Definition of nutritional disorder
Nutritional disorder is any of the
nutrient-related diseases and conditions that cause illness in humans. They may include deficiencies or excesses in the
diet: deficiencies in essential nutrients in a diet can lead protein–energy
malnutrition, kwashiorkor or marasmus while excesses of some nutrients can lead
to obesity and eating disorders, and
chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes mellitus.
nutrient-related diseases and conditions that cause illness in humans. They may include deficiencies or excesses in the
diet: deficiencies in essential nutrients in a diet can lead protein–energy
malnutrition, kwashiorkor or marasmus while excesses of some nutrients can lead
to obesity and eating disorders, and
chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes mellitus.
Examples of nutritional disorders (deficiencies)
Examples of nutritional
disorders (deficiencies) are nutritional diseases or conditions arising from undernutrition
which is a condition in which there is insufficient food to meet energy needs.
This appears in the form of weight loss, stunted growth, wasting of body fat and muscle, diminished mental function, and increased
susceptibility to disease. Prolonged nutritional disorders (deficiencies) lead
to the following
disorders (deficiencies) are nutritional diseases or conditions arising from undernutrition
which is a condition in which there is insufficient food to meet energy needs.
This appears in the form of weight loss, stunted growth, wasting of body fat and muscle, diminished mental function, and increased
susceptibility to disease. Prolonged nutritional disorders (deficiencies) lead
to the following
·
Kwashiorkor and
Kwashiorkor and
·
marasmus
marasmus
Protein-energy malnutrition
Protein-energy
malnutrition (PEM) is a chronic form of undernutrition which is also referred
to as protein-calorie malnutrition. This is a condition in which people
especially children consume too little protein, energy, or both. This condition
lead to kwashiorkor, characterized by a severe protein deficiency, and
at the other is marasmus, an absolute food deprivation with grossly
inadequate amounts of both energy and protein.
malnutrition (PEM) is a chronic form of undernutrition which is also referred
to as protein-calorie malnutrition. This is a condition in which people
especially children consume too little protein, energy, or both. This condition
lead to kwashiorkor, characterized by a severe protein deficiency, and
at the other is marasmus, an absolute food deprivation with grossly
inadequate amounts of both energy and protein.
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor is a Ghanaian word meaning the disease that the
first child gets when the new child comes, is typically seen when a child is
weaned from high-protein breast milk onto a carbohydrate food source with insufficient protein. Children
with this disease, which is characterized by a swollen belly due to oedema (fluid retention), are weak, grow poorly, and are
more susceptible to infectious diseases,
which may result in fatal diarrhoea. Other symptoms of kwashiorkor include apathy, hair discoloration, and dry, peeling skin with sores that fail to heal. Weight loss may be
disguised because of the presence of oedema, enlarged fatty liver, and intestinal parasites; moreover, there may be little wasting of muscle
and body fat.
first child gets when the new child comes, is typically seen when a child is
weaned from high-protein breast milk onto a carbohydrate food source with insufficient protein. Children
with this disease, which is characterized by a swollen belly due to oedema (fluid retention), are weak, grow poorly, and are
more susceptible to infectious diseases,
which may result in fatal diarrhoea. Other symptoms of kwashiorkor include apathy, hair discoloration, and dry, peeling skin with sores that fail to heal. Weight loss may be
disguised because of the presence of oedema, enlarged fatty liver, and intestinal parasites; moreover, there may be little wasting of muscle
and body fat.
Marasmus
An infant with marasmus
is extremely underweight and has lost most or all subcutaneous fat. The body
has a “skin and bones” appearance, and the child is profoundly weak and highly
susceptible to infections. The cause is a diet very low in calories from all sources (including protein), often from
early weaning to a bottled formula prepared with unsafe water and diluted
because of poverty. Poor hygiene and continued depletion lead to a
vicious cycle of gastroenteritis and
deterioration of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which interferes
with absorption of nutrients from the little food available and further reduces
resistance to infection. If untreated, marasmus may result in death due to
starvation or heart failure.
is extremely underweight and has lost most or all subcutaneous fat. The body
has a “skin and bones” appearance, and the child is profoundly weak and highly
susceptible to infections. The cause is a diet very low in calories from all sources (including protein), often from
early weaning to a bottled formula prepared with unsafe water and diluted
because of poverty. Poor hygiene and continued depletion lead to a
vicious cycle of gastroenteritis and
deterioration of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which interferes
with absorption of nutrients from the little food available and further reduces
resistance to infection. If untreated, marasmus may result in death due to
starvation or heart failure.
