How Does Marasmus Affect the Human Body?
Marasmus is the outcome of severe malnutrition. It can occur in anyone who is surviving from malnutrition. But usually, it occurs in children. Especially Marasmus occurrence in children aged between 0 - 1 year. In that case, their body weight gets reduced to less than 62% of the average body weight for their age. Marasmus also can occur in any child's body if she or he has pneumonia, anaemia, malaria, meningitis or other pathological condition like diarrhoea. This disease can take a severe step like death if the proper step is not taken in time.
Introduction
Marasmus disease is caused by low intake of nutrients and energy. As a result, it leads to wasting or the loss of muscle and body fat. Additionally, the natural growth among human beings is hindered due to this health condition.
If anyone has a significant deficiency of nutrients like calories, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, they have a high chance of getting Marasmus.
Marasmus is more commonly seen in developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa. Because People in these nations are prone to having poor access to food, They make it difficult for them to get enough nutrients. Also, a risk of certain infectious diseases can occur. Marasmus does not get proper treatment.
What is Marasmus?
Marasmus is an extreme form of protein-energy malnutrition. It occurs when an individual does not consume enough calories and protein in their diet for an extended period. Therefore, in the absence of these vital nutrients, the energy level within the body goes down dangerously. As a result, vital organs cease to operate.
Even though marasmus is chiefly found in children and young adults, others can get affected as well.
Causes of Marasmus
Primarily, marasmus disease is caused due to lack of nutrition. This lack of nutrition can occur due to various reasons such as –
Poverty
Famine
Consuming wrong nutrition or not balancing it properly with others
Existing health conditions and any bacterial, or viral infections
Caused in adults are due to the lack of healthy food for a long period
Maternal malnutrition
Maternal anaemia
Pathological conditions in a baby
Pneumonia
Cyanotic heart diseases
Malaria
Pyloric stenosis
Lactose intolerance
Intussusception
Anorexia nervosa
Necrotizing enterocolitis
Meningitis
What are the Symptoms of Marasmus?
The main symptom of marasmus is the loss of body fat and muscle tissues. It leads to the scenario of a strange dip in body mass index, called wasting.
However, in the case of children, the main symptom of this disease is their inability to grow. Other signs and symptoms of marasmus are –
Weight loss
Chronic diarrhoea
Dehydration
Dizziness
Lack of energy
Measles
Respiratory infections
Brittle hair and dry skin
Stomach shrinkage
Stunted growth
Dry skin and eyes
Lower immunity
Stomach infection and lactose intolerance
Respiratory infections
Rickets that happen because of calcium and vitamin D deficiency
Anaemia due to iron deficiency
Impaired brain function and intellectual disability
Low blood pressure or hypotension
Low body temperature or hypothermia
Slow heart rate or bradycardia
Not consuming proper food and nutrients may cause Marasmus in anyone from children to young age. It can affect both the body and mind of a person. One of the typical symptoms in children with severe Marasmus tends to appear tired and bored. They always feel low in energy and spirit. Also, often they get irritable, short-tempered, and uninterested in what is going around them. This symptom can confuse anyone as a sign of kwashiorkor. That is another type of malnutrition.
Risks with Marasmus
These diseases or health conditions also pose some serious threat to an individual, which can be fatal. Apart from the above-mentioned symptoms or signs, individuals suffering from this condition also go through mental trauma.
Therefore, the treatment of mental health is also essential to completely recover from this condition. Marasmus, in the long run, can also create complications like hypothermia, hypotension, and bradycardia.
How to Diagnose Marasmus?
Clinical features of marasmus discussed above are a way of understanding whether a person is suffering from this disease or not. On the other hand, doctors can diagnose individuals via physical exam.
Measurements of height and weight can help determine this illness as well. Patients below the ideal criteria of a particular age often suffer from this condition.
Doctors can diagnose a patient with Marasmus by physically examining their body. They generally check if the height and weight of the person are appropriate as their age. In children, doctors measure the circumference of the middle-upper arm to check for malnutrition. The doctor may also check whether anyone has any other issue for better protection.
There will also be some lab tests to check the haemoglobin, blood cell count, blood glucose levels, and so on. These tests confirm whether you have any infection or disease that can cause Marasmus.
Treatment of Marasmus
The marasmus treatment process is not instant; it takes time. Initially, patients, especially children, are given skim milk powder mixed with boiled water. Gradually, various vegetable oils are included in the diet as they increase energy.
Once they begin to show signs of recovery, doctors prescribe a more balanced diet.
On the other hand, if dehydration is an issue then methods to rehydrate the body are followed. Oral hydration is sufficient in most cases.
