Definition

1. Noun:
   • A severe form of malnutrition in children: Kwashiorkor is a serious health condition caused by a diet that is extremely high in carbohydrates and critically low in protein. It is characterized by symptoms such as edema (swelling), a distended abdomen, skin lesions, and liver damage.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The aid workers were treating several cases of kwashiorkor in the refugee camp.
  • Kwashiorkor is a preventable disease linked to poverty and food insecurity.
  • A child suffering from kwashiorkor needs immediate medical intervention and a protein-rich diet.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Clinical Context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, nutritional, and humanitarian contexts to describe a specific clinical syndrome.
  • The doctor diagnosed the child's swelling and lethargy as kwashiorkor.

Variants and Related Words

• Marasmus (n): Another severe form of protein-energy malnutrition, often characterized by extreme wasting and emaciation, typically contrasted with kwashiorkor.
• Malnutrition (n): A general term for poor nutrition due to insufficient or unbalanced intake of nutrients, which includes conditions like kwashiorkor.

Synonyms

• Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM): A broader medical term that encompasses both kwashiorkor and marasmus.
• Nutritional edema: A descriptive term highlighting a key symptom (swelling) of the condition.

Notes on Meaning

• This word has a single, specific medical meaning. It is not used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs due to its highly technical nature.

Noun

1. severe malnutrition in children resulting from a diet excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein