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Kwashiorkor symptoms

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Kwashiorkor

Alternative Names: Protein malnutrition; Protein-calorie malnutrition; Malignant malnutrition; Mehlä hrschaden Symptoms: unavailability of adequate food and quality protein failure to gain weight and failure of linear growth irritability lethargy or apathy decreased muscle mass edema large protuberant belly diarrhea dermatitis changes in skin pigment; may lose pigment where the skin has peeled away (desquamated) and the skin may darken where it has been irritated or traumatized hair changes -- hair color may change, often lightening or becoming reddish, thin, and/or brittle increased numbers of infections and increased severity of normally mild infection as a result of damaged immune system shock (late stage) coma (late stage) Signs and tests: The physical examination may show an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) and generalized edema. Text Continues Below Decreased kidney function as shown by changes in: urinalysis serum creatinine creatinine clearance BUN serum potassium arterial blood gas Total protein levels (from a chemistry profile) show insufficient amounts of albumin proteins (hypoalbuminemia). CBC demonstrates presence of anemia.

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