As a physician on a mission to treat patients in sub-Saharan Africa you encounter numerous children with a common cluster of signs and symptoms. These include chronic diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, delayed wound healing, and muscle wasting. Given the constellation of symptoms in your patients, your normal course of treatment would most likely include which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Total caloric increase including protein, carbohydrate, and fat is the most likely treatment for the constellation of symptoms in the patients, which suggests protein-energy malnutrition.  The children you are treating are suffering from marasmus. Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition caused by a deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially protein and carbohydrates. A typical child with marasmus looks emaciated and has a body weight less than 60% of that expected for the age. Treatment of marasmus is normally divided into 2 phases. The initial acute phase of treatment involves restoring electrolyte balance, treating infections, and reversing the hypoglycemia and hypothermia. This is followed by refeeding and ensuring that sufficient caloric and nutrient intake is maintained to enable catch-up growth in order to restore a healthy normal body mass.

As a Physician on a Mission to Treat Patients in Sub-Saharan