Session 8 Malnutrition GRoup Work

Question 1

How would you identify marasmus.

Answer 1

Normal hair
Very underweight
Elderly appearance
Thin limbs

Question 2

What is the cause of marasmus?

Answer 2

Insufficient energy intake. Body fat is used up and then muscles.

Question 3

What are the implications of marasmus?

Answer 3

Bradycardia
Hypotension
Brain affected in severe forms
Can’t replace and repair tissues

Question 4

How to identify kwahiorkor?

Answer 4

Sparse hair
Little muscle but fat present
Rounded face
Swollen abdomen
Oedema of the legs

Question 5

What causes kwashiorkor?

Answer 5

A normal calorie intake but low protein intake

Question 6

Who is very susceptible to kwashiorkor?

Answer 6

Babies off breast milk in developing countries and anyone with low dietary protein intake.

Question 7

What does kwashiorkor affect?

Answer 7

Lack of protein leads to lack of lipoproteins to transport the fats made by liver around the body. This impairs liver function as you get a fatty liver. Results in swollen abdomen along with lack of albumin which results in oncotic pressure movin to outside the capillaries and brings water with it.

Question 8

How should you reintroduce food with marasmus and kwashiorkor?

Answer 8

Reintroduce slowly with marasmus

With kwashiorkor patients are unable to deal with protein rich food due to enzyme down regulation. Too much protein too quickly will lead to ammonia toxicity

Question 9

What is re-feeding syndrome

Answer 9

Problems caused by introduction of food too rapidly after a malnutrition. First identified post World War Two. It can lead to coma, confusion and death and convulsion