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Article: Kwashiorkor
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- Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z
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Kwashiorkor
The term
kwashiorkor
, meaning "the disease of the displaced child" in the language of Ga, was first defined in the 1930s in Ghana. Kwashiorkor is one of the more severe forms of
protein malnutrition
and is caused by inadequate protein intake. It is, therefore, a
macronutrient
deficiency.
Kwashiorkor is largely a problem in the developing world, although it can be found in geriatric and hospitalized patients in Western nations. Generally, kwashiorkor occurs when drought,
famine
, or societal unrest leads to an inadequate food supply. Protein-depleted diets in such areas are mostly based on starches and vegetables, with little meat and animal products. A lack of ...