Marasmus vs Kwashiorkor

Marasmus

• inadequate caloric intake due to insufficient diet, to improper feeding habits or to metabolic abnormalities or congenital malformations.
• characterized by failure to gain weight, followed by loss of weight and then emaciation; abdomen may be distended or flat; have muscle atrophy and hypotonia.

Kwashiorkor

• a clinical syndrome that results from severe deficiency of protein and an inadequate caloric intake.
• protein deficiency can be due to insufficient intake, impaired absorption, abnormal losses, or failure of protein synthesis.
• may become evident from early infancy to about 5 years of age; usually after weaning from breast.
• often characterized by lethargy, apathy, irritability; inadequate growth, loss of muscle tissue, increased susceptibility to infections, and edema.

CHLA Board review 2005