Diseases

Kwashiorkor

A syndrome produced by severe protein deficiency, characterized by retarded growth, changes in skin and hair pigment, edema, and pathologic changes in the liver, including fatty infiltration, necrosis, and fibrosis. The word is a local name in Gold Coast, Africa, meaning displaced child. Although first reported from Africa, kwashiorkor is now known throughout the world, but mainly in the tropics and subtropics. It is considered to be related to marasmus. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A syndrome produced by severe protein deficiency, characterized by retarded growth, changes in skin and hair pigment, edema, and pathologic changes in the liver, including fatty infiltration, necrosis, and fibrosis. The word is a local name in Gold Coast, Africa, meaning displaced child. Although first reported from Africa, kwashiorkor is now known throughout the world, but mainly in the tropics and subtropics. It is considered to be related to marasmus. (From Dorland, 27th ed)

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Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Kwashiorkors

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

severe form of protein malnutrition

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References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Kwashiorkor. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007732. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007732
  2. Kwashiorkor. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor
  3. Kwashiorkor. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213151