Protein Deficiency & Malnutrition

In the U.S., protein deficiency and malnutrition can happen as a result of burns, trauma, sepsis, cancer, heart failure, lung disease or AIDS. It affects every organ in the body, and children with this disorder may not grow properly. As long as the deficiency is not severe, it can be treated by eating a balanced diet. People in a state of severe deficiency and malnutrition will need to be hospitalized.

Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Protein-energy malnutrition is the medical term that describes protein deficiency, malnutrition and a lack of energy. It can be the result of not eating enough food or it can be caused by an illness. For people in developing countries, this is an important health problem. There are two kinds of this disorder, kwashiorkor and marasmus.

Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

Kwashiorkor describes a protein deficiency, while someone with marasmus is not eating enough protein and not getting enough calories. Those in the developing countries with kwashiorkor or marasmus, have it from not eating enough food. In the U.S., this usually happens as a result of an illness. Robert Baron, M.D., vice chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of California, writes in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment" that a protein malnutrition similar to kwashiorkor may happen when people have severe burns, trauma or a bacterial infection in the bloodstream. A protein malnutrition similar to marasmus usually is due to cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or AIDS.

The Effects

Protein deficiency and malnutrition affect every organ in the body. People lose weight, fat and muscle, and lose protein from their heart, stomach, intestines, kidneys and liver. If the protein deficiency and malnutrition continues, their organs will not function properly, according to Dr. Baron. Their liver will make less protein; the heart will pump less blood; the muscles used in breathing will become weak; the lining of the intestines will waste away and lead to malabsorption; wounds will not properly heal; and their immune system will be impaired.

Symptoms in Children

Children with a protein deficiency may lose weight and not grow as much as they should. Symptoms of severe protein deficiency and malnutrition are described in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals," by John Morley, M.B., director of the Saint Louis University Medical Center. Their abdomen sticks out because the muscles are weak. Their hair gets thin, turns gray or reddish-brown and falls out, although their eyelashes may grow long. The skin becomes wrinkled, very thin and loses color. The children will also be quite irritable.

Treatment

As long as it is not severe, this disorder can be treated by eating a balanced, healthy diet. Sometimes people develop diarrhea, because the lack of food allows bacteria to move into the lining of the small intestines, as explained by Dr. Morley in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." If the deficiency is severe, people will need to be hospitalized, so besides having a proper diet, any infections, electrolytes and fluid irregularities can be treated. Electrolytes are minerals in the body, like sodium or potassium, that have an electric charge.