Kwashiorkor and marasmus
can also occur in hospitalized patients receiving intravenous glucose for an extended time, as when recovering from surgery, or in those with
illnesses causing loss of appetite or malabsorption of nutrients. Persons with eating disorders,
cancer, AIDS, and other illnesses where appetite fails or absorption of nutrients is hampered may
lose muscle and organ tissue as well as fat stores.
can also occur in hospitalized patients receiving intravenous glucose for an extended time, as when recovering from surgery, or in those with
illnesses causing loss of appetite or malabsorption of nutrients. Persons with eating disorders,
cancer, AIDS, and other illnesses where appetite fails or absorption of nutrients is hampered may
lose muscle and organ tissue as well as fat stores.
Identification of individuals with nutritional disorders
Individual
with nutritional disorders such as protein-energy malnutrition, kwashiorkor and
marasmus develop clinical manifestation which can aid their identification and
classification as stated below:
with nutritional disorders such as protein-energy malnutrition, kwashiorkor and
marasmus develop clinical manifestation which can aid their identification and
classification as stated below:
Clinical
manifestation of protein-energy malnutrition
manifestation of protein-energy malnutrition
In
children, clinical manifestations of marasmus include poor weight gain or
weight loss; slowing of linear growth; and behavioural changes, such as
irritability, apathy, decreased social responsiveness, anxiety, and attention
deficit. While in adults it gives rise to weight loss, although, in some cases,
oedema can mask weight loss. Patients may suffer easy fatigue, sensation of
coldness and non-healing wounds.
children, clinical manifestations of marasmus include poor weight gain or
weight loss; slowing of linear growth; and behavioural changes, such as
irritability, apathy, decreased social responsiveness, anxiety, and attention
deficit. While in adults it gives rise to weight loss, although, in some cases,
oedema can mask weight loss. Patients may suffer easy fatigue, sensation of
coldness and non-healing wounds.
Clinical manifestation of kwashiorkor
Clinical
manifestations of kwashiorkor include oedema (swelling of the ankles and feet).
Other signs include a distended abdomen,
an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates, thinning hair, loss of teeth and skin
depigmentation Children with kwashiorkor often develop irritability and anorexia.
manifestations of kwashiorkor include oedema (swelling of the ankles and feet).
Other signs include a distended abdomen,
an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates, thinning hair, loss of teeth and skin
depigmentation Children with kwashiorkor often develop irritability and anorexia.
Clinical
manifestation of marasmus
manifestation of marasmus
Clinical
manifestations of marasmus include a shrunken, wasted appearance, loss of
muscle mass and subcutaneous fat mass. Buttocks and upper limb muscle groups
are usually more affected than others. Marasmus is not always linked to severe
oedema. Other symptoms of marasmus include unusual body temperature, anaemia,
oedema, dehydration, cold extremities, decreased consciousness, pneumonia,
heart failure, blood or mucus in the stools and other related conditions.
manifestations of marasmus include a shrunken, wasted appearance, loss of
muscle mass and subcutaneous fat mass. Buttocks and upper limb muscle groups
are usually more affected than others. Marasmus is not always linked to severe
oedema. Other symptoms of marasmus include unusual body temperature, anaemia,
oedema, dehydration, cold extremities, decreased consciousness, pneumonia,
heart failure, blood or mucus in the stools and other related conditions.
Children at the risk of developing malnutrition
Several
factors expose children to the risk of malnutrition, notably among these
factors include:
factors expose children to the risk of malnutrition, notably among these
factors include:
·
Inadequate food intake
Inadequate food intake
·
Poor sanitation
Poor sanitation
·
Social inequality
Social inequality
·
Diseases
Diseases
·
Maternal factors
Maternal factors
i.
