Category: Malnutrition

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, an estimated 149 million children under five were stunted, a devastating result of malnutrition. Understanding the meaning of stunted in nutrition is crucial, as it signifies impaired growth and development with severe, long-lasting consequences for a child's health and future potential.

According to a 2023 study, 333.95 million children and adolescents across 165 low- and middle-income countries were affected by vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in 2019, highlighting its extensive global impact.

Globally, nearly half of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. This alarming statistic highlights the severe consequences of protein-calorie malnutrition, a potentially life-threatening disorder caused by insufficient intake of protein and calories.

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the gravest threat to global public health, and malnutrition is the single biggest contributor to child mortality. Starvation initiates a brutal cascade of physiological breakdowns as the body consumes itself for energy, leading to a host of devastating and life-threatening conditions.

Globally, millions of children suffer from the debilitating effects of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), with studies indicating that child and maternal undernutrition are responsible for a significant percentage of deaths in children under five annually. This critical nutritional deficiency impacts almost every aspect of a child's health, from physical growth to cognitive function.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is a broad term that includes undernutrition, which affects millions globally. What is the diagnostic criteria for marasmus, a severe subtype of undernutrition, involves a multi-faceted evaluation combining physical examination, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests.

Unlike kwashiorkor, which is characterized by profoundly low albumin levels leading to edema, marasmus typically does not cause severe hypoalbuminemia. This critical difference is key to understanding the body's physiological adaptations to different types of nutrient deficiencies, specifically what are the levels of albumin in marasmus compared to other forms of malnutrition.

According to the World Health Organization, severe malnutrition, including kwashiorkor, still affects millions of children globally. The key food value that prevents kwashiorkor is sufficient protein intake, which is vital for growth, cellular repair, and fluid balance.

Poor nutritional status has been statistically linked to prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity, and higher mortality rates. For nurses, accurately identifying and addressing nutritional deficits is a critical component of providing comprehensive patient care and improving health outcomes.

According to the World Health Organization, millions of children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, with a visible and counterintuitive symptom being a distended abdomen. This perplexing symptom raises the question: why do starving people have bloated stomachs? The answer lies in a serious form of protein malnutrition known as kwashiorkor.