Marasmus

Marasmus
Marasmus
Classification and external resources

Child suffering with Marasmus in India
ICD-10 E41.-E42.
ICD-9 261
DiseasesDB 7826
eMedicine ped/164
MeSH D011502

Marasmus is a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency.

A child with marasmus looks emaciated. Body weight may be reduced to less than 80% of the average weight that corresponds to the height .[citation needed] 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 wasting with the presence of edema.

The prognosis is better than it is for kwashiorkor.[1]

The word “marasmus” comes from the Greek μαρασμός marasmos "consumption" from μαραίνειν marainein "to consume, exhaust."

Contents

Signs and symptoms

The malnutrition associated with marasmus leads to extensive tissue and muscle wasting, as well as variable edema. Other common characteristics include dry skin, loose skin folds hanging over the buttocks (glutei) and armpit (axillae), etc. There is also drastic loss of adipose tissue (body fat) from normal areas of fat deposits like buttocks and thighs. The afflicted are often fretful, irritable, and voraciously hungry.

Marasmus is generally known as the gradual wasting away of the body due to severe malnutrition or inadequate absorption of food. Marasmus is a form of severe protein deficiency and is one of the forms of protein-energy malfunction (PEM). It is a severe form of malnutrition caused by inadequate intake of proteins and calories.

Causes

Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially protein and carbohydrates.

Treatment

It is necessary to treat not only the symptoms but also the complications of the disorder, including infections, dehydration, and circulation disorders, which are frequently lethal and lead to high mortality if ignored.

Ultimately, marasmus can progress to the point of no return when the body's machinery for protein synthesis, itself made of protein, has been degraded to the point that it cannot handle any protein. At this point, attempts to correct the disorder by giving food or protein are futile.

Epidemiology

Disability-adjusted life year for protein-energy malnutrition per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002.[2]
  no data
  less than 10
  10-100
  100-200
  200-300
  300-400
  400-500
  500-600
  600-700
  700-800
  800-1000
  1000-1350
  more than 1350

See also

References


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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • marasmus — ma*ras mus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ?, to quench, as fire; pass., to die away.] (Med.) A wasting of flesh without fever or apparent disease; a kind of consumption; atrophy; phthisis. [1913 Webster] Pining atrophy, Marasmus, and wide wasting… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Marasmus — (v. gr.), Welkwerden, Abzehrung, Auszehrung; M. senilis, das Schwinden der Kräfte im Greisenalter …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Marásmus — (griech.), im allgemeinen soviel wie Auszehrung, besonders (M. senilis) Altersschwäche; marantisch, an M. leidend, entkräftet, erschöpft …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Marásmus — (lat.), körperliche Entkräftung infolge von Krankheiten etc.; M. senīlis, Altersschwäche …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • marasmus — wasting away of the body, 1650s, Modern Latin, from Gk. marasmos a wasting away, withering, decay, from marainein to quench, weaken, wither, from PIE root *mer to rub away, harm (see MORBID (Cf. morbid)). Maras (n.) evidently in the same sense is …   Etymology dictionary

  • marasmus — [mə raz′məs] n. [ML < Gr marasmos, a wasting away < marainein, to quench, cause to waste away: see MARE3] a condition of progressive emaciation, esp. in infants, as from inability to assimilate food marasmic adj …   English World dictionary

  • Marasmus — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 E41 Alimentärer Marasmus Erhebliche Mangelernährung mit Marasmus E42 Kwashiorkor Marasmus Erhebliche Energie un …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • marasmus — marasmic, adj. marasmoid, adj. /meuh raz meuhs/, n. Pathol. malnutrition occurring in infants and young children, caused by insufficient intake of calories or protein and characterized by thinness, dry skin, poor muscle development, and… …   Universalium

  • Marasmus — Ma|ras|mus der; , ...men <über nlat. marasmus aus gr. marasmós »das Schwachwerden, Abnehmen der Lebenskraft« zu maraínein »ausdörren, verzehren«> allgemeiner geistig körperlicher Kräfteverfall (Med.); Marasmus senilis: Kräfteverfall im… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Marasmus — Wasting away, as occurs with children who have kwashiorkor. Also called cachexia, is usually a result of protein and calorie deficiency. * * * Cachexia, especially in young children, primarily due to prolonged dietary deficiency of protein and… …   Medical dictionary

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