Understanding kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor, also known as “edematous malnutrition” because of its association

with edema(fluid retention), is a nutritional disorder most often seen in regions experiencing
famine. It is a form of malnutrition caused by a lack of protein in the diet. People who have
kwashiorkor typically have an extremely emaciated appearance in all body parts except their
ankles, feet, and belly, which swell with fluid.
Kwashiorkor is rarely found in the United States and other countries with a generally steady food
supply. It’s most common in sub-Saharan Africa and other countries where people routinely have
a limited supply of food.
Most people who are affected by kwashiorkor recover fully if they are treated early. Treatment
involves introducing extra calories and protein into the diet. Children who develop kwashiorkor
may not grow or develop properly and may remain stunted for the rest of their lives. There can
be serious complications when treatment is delayed, including coma, shock, and permanent
mental and physical disabilities. Kwashiorkor can be life-threatening if it’s left untreated. It can
cause major organ failure and eventually death.
What causes kwashiorkor?
Kwashiorkor is caused by a lack of protein in the diet. Every cell in your body contains protein.
You need protein in your diet for your body to repair cells and make new cells. A healthy human
body regenerates cells in this way constantly. Protein is also especially important for growth
during childhood and pregnancy. If the body lacks protein, growth and normal body functions
will begin to shut down, and kwashiorkor may develop.
Marasmus
Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency. It can occur in
anyone with severe malnutrition but usually occurs in children.[1] A child with marasmus
looks emaciated. Body weight is reduced to less than 62% of the normal (expected) body weight
for the age.[2] Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor occurrence
increases after 18 months. It can be distinguished from kwashiorkor in that kwashiorkor
is protein deficiency with adequate energy intake whereas marasmus is inadequate energy intake
in all forms, including protein. This clear-cut separation of marasmus and kwashiorkor is
however not always clinically evident as kwashiorkor is often seen in a context of insufficient
caloric intake, and mixed clinical pictures, called marasmic kwashiorkor, are possible. Protein
wasting in kwashiorkor generally leads to edema and ascites, while muscular wasting and loss of
subcutaneous fat are the main clinical signs of marasmus.[citation needed]
The prognosis is better than it is for kwashiorkor[3] but half of severely malnourished children die
due to unavailability of adequate treatment.[citation needed]
The word “marasmus” comes from the Greek μαρασμός marasmos ("withering")
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that it may
have a negative effect on health.[1] People are generally considered obese when their body mass
index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square of the person's
height, is over 30 kg/m2; the range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight.[1] Some East
Asian countries use lower values.[8] Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases and
conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain
types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and depression.[2][3]
Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical
activity, and genetic susceptibility.[1][4] A few cases are caused primarily by genes, endocrine
disorders, medications, or mental disorder.[9] The view that obese people eat little yet gain weight
due to a slow metabolism is not medically supported.[10] On average, obese people have a greater
energy expenditure than their normal counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an
increased body mass.[10][11]
Obesity is mostly preventable through a combination of social changes and personal choices.
[1]
 Changes to diet and exercisingare the main treatments.[2] Diet quality can be improved by
reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such as those high in fat or sugars, and by
increasing the intake of dietary fiber.[1] Medications can be used, along with a suitable diet, to
reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption.[5] If diet, exercise, and medication are not effective,
a gastric balloon or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume or length of the
intestines, leading to feeling full earlier or a reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food
What is beriberi?
Beriberi is a disease caused by a vitamin B-1 deficiency, also known as thiamine deficiency.
