Tag: Marasmus diagnosis

Globally, severe acute malnutrition affects millions of children under five, with marasmus and kwashiorkor representing its most severe forms. A precise diagnosis is critical for effective treatment, requiring a multi-faceted approach that relies on clinical examination, physical measurements, and lab work.

According to the World Health Organization, severe malnutrition remains a major cause of child mortality globally. Differentiating between marasmus and kwashiorkor is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment, as these conditions, though both forms of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), present with distinct clinical features.

According to UNICEF, malnutrition contributes to nearly half of all deaths in children under five annually. A severe manifestation of this is marasmus, a form of protein-energy malnutrition where the body is starved of calories. To understand its effects, one must answer: **what is the chief complaint of marasmus?** It is the profound and visible wasting of fat and muscle tissue throughout the body.