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It is estimated by the World Health Organization that over 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from undernutrition. Kwashiorkor is a type of undernutrition that is caused by the deficiency of proteins and usually presents with a swollen abdomen.
It affects children majorly, especially in regions where there is famine, natural disasters such as drought, or reduction in the food supply. In kwashiorkor, the liver is swollen and every other part of the body can be seen to depreciate in size; the hands and feet become lean, making the enlarged abdomen more visible.
With near intervention, affected people may recover fully; however, owing to the fact that kwashiorkor takes a period of time before it appears, haling may take some time as well.
If treatment is delayed, however, kwashiorkor can be life-threatening and in most cases when the children survive, they may remain stunted for a greater period of their lives.
Kwashiorkor is caused by a persistent lack of protein in the diet. Proteins are a very essential part of the diet; some of the functions of proteins include
Based on the functions of proteins highlighted above, some symptoms of kwashiorkor will include:
The major type of treatment offered is the increase in protein content of the diet; protein supplements are also given over a period of time. In addition, other foods that contain carbohydrates and fats may be added to the meal to increase the amount of substrate available for the production of energy.
It is easier to prevent kwashiorkor than to treat it; because in severe cases, it may lead to mental retardation, shock, coma, and even death.
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