There are two types of the disease: wet beriberi and dry beriberi. Wet beriberi affects the heart
and circulatory system. In extreme cases, wet beriberi can cause heart failure. Dry beriberi
damages the nerves and can lead to decreased muscle strength and eventually, muscle paralysis.
Beriberi can be life-threatening if it isn’t treated.
If you have access to foods rich in thiamine, your chances of developing beriberi are low. Today,
beriberi mostly occurs in people with an alcohol use disorder. Beriberi from other causes are rare
in the United States. Still, the disease can be seen in women who have extreme nausea and
vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum), in people with AIDS, and after bariatric
surgery.
What does vitamin B-1 do? »
What are the symptoms of beriberi?
The symptoms of beriberi vary depending on the type.
What is glossitis?
Glossitis refers to inflammation of the tongue. The condition causes the tongue to swell in size,
change in color, and develop a different appearance on the surface. The tongue is the small,
muscular organ in the mouth that helps you chew and swallow food. It also helps with your
speech.
Glossitis may cause the small bumps on the surface of the tongue (papillae) to disappear. The
papillae contain thousands of tiny sensors called taste buds and play a role in how you eat.
Severe tongue inflammation that results in swelling and redness can cause pain and may change
the way you eat or speak.
Types of glossitis
There are different types of glossitis, which include:
Acute glossitis
Acute glossitis is an inflammation of the tongue that appears suddenly and often has severe
symptoms. This type of glossitis typically develops during an allergic reaction.
Chronic glossitis
Chronic glossitis is an inflammation of the tongue that continues to recur. This type may begin as
a symptom of another health condition.
Pellagra
Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B3).[2] Symptoms include
inflamed skin, diarrhea, dementia, and sores in the mouth.[1] Areas of the skin exposed to either
sunlight or friction are typically affected first.[1] Over time affected skin may become darker,
stiff, begin to peel, or bleed.[1][3]
There are two main types of pellagra, primary and secondary.[1] Primary pellagra is due to a diet
that does not contain enough niacin and tryptophan.[1] Secondary pellagra is due to a poor ability
to use the niacin within the diet.[1] This can occur as a result of alcoholism, long-term
diarrhea, carcinoid syndrome, Hartnup disease, and a number of medications such as isoniazid.
[1]
 Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and may be assisted by urine testing.[3]
Treatment is with either niacin or nicotinamide supplementation.[1] Improvements typically begin
within a couple of days.[1] General improvements in diet are also frequently recommended.
[3]
 Decreasing sun exposure via sunscreen and proper clothing is important while the skin heals.
[1]
 Without treatment death may occur.[3] The disease occurs most commonly in the developing
world, specifically sub-Saharan Africa
Anemia
Anemia (also spelled anaemia) is a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells (RBCs)
or hemoglobin in the blood,[3][4] or a lowered ability of the blood to carry oxygen.[5] When anemia
comes on slowly, the symptoms are often vague and may include feeling tired,
weakness, shortness of breath, and a poor ability to exercise.[1] When the anemia comes on
quickly, symptoms may include confusion, feeling like one is going to pass out, loss of
consciousness, and increased thirst.[1] Anemia must be significant before a person becomes
noticeably pale.[1] Additional symptoms may occur depending on the underlying cause.[1]
Anemia can be caused by blood loss, decreased red blood cell production, and increased red
blood cell breakdown.[1] Causes of blood loss include trauma and gastrointestinal bleeding.
[1]
 Causes of decreased production include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, thalassemia,
and a number of neoplasms of the bone marrow.[1] Causes of increased breakdown include
genetic conditions such as sickle cell anemia, infections such as malaria, and certain autoimmune
diseases.[1] Anemia can also be classified based on the size of the red blood cells and amount of
hemoglobin in each cell.[1] If the cells are small, it is called microcytic anemia; if they are large,
it is called macrocytic anemia; and if they are normal sized, it is called normocytic anemia.[1]The
diagnosis of anemia in men is based on a hemoglobin of less than 130 to 140 g/L (13 to 14 g/dL);
in women, it is less than 120 to 130 g/L (12 to 13 g/dL).[1][6] Further testing is then required to
determine the cause

