Kwashiorkor in Developing Countries (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Causes of Kwashiorkor

What is kwashiorkor?

• Kwashiorkor is a form of acute malnutrition 

• It is caused by a severe lack of protein

  • It can occur even if the overall calorie intake is sufficient

  • Protein is essential for growth, cell repair and a healthy immune system

• If left untreated, kwashiorkor can be fatal

• It is a non-communicable disease

Global distribution of kwashiorkor

• It is estimated that kwashiorkor affects hundreds of thousands of people every year

• Children are at particular risk, especially between the ages of 1 and 5, when they stop breastfeeding

• Kwashiorkor is mostly found in developing countries, with the majority of cases in sub-Saharan Africa

  • This is mainly due to food insecurity and famine caused by poverty, drought or conflict 

• It is rare in developed countries and is associated with severe neglect or child abuse

Causes of kwashiorkor

• It is caused by a severe protein deficiency

  • Instead, there is an over-reliance on foods that are high in carbohydrates, for example, maize, rice and cassava

• There are several contributing factors:

  • Poverty

    • Carbohydrate-rich foods like maize and cassava are more abundant and significantly cheaper to buy than protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs or milk

  • Food shortages

    • Crop failure, as a result of drought or flooding, for example, can reduce food supply

    • Conflict and war disrupt farming and food distribution

    • During food shortages, prices increase further, making protein-rich foods even more unaffordable

  • Lack of education

    • People may lack knowledge about nutrition and the importance of protein, especially for young children who are growing quickly

  • Illness and infection

    • Frequent infections increase the need for protein to aid recovery and also reduce protein absorption, making kwashiorkor worse

Effects of Kwashiorkor

Effects of kwashiorkor on people

• People with kwashiorkor suffer from a range of symptoms:

  • Oedema

    • This is when the stomach, legs and feet become swollen due to a build-up of fluid

  • Changes to skin and hair

    • Hair becomes dry and brittle or may start to fall out

    • Skin becomes dry and flaky, with scaly or red patches

  • Poor growth 

    • Children’s growth may be stunted so that they appear small for their age

    • Weight loss and muscle wasting result in very thin arms and legs

  • Dehydration

    • Fluids move from the blood and build up in tissues, causing swelling

• Over time, this can lead to various negative impacts:

  • Tiredness, irritability and loss of appetite

  • A weak immune system makes sufferers more vulnerable to infections

  • Problems with internal organs, such as liver failure

  • Starvation and death

Effects of kwashiorkor on communities and countries

• Higher child mortality rates and lower life expectancies

  • The death of loved ones causes grief for families and negatively affects their health and well-being

• Poor health and long-term sickness

  • Children may be unable to go to school and so miss out on an education

  • If they are well enough to attend school, they are likely to struggle with poor concentration and low energy

    • This results in lower literacy rates and reduced earning potential as adults

    • This leads to a cycle of poverty, where more children are likely to suffer from malnutrition

    • It also harms the wider economy

• Loss of work days as parents care for sick children

  • Crops may be left unharvested in fields if farm workers are unable to gather them in

  • Productivity and profits for businesses may fall

  • This leads to lower tax income for the government

• More pressure on the health system

  • There may be a shortage of medication and doctors, leading to increased death rates

  • Money needs to be diverted away from other sectors, such as education, which could lead to slower progress in those areas

Strategies to Manage Kwashiorkor

Education

• People can be educated about the need for a nutritious, well-balanced diet to prevent children from developing the disease

• Communities can be encouraged to grow more protein-rich foods, such as cashew nuts, peanuts, lentils or sunflower seeds

• Advice can be given about constructing irrigation schemes to help avoid crop failure in times of drought

• Family planning and empowerment of women can help to reduce the number of children per family, meaning that there will be more food available per child

Medical treatment

• Vitamin and mineral supplements can be given to correct deficiencies

  • Zinc supplements can be given to help the skin recover

• Small amounts of food should be reintroduced slowly to prevent the body from going into shock

  • Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), such as peanut-based paste can help children to recover at home in a matter of weeks

    • 90% of children who receive RUTF recover in 4-8 weeks

• Infections can be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications