Understanding if kwashiorkor is a non-communicable disease?

October 18, 2025 •

2 min read

Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition, is not a contagious disease and does not spread between people. This dietary illness, therefore, falls under the category of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with poor nutrition being its primary underlying cause.

Quick Summary

Kwashiorkor is a non-communicable disease caused by severe protein malnutrition, leading to fluid retention and other serious symptoms. Its prevention depends on providing adequate nutrition.

Key Points

Non-Communicable Disease: Kwashiorkor is a nutritional disorder and is not contagious, classifying it as a non-communicable disease (NCD).
Caused by Protein Deficiency: The primary cause is a severe deficiency of protein in the diet, often when a child is weaned from breastfeeding onto a carbohydrate-heavy diet.
Distinctive Symptom of Edema: Unlike other forms of malnutrition, kwashiorkor is characterized by fluid retention (edema), which causes swelling in the belly, feet, and ankles.
Treatment Requires Careful Nutritional Rehabilitation: Treatment must be gradual and supervised to avoid refeeding syndrome, with a focus on correcting fluid and electrolyte imbalances before slowly reintroducing proteins and calories.
Prevention Through Education and Access to Nutritious Food: Preventing kwashiorkor involves promoting proper nutrition through education, emphasizing breastfeeding, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors like poverty and food insecurity.
Long-term Consequences: If left untreated, kwashiorkor can lead to permanent physical and mental disabilities, stunted growth, and can be fatal.

Is kwashiorkor a non-communicable disease? Exploring the Link to Nutrition

Kwashiorkor is indeed a non-communicable disease (NCD), meaning it is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person. Instead of being caused by a pathogen, it is a nutritional disorder resulting from a severe protein deficiency, most often affecting children in developing countries with high rates of poverty and food scarcity. While the diet of individuals with kwashiorkor may contain sufficient calories from carbohydrates, it critically lacks protein and essential micronutrients, leading to a cascade of physiological problems.

The Root Cause: Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Kwashiorkor is a type of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), distinct from marasmus. While marasmus is a deficiency of all macronutrients, kwashiorkor primarily results from inadequate protein intake, even with potentially sufficient calorie intake. The name comes from a Ghanaian term describing the illness in a child weaned from protein-rich breast milk to a low-protein diet.

Key dietary factors contributing to kwashiorkor include:

Low Protein Diet: Consuming diets heavy in carbohydrates like rice or corn with minimal protein.
Inadequate Weaning: Replacing breastfeeding with a diet lacking protein.
Micronutrient Deficiencies: Insufficient essential vitamins and minerals.
Infections: Increased nutritional needs from frequent infections.
Environmental Toxins: Potential role of aflatoxins in some regions.

Symptoms and Complications of Kwashiorkor

The most striking symptom is edema, causing swelling in the limbs and a distended abdomen. This swelling can hide underlying muscle wasting. Other symptoms include changes in hair and skin, fatigue, stunted growth, an enlarged liver, and a weakened immune system.

Kwashiorkor vs. Marasmus: A Comparison


Feature	Kwashiorkor	Marasmus
Primary Deficiency	Severe protein deficiency	Overall caloric and protein deficiency
Key Characteristic	Edema (swelling), particularly of the abdomen, feet, and ankles	Severe wasting and extreme weight loss, giving an 'old man' appearance
Subcutaneous Fat	Retained due to caloric intake, but masked by swelling	Almost completely lost
Underlying Diet	Often high in carbohydrates, low in protein	Generally insufficient in both calories and protein
Muscle Mass	Decreased, but obscured by fluid retention	Decreased, clearly visible
Common Age	Typically affects children who have been recently weaned	Can affect both children and adults

Treatment and Prevention Through Proper Nutrition

Treating kwashiorkor requires careful management to prevent refeeding syndrome. The WHO outlines a ten-step protocol, starting with addressing immediate threats and gradually introducing nutrition. Vitamin and mineral supplements are also vital.

Prevention focuses on ensuring access to a balanced, protein-rich diet. Key strategies include nutritional education, promoting breastfeeding, dietary diversification with local protein sources, addressing poverty and food insecurity, and improving disease control.

Conclusion

In summary, kwashiorkor is a non-communicable disease caused by severe protein deficiency, not an infection. Its classification as an NCD emphasizes the importance of nutrition-based prevention and treatment. While prevalent in resource-limited areas, it can also stem from other conditions like eating disorders. Early intervention is crucial as delayed treatment can cause permanent disabilities. Public health efforts should prioritize education and access to nutritious diets.

Understanding Kwashiorkor and Marasmus: Disease Mechanisms & Malnutrition | ScienceDirect

Frequently Asked Questions

No, kwashiorkor is not a communicable disease. It is a nutritional disorder caused by a severe lack of protein in the diet, not by an infectious agent that can be transmitted from person to person.

The primary cause of kwashiorkor is severe protein deficiency, often seen in children who are weaned from breast milk and shifted to a diet high in carbohydrates but low in protein.

The most common symptoms include edema (swelling of the ankles, feet, and belly), skin and hair discoloration, fatigue, irritability, and stunted growth.

Treatment involves gradual nutritional rehabilitation, starting with carbohydrates and later introducing protein, along with vitamin and mineral supplementation, and addressing any underlying infections.

Kwashiorkor is predominantly a protein deficiency characterized by edema, while marasmus is a deficiency of all macronutrients (calories and protein) leading to extreme muscle wasting and no edema.

Yes, kwashiorkor can be prevented by ensuring a balanced nutrition diet with adequate protein, promoting breastfeeding, and providing nutritional education and access to sufficient food.

If not treated early, kwashiorkor can lead to permanent physical and mental disabilities, chronic health issues, stunted growth, and can be life-threatening.

While it is most common in developing countries, rare cases can occur elsewhere due to severe neglect, eating disorders like anorexia, or other underlying health conditions.