it contrasts with the plump aspect by edemas.
Little appetite (the
carbon
hydrates are those that calms the hunger sensation)
Factors of risk.
Poverty does not carry far.
Prevention.
Balanced feeding.
Diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis.
The diagnosis is made by means of the exploration.
Blood analyses will be made and tinkles, to determine the depth of the
deficit
.
Digestive
problems
will discard that can prevent the
protein
absorption.
Treatment.
The treatment will be made in specialized centers, by competent personnel.
Their objectives will be to suppress the cause of the undernourishment and to recover the suitable nutritious state.
It happens through three phases:
An initial phase, of correction of the most serious imbalances, by means of parenteal feeding (by means of serum)
A
phase of refeeding, in which special formulas in papilla by nasogástrica sounding will be used.
A
phase of rehabilitation, in which one will become to the
normal
oral feeding.
Complications.
Multiorganic insufficiency (kidneys, heart,
liver
. that leads to the death or permanent deficiencies.
Frequent and serious Sobreinfecciones by the lack of defenses.
Prognosis.
It will
depend
on the depth of the undernourishment.
They can be left
cerebral
,
muscular
, renales or hepáticas sequels.
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