Last but not least, to treat any infections, antibiotics and standard medications are followed. Experts believe that addressing any underlying health issues at the same time helps patients to get better sooner.
Prevention of Marasmus
Marasmus can be a life-threatening condition if not detected and treated early. The recovery process here is slow and often takes months based on the condition of a patient. Therefore, individuals should consider the following tips for the prevention of marasmus –
Eating nutritious food
Drinking adequate water
Following a balanced diet
Maintaining good hygiene
Additionally, if anyone develops any symptoms of marasmus, consult a doctor as soon as possible. If diagnosed early, patients can recover quickly from this situation.
To know more about marasmus, you can go through the study materials available on our website. Moreover, you can also use the official app of Vedantu to access course materials on any other topics of biology. Furthermore, you can join our online classes via this app and our website.
FAQs on Marasmus: Key Facts, Causes, and Treatments
1. What is Marasmus and what are its primary causes?
Marasmus is a severe form of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) that occurs due to a significant deficiency in all major macronutrients: calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It is essentially a state of starvation. The primary cause is prolonged and inadequate intake of food, often linked to poverty, famine, or improper weaning of infants without suitable replacement nutrition.
2. What are the key symptoms and physical signs of Marasmus?
A person with Marasmus exhibits distinct physical signs resulting from severe nutrient deficiency. Key symptoms include:
Drastic weight loss, often falling below 60% of the normal weight for their age.
Severe wasting of muscle and subcutaneous fat, leading to a 'shrunken' or 'skin and bones' appearance (atrophy).
Dry, loose, and wrinkled skin due to loss of underlying fat.
Prominent ribs and a shrunken abdomen.
Irritability, apathy, and persistent hunger.
Unlike Kwashiorkor, there is no swelling or oedema.
3. What is the main difference between Marasmus and Kwashiorkor?
The main difference lies in the specific type of nutritional deficiency. Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of all calories and protein, leading to a wasted or shrunken appearance. In contrast, Kwashiorkor is primarily caused by a severe protein deficiency while calorie intake might be sufficient. The most telling visual difference is that Kwashiorkor is characterised by oedema (swelling), particularly in the abdomen, feet, and face, which is absent in Marasmus.
4. Why are infants under the age of one most susceptible to Marasmus?
Infants under one year are most susceptible to Marasmus for several reasons. Firstly, this is a period of rapid growth with very high energy and nutrient demands. Secondly, they are entirely dependent on their mothers' milk or a suitable alternative. If a mother is malnourished, her milk supply may be inadequate. Furthermore, if an infant is weaned from breast milk too early and not provided with a calorie and protein-rich diet, they are at a very high risk of developing Marasmus. Their small bodies have minimal reserves to cope with such a severe nutritional deficit.
5. How does the body's metabolism adapt to survive during Marasmus?
During the severe starvation of Marasmus, the body initiates critical survival mechanisms. It first depletes its glycogen and fat reserves (adipose tissue) for energy. Once these are exhausted, the body enters a catabolic state and begins to break down its own muscle tissue (skeletal muscle protein) to produce glucose for the brain through a process called gluconeogenesis. This metabolic adaptation, while essential for short-term survival, is what leads to the profound muscle wasting and emaciated appearance characteristic of the condition.
6. How is Marasmus diagnosed and treated in a clinical setting?
Diagnosis of Marasmus is primarily done through a physical examination, focusing on anthropometric measurements like weight-for-height, and observing clinical signs like muscle wasting and lack of subcutaneous fat. Treatment is a careful, phased process. The initial phase focuses on correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalances with oral rehydration solutions. This is followed by a gradual re-introduction of food, often starting with specialised milk-based formulas, to slowly increase calorie and protein intake. This cautious approach helps prevent refeeding syndrome, a dangerous metabolic complication.
7. What are the potential long-term consequences if a child with Marasmus survives but is not treated properly?
Even if a child survives an episode of Marasmus, a lack of proper and sustained treatment can lead to severe long-term consequences. These include stunted physical growth, where the child never reaches their full potential height and weight. More critically, it can cause impaired cognitive development and learning disabilities due to the impact of severe malnutrition on brain development during a crucial period. The immune system may also be permanently weakened, leading to a lifetime of increased susceptibility to infections.
8. How can Marasmus be prevented at both an individual and community level?
Prevention of Marasmus requires a multi-faceted approach. At the individual level, it involves promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods. Educating mothers on a balanced diet is crucial. At the community level, prevention involves ensuring food security, implementing nutrition education programs, providing access to clean water and sanitation to reduce diarrhoeal diseases (which worsen malnutrition), and fortifying common foods with essential nutrients.