Inadequate food intake: Children with inadequate food intake are usually
found to be affected with nutritional deficiencies as a result of inadequate
intake of nutrients leading nutritional deficiencies especially in protein,
vitamins and minerals.
Inadequate food intake: Children with inadequate food intake are usually
found to be affected with nutritional deficiencies as a result of inadequate
intake of nutrients leading nutritional deficiencies especially in protein,
vitamins and minerals.
ii.
Poor Sanitation:The World
Health Organisation estimated in 2008 that globally, half of all cases
of undernutrition in children under five were caused by unsafe water,
inadequate sanitation
or insufficient hygiene. This link is often due to repeated diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections
as a result of inadequate sanitation.
Poor Sanitation:The World
Health Organisation estimated in 2008 that globally, half of all cases
of undernutrition in children under five were caused by unsafe water,
inadequate sanitation
or insufficient hygiene. This link is often due to repeated diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections
as a result of inadequate sanitation.
iii.
Social inequality:In almost all countries, the nutritional disorder
is usually among children of the poor.
Also mother’s literacy level, low household income, higher number of
siblings, less access to mass media, less supplementation of diets, unhygienic
water and sanitation
are associated with chronic and severe malnutrition in children.
Social inequality:In almost all countries, the nutritional disorder
is usually among children of the poor.
Also mother’s literacy level, low household income, higher number of
siblings, less access to mass media, less supplementation of diets, unhygienic
water and sanitation
are associated with chronic and severe malnutrition in children.
iv.
Diseases: Diarrhoea
and other infections can cause malnutrition through decreased nutrient
absorption, decreased intake of food, increased metabolic requirements, and
direct nutrient loss. Parasite infections, in particular intestinal worm infections,
can also lead to malnutrition.Children with chronic diseases like HIV have a
higher risk of malnutrition, since their bodies cannot absorb nutrients as
well. Diseases such as measles are a major cause of malnutrition in children.
Diseases: Diarrhoea
and other infections can cause malnutrition through decreased nutrient
absorption, decreased intake of food, increased metabolic requirements, and
direct nutrient loss. Parasite infections, in particular intestinal worm infections,
can also lead to malnutrition.Children with chronic diseases like HIV have a
higher risk of malnutrition, since their bodies cannot absorb nutrients as
well. Diseases such as measles are a major cause of malnutrition in children.
v.
Maternal factors:The nutrition of children 5 years and younger
depends strongly on the nutrition level of their mothers during pregnancy and
breastfeeding.Infants born to young mothers who are not fully developed are
found to have low birth weights. The level of maternal nutrition during
pregnancy can affect newborn body size and composition. Maternal body size is
strongly associated with the size of newborn children.
Maternal factors:The nutrition of children 5 years and younger
depends strongly on the nutrition level of their mothers during pregnancy and
breastfeeding.Infants born to young mothers who are not fully developed are
found to have low birth weights. The level of maternal nutrition during
pregnancy can affect newborn body size and composition. Maternal body size is
strongly associated with the size of newborn children.
Conclusion/Recommendations
The
state of health of an individual depends on several factors working together,
but the most important factor is the nutritional status of the individual.
Nutritional disorders lead tomalnutrition which signifies deficiencies in some
vital nutritional components which can lead to conditions such as
protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), kwashiorkor and marasmus.
state of health of an individual depends on several factors working together,
but the most important factor is the nutritional status of the individual.
Nutritional disorders lead tomalnutrition which signifies deficiencies in some
vital nutritional components which can lead to conditions such as
protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), kwashiorkor and marasmus.
Based
on this, adequate planning of meals is recommended to ensure that they contain
all the classes of food in the right proportion. Also, exclusive breastfeeding
is important for children under six months and breastfeeding should continue
for the firsttwo years of life alongside with complementary feeding.
on this, adequate planning of meals is recommended to ensure that they contain
all the classes of food in the right proportion. Also, exclusive breastfeeding
is important for children under six months and breastfeeding should continue
for the firsttwo years of life alongside with complementary feeding.
References
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A. (2013). Guidelines for the inpatient treatment of severely malnourished
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K. (2011). Clinical nutrition in practice.New York: John Wiley & Sons.
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566–569.
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