Clinical features
In malnutrition there is muscle wasting of the infant but preservation of some subcutaneous fat. Note that most features are in systems with high rates of turnover:-
- oedema - in kwashiorkor
- diarrhoea as a result of villous atrophy
- abdominal distention as a result of small bowel flora
- hair loss
- nail atrophy
- listlessness
- irritability
- apathy
- anorexia
- flaky paint skin - dermatitis, depigmented skin, generally thin and cracking. Sometimes there is hyperpigmentation
- nappy rash, often infected with candida
- hepatomegaly due to fatty infiltration
- prone to infection
Reference:
- Grover Z, Ee LC. Protein energy malnutrition. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2009 Oct;56(5):1055-68
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