Difference between kwashiorkor and marasmus: Comparative meta-analysis of pathogenic characteristics and implications for treatment.

Kwashiorkor and marasmus are two clinical syndromes observed in severe acute malnutrition. In this review, we highlighted the differences between these two syndromes by reviewing the data comparing kwashiorkor and marasmus in literature, combined with recent microbiological findings and meta-analysis. Depletion of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals were more severe in kwashiorkor than marasmus. This was consistent with the severe and uncontrolled oxidative stress associated with the depletion of gut anaerobes and the relative proliferation of aerotolerant gut pathogens. This relative proliferation and invasion of gut microbes belonging to the aerotolerant Proteobacteria phylum and pathogens suggested a specific microbial process critical in the pathogenesis of kwashiorkor. Liver mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction could be secondary to toxic microbial compounds produced in the gut such as ethanol, lipopolysaccharides and endotoxins produced by Proteobacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae, and aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus species. The gut-liver axis alteration is characterized by oedema and a fatty and enlarged liver and was associated with a dramatic depletion of methionine and glutathione, an excessive level of free circulating iron and frequent lethal bacteraemia by enteric pathogens. This was consistent with the fact that antibiotics improved survival only in children with kwashiorkor but not marasmus. The specific pathogenic characteristics of kwashiorkor identified in this review open new avenues to develop more targeted and effective treatments for both marasmus and/or kwashiorkor. Urgent correction of plasma glutathione depletion, alongside supply of specific essential amino acids, particularly methionine and cysteine, early detection of pathogens and an antibiotic more efficient than amoxicillin in supressing gut Proteobacteria including K. pneumoniae, and probiotics to restore the human gut anaerobic mature microbiota could save many more children with kwashiorkor.

[Acute malnutrition in children].

The prevalence of malnutrition has declined significantly over the last 30 years. Despite this, malnutrition remains a major cause of illness and death among children worldwide, particularly in low- and medium-income countries. Marasmus and kwashiorkor are the most life-threatening forms of malnutrition. Treatment protocols enable effective treatment, but only a minority of malnourished children have access to treatment. Furthermore, treating children with complicated malnutrition requiring hospitalization remains a clinical challenge.

Treatment outcomes of severe acute malnutrition in children treated within Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) at Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Children in third world countries suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in an extent of public health important. SAM management protocol available this time brought the approach from facility-based to community-based by Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP). But, little was known about the treatment outcomes of the program in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was aimed to assess treatment outcomes of SAM and identify factors associated among children treated at OTP in Wolaita Zone. METHODS: A retrospective facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in OTP records of 794 children, treated at 24 health posts retrieved from January to December 2014. Population proportion to size (PPS) was used to allocate sample for each selected district and OTP sites within district. Individual cards of children were selected by systematic random sampling. Data were entered, thoroughly cleaned, and analyzed in SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The recovery rate was revealed as 64.9% at 95% CI (61, 68). Death rate, default rate, weight gain, and length of stay were 1.2%, 2.2%, 4.2 g/kg/day, and 6.8 weeks respectively. Children living in <25 min were with 1.53 times higher odds of recovery than children residing in ≥25 min (AOR = 1.53 at 95% CI (1.11, 2.12)). The likelihood of recovery was 2.6 times higher for children with kwashiorkor than for those with marasmus (AOR = 2.62 at 95% CI (1.77, 3.89)). Likewise, children provided with amoxicillin were 1.52 times more likely to recover compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.52 at 95% CI (1.09, 2.11)). CONCLUSIONS: The recovery rate and weight gain were lower than sphere standard. Distance from OTP, provision of amoxicillin, and type of malnutrition were factors identified as significantly associated with treatment outcome of SAM. Building capacity of OTP service providers and regular monitoring of service provision based on the management protocol were recommended.

Nutritionally acquired immune deficiency syndromes (NAIDS): common but often not diagnosed early.

It has been the perception in some pacific island countries that the textbook presentation of kwashiorkor has decreased in incidence possibly due to improved public health services and economic development of the country. However, the diagnosis and treatment is nonetheless crucial to child survival. This paper discusses the clinical courses of 2 children with kwashiorkor whose presentation were not of that taught to medical students or even junior doctors. Their presentation together with their subsequent nutritionally acquired immune deficiency syndrome (NAIDS) is illustrated to raise awareness of the complexities in diagnosis and management of such patients.

An unusual cause of extensive edema.

Edema of nutritional origin is quite rare in industrialized countries. We report the case of an 8-month-old boy with a history of kwashiorkor. Even if the diagnosis is not obvious, there is a need to perform a proper diagnosis at admission to avoid inappropriate management.

'Refeeding syndrome' in a Kuwaiti child: clinical diagnosis and management.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of refeeding syndrome in a Kuwaiti child, its clinical presentation and management. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 13-month-old Kuwaiti boy presented with acute severe malnutrition in the form of marasmic kwashiorkor. On admission, blood sugar and serum electrolytes were normal but on the 3rd day he developed typical biochemical features of refeeding syndrome in the form of hyperglycemia, severe hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. The child then received treatment appropriate for refeeding syndrome in the form of lower calorie intake with gradual increase, as well as supplementation of electrolytes, thiamine and vitamins and he eventually made a safe recovery. CONCLUSION: This case showed that during rehabilitation of a malnourished child, a severe potentially lethal electrolyte disturbance (refeeding syndrome) can occur. Careful monitoring of electrolytes before and during the refeeding phase was needed and helped to detect this syndrome early. We suggest that slow and gradual calorie increase in the 'at-risk' patient can help prevent its occurrence.

Cutaneous presentation of kwashiorkor due to infantile Crohn's disease.

Kwashiorkor is one of the severe forms of protein-energy malnutrition. Many characteristic dermatoses can be seen in children suffering from kwashiorkor, and some are pathognomonic. Here, we report an infant who presented with diarrhea and skin signs of kwashiorkor, and duodenal biopsy was consistent with Crohn's disease. The patient was treated with prednisolone administered orally in a tapering course plus azathioprine, in addition to nutritional supplementation. The general condition of the patient quickly improved and his skin lesions completely resolved within 2 weeks. Kwashiorkor is a serious potentially fatal disease that occurs less often in developed countries leading to low index of suspicion by physicians and pediatricians in those regions. Occasionally, dermatologists have the rare chance of alerting pediatricians to the diagnosis of kwashiorkor, thus making a difference in the care of this disease.

Improving the management of severe acute malnutrition in an area of high HIV prevalence.

AIM: To assess the clinical outcomes of a combined approach to the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in an area of high HIV prevalence using: (i) an initial inpatient phase, based on WHO guidelines and (ii) an outpatient recovery phase using ready-to-use therapeutic food. METHODS: An operational prospective cohort study implemented in a referral hospital in Southern Malawi between May 2003 and 2004. Patient outcomes were compared with international standards and with audits carried out during the year preceding the study. RESULTS: Inpatient mortality was 18% compared to 29% the previous year. Programme recovery rate was 58.1% compared to 45% the previous year. The overall programme mortality rate was 25.7%. Of the total known HIV seropositive children, 49.5% died. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient mortality and cure rates improved compared to pre-study data but the overall mortality rate did not meet international standards. Additional interventions will be needed if these standards are to be achieved.