Pernicious anemia
 
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red
blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are many types of anemia.
Pernicious anemia is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly
absorb vitamin B12.
Causes
Pernicious anemia is a type of vitamin B12 anemia. The body needs vitamin B12 to make red
blood cells. You get this vitamin from eating foods such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and
dairy products.
A special protein, called intrinsic factor (IF), binds vitamin B12 so that it can be absorbed in the
intestines. This protein is released by cells in the stomach. When the stomach does not make
enough intrinsic factor, the intestine cannot properly absorb vitamin B12.
Common causes of pernicious anemia include:
 Weakened stomach lining (atrophic gastritis)
 An autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks the actual intrinsic
factor protein or the cells in the lining of your stomach that make it.
In rare cases, pernicious anemia is passed down through families. This is called congenital
pernicious anemia. Babies with this type of anemia do not make enough intrinsic factor. Or they
cannot properly absorb vitamin B12 in the small intestine.
Burning Feet

A burning sensation in your feet may be caused by nerve damage in the legs, also called
neuropathy. Although many medical conditions can cause burning feet, diabetes is the most
common. Most burning feet treatments focus on preventing further nerve damage and reducing
pain.
See More: What Your Feet Say About Your Health
Causes of Burning Feet
Most often, neuropathy is the cause of burning feet. Damaged nerve fibers are more likely to
become overactive and misfire. The damaged nerves send pain signals to the brain even though
there is no wound.
In most people with neuropathy, the leg nerves become damaged first. These people often have
tingling and numbness in the feet as well. Many people complain that their feet are overly
sensitive to touch (hyperesthesia) and can have varying degrees of burning pain. It can range
from mild to disabling.
Diabetes and alcohol abuse are by far the most common causes of neuropathy in the legs. Many
other conditions can cause neuropathy or a burning sensation in the feet:
 Chronic kidney disease (uremia)
 Small fiber neuropathy
 Vitamin deficiency (vitamin B12, folate, and occasionally vitamin B6)
 Alcohol abuse
 Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
 Lyme disease

Neurological disorder
A neurological disorder is any disorder of the nervous system. Structural, biochemical or
electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord or other nerves can result in a range
of symptoms. Examples of symptoms include paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination,
loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness. There are
many recognized neurological disorders, some relatively common, but many rare. They may be
assessed by neurological examination, and studied and treated within the specialities
of neurology and clinical neuropsychology.
Interventions for neurological disorders include preventative measures, lifestyle
changes, physiotherapy or other therapy, neurorehabilitation, pain
management, medication, operations performed by neurosurgeons or a specific diet.[1]
[2]
 The World Health Organization estimated in 2006 that neurological disorders and
their sequelae (direct consequences) affect as many as one billion people worldwide, and
identified health inequalities and social stigma/discrimination as major factors contributing to the
associated disability and suffering
Causes
 Although the brain and spinal cord are surrounded by tough membranes, enclosed in the bones of
the skull and spinal vertebrae, and chemically isolated by the blood–brain barrier, they are very
susceptible if compromised. Nerves tend to lie deep under the skin but can still become exposed
to damage. Individual neurons, and the neural circuits and nerves into which they form, are
susceptible to electrochemical and structural disruption. Neuroregeneration may occur in
the peripheral nervous system and thus overcome or work around injuries to some extents, but it
is thought to be rare in the brain and spinal cord.
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).[1] Early symptoms of
deficiency include weakness, feeling tired, and sore arms and legs.[1][2] Without
treatment, decreased red blood cells, gum disease, changes to hair, and bleeding from the skin
may occur.[1][3] As scurvy worsens there can be poor wound healing, personality changes, and
finally death from infection or bleeding.[2]
It takes at least a month of little to no vitamin C in the diet before symptoms occur.[1][2] In
modern times, scurvy occurs most commonly in people with mental disorders, unusual eating
habits, alcoholism, and older people who live alone.[2] Other risk factors include intestinal
malabsorption and dialysis.[2] While many animals produce their own vitamin C, humans and a
few others do not.[2] Vitamin C is required to make the building blocks for collagen.[2] Diagnosis
typically is based on physical signs, X-rays, and improvement after treatment.[2]
Treatment is with vitamin C supplements taken by mouth.[1] Improvement often begins in a few
days with complete recovery in a few weeks.[2] Sources of vitamin C in the diet include citrus
fruit and a number of vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes.[2]Cooking often decreases
vitamin C in foods.[2]
Scurvy currently is rare.[2] It occurs more often in the developing world in association
with malnutrition.[2] Rates among refugeesare reported at 5 to 45 percent.[4] Scurvy was described
as early as the time of ancient Egypt.[2] It was a limiting factor in long distance sea travel, often
killing large numbers of people.[5] During the Age of Sail, it was assumed that 50 percent of the
sailors would die of scurvy on a given trip.[6] A Scottish surgeon in the Royal Navy, James Lind,
is generally credited with proving that scurvy can be successfully treated with citrus fruit in
1753.[7] Nonetheless, it would be 1795 before health reformers such as Gilbert Blane persuaded
the British Royal Navy to routinely give lemon juice to its sailors.

