“Marasmus can be defined as a form of nutrition deficiency disorder, usually occurring in children. It can be life-threatening if not diagnosed at an early stage.”

Causes of Marasmus:

As mentioned above, it is a nutrition deficiency disease and is mainly caused by:

• a severe deficiency of protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and lipids.

• Viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections are also a major cause for this disorder.

• Children, older adults, and people with a weak immune system are more prone to marasmus.

Other causes of marasmus include:

• Poverty

• Starvation

• Famine or unavailability of food

• Lack of education about nutritional requirements.

• Intake of medicines that interfere with the absorption of nutrients.

Symptoms of Marasmus:

The symptoms of marasmus are more common to the symptoms of kwashiorkor, which includes:

• Dizziness

• Weight loss.

• Dehydration.

• Lack of energy

• Stunted growth.

• Chronic Diarrhoea.

• Shrinkage of Stomach.

• Respiratory infections.

• Dry skin and brittle hair.

• Underweight or loss of muscle mass and subcutaneous fat.

Risk Factors of Marasmus:

The risk factors for marasmus include:

• The people living in developing countries are more at risk of contracting marasmus.

• The famine and poverty struck areas have a larger percentage of children suffering from marasmus.

• If the infants are not breastfed by nursing mothers due to malnutrition, the risk of marasmus increases in children.

• Insufficient medical care and high disease rates are other reasons that increase the risk of marasmus in the population.

Diagnosis of Marasmus:

This deficiency disease can be diagnosed by the physician through a physical examination such as:

• Skin test for the functioning of the immune system.

• A blood test to check for the presence of any microbial infections.

• Height, weight and physical activity of a child according to age.

• General counselling of a child to study the child’s mental state and behaviour.

• Urine and stool test for examining diarrhoea and other nutritional deficiency disorders.

Treatment for Marasmus:

The first and primary treatment prescribed for the patient suffering from marasmus includes:

• Multivitamin supplements to improve appetite and nutrition deficiency.

• Dehydration symptoms can be prevented by the intake of water and other fluids that contain electrolytes.

• Few antibiotics or other medications are given to treat children with pathogenic infections.

• A well-balanced diet is given once after the child’s condition is stable and starts to recover slowly.

• Diet rich in protein like skimmed milk, and other energy providing food supplements to increases the energy content.