Why do diet deficiencies occur?

Why do diet deficiencies occur?

Major Diet-Deficiency Diseases Common in ELDC’s

Type Disease Symptoms Distribution Treatment

Proteindeficiency

Kwashiorkor

Retarded growth, apathy and swollen stomach, skin rashes. Deadly if untreated.

Africa, S.E Asia

High-Protein fluids, well balanced diet.

Marasmus Severe starvation in combination with lack of proteins. Wasting of tissue.

Africa, S.E Asia

Breast-milk, cereals, fats, oils;immediate treatment.

Vitamindeficiency

Beri-beri Vitamin B deficiency, wasting of limbs, nervous disorders, skin sores, heart failure.

S.E Asia Vitamin B-rich foods, well-balanced diet.

Rickets Vitamin D deficiency, bone deformity of legs, pelvis and spine.

S.E Asia Diet of calcium-rich food and vitamin D.

KwashiorkorClinical Manifestations:A. Diagnostic Signs

1. Edema2. Muscle wasting3. Psychomotor

changesB. Common Signs

1. Hair changes2. Diffuse

depigmentation of skin

3. Moonface4. Anemia

C. Occasional Signs:1. Flaky-paint rash2. Noma3. Hepatomegaly4. Associated

Laboratory:1. Decreased serum

albumin2. EEG abnormalities3. Iron & folic acid

deficiencies4. Liver biopsy fatty or

fibrosis may occur

What are the symptoms?

• Swollen stomach• Reddish

discolouration of hair• Miserable

appearance with ‘moonface’

• Pigmentation loss in skin

• Retarded growth• Loss of muscle mass

KwashiorkorBetween 1-3 yrs oldCause/origin:Very low proteinIn places where

starchy foods are main staple

Never exclusively dietary*

Kwashiorkor

Where does kwashiorkor occur?

• ELDCs• Africa, e.g.

Sudan, Ethiopia and Mozambique

• S.E Asia

EMDCs

ELDCs

What is Kwashiorkor?

• Condition resulting from inadequate protein/food intake

• It occurs in children that have been weaned as diet is replaced by a diet of starches/carbohydrates

• It occurs most commonly in areas of famine, limited food supply, and low levels of education, which can lead to inadequate knowledge of proper diet

• It is a result of extreme poverty!

What are the treatments?

• Adequate diet – with carbohydrate, fat (10% of total calories), and protein (12 percent of total calories) will prevent kwashiorkor

How can it be controlled?

• Improve food supply

• Develop new crops

• Improve technology

• Educate people on balanced diets

Who helps to combat the disease?

• International organisations and aid agencies

• WHO• Oxfam• Save the Children

Fund

Save the Children Fund• In Ethiopia they have

provided food aid• Organised relief

flights to get food to the areas with the greatest need

• Set up education programmes for villagers to encourage them to grow vitamin rich foods to supplement a staple diet of maize