eye skin diseases

Symptoms
Dermatitis on the eyelids causes inflammation of the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes. The
eyelids become irritated, swollen, dry, and reddened. It can affect one or both of the eyes.
If this condition persists, the eyelids can become thickened in a process called lichenification.
When caused by an irritant or allergen, symptoms typically occur within a few hours or days of
contact with a trigger substance. Symptoms should subside when the trigger substance is
removed.
Types and causes
Common forms of eyelid dermatitis include:
 Allergic contact dermatitis develops because of an allergic reaction that causes
inflammation of the skin, such as pollen in a person with hay fever. Some cosmetic products or
metals, such as nickel, are common causes of allergic skin reactions.
 Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by the eyelid coming into direct contact with a
substance that damages the outer layer of the skin, such as certain types of makeup, soaps, and
detergents.
 Atopic dermatitis is a form of eczema that can affect the eyelids.
 Seborrheic dermatitis is a common condition that causes the skin to become inflamed
and flakey. It often occurs on the scalp but can also affect oily areas of skin, such as the eyelids.
It is unclear what causes conditions such as atopic dermatitis, though there seems to be a genetic
component, and it can run in families.
Rickets
Rickets is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children.[1] Symptoms include bowed
legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping.[1][2] Complications may
include bone fractures, muscle spasms, an abnormally curved spine, or intellectual disability.[1][2]
The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency.[1] This can result from eating a diet without
enough vitamin D, dark skin, too little sun exposure, exclusive breastfeeding without vitamin D
supplementation, celiac disease, and certain genetic conditions.[1][2] Other factors may include not
enough calcium or phosphorus.[3][4] The underlying mechanism involves
insufficient calcification of the growth plate.[5]Diagnosis is generally based on blood tests finding
a low calcium, low phosphorus, and a high alkaline phosphatase together with X-rays.[1]
Prevention includes vitamin D supplements for exclusively breastfed babies.[4] Treatment
depends on the underlying cause.[1] If due to a lack of vitamin D, treatment is usually with
vitamin D and calcium.[1] This generally results in improvements within a few weeks.[1]Bone
deformities may also improve over time.[4] Occasionally surgery may be done to fix bone
deformities.[2] Genetic forms of the disease typically require specialized treatment.[4]
Rickets occurs relatively commonly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.[3] It is generally
uncommon in the United States and Europe, except among certain minority groups.[2][3] It begins
in childhood, typically between the ages of 3 and 18 months old.[2][3] Rates of disease are equal in
males and females.[2] Cases of what is believed to have been rickets have been described since
the 1st century,[6]and the condition was widespread in the Roman Empire.[7] The disease was
common into the 20th century.[6] Early treatments included the use of cod liver oil.
Tocopherol
Tocopherols (/toʊˈkɒfəˌrɒl/;[1] TCP) are a class of organic chemical compounds (more
precisely, various methylated phenols), many of which have vitamin E activity. Because
the vitamin activity was first identified in 1936 from a dietary fertility factor in rats, it was given
the name "tocopherol" from the Greek words "τόκος" [tókos, birth], and "φέρειν", [phérein, to
bear or carry] meaning in sum "to carry a pregnancy," with the ending "-ol" signifying its status
as a chemical alcohol.
α-Tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, where the main
dietary sources are olive and sunflower oils,[2] while γ-tocopherol is the most common form in
the American diet due to a higher intake of soybean and corn oil.[2][3]
Tocotrienols, which are related compounds, also have vitamin E activity. All of these various
derivatives with vitamin activity may correctly be referred to as "vitamin E". Tocopherols and
tocotrienols are fat-soluble antioxidants but also seem to have many other functions in the body.
Blood Clots

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a
blood vessel is injured. Platelets (a type of blood cell) and proteins in your plasma (the liquid
part of blood) work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury. Typically,
your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however,
clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These
situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Clots can occur in veins or arteries, which are vessels that are part of the body's circulatory
system. While both types of vessels help transport blood throughout the body, they each function
differently. Veins are low-pressure vessels that carry deoxygenated blood away from the body's
organs and back to the heart. An abnormal clot that forms in a vein may restrict the return of
blood to the heart and can result in pain and swelling as the blood gathers behind the clot. Deep
vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of clot that forms in a major vein of the leg or, less commonly,
in the arms, pelvis, or other large veins in the body. In some cases, a clot in a vein may detach
from its point of origin and travel through the heart to the lungs where it becomes wedged,
preventing adequate blood flow. This is called a pulmonary (lung) embolism (PE) and can be
extremely dangerous.

It is estimated that each year DVT affects as many as 900,0001 people in the United States and
kills up to 100,000.2 Despite the prevalence of this condition, the public is largely unaware of the
risk factors and symptoms of DVT/PE. Do you understand your risk? Check out ASH's five
common myths about DVT.