Studies in Infantile Malnutrition

Abstract

The backgrounds and physical characteristics of 75 severely malnourished infants have been analyzed. Those presenting as marasmus had not received breast milk for any significant length of time, were virtually starved and were more severely retarded in their physical parameters than those with kwashiorkor who usually had been adequately nursed by their mothers, but then were depleted for a variable length of time until a severe infection, commonly measles or diarrhea, precipitated the clinical signs of protein deficiency. The implications of these differences in the treatment and prevention of malnutrition are discussed.