Q.Marasmus is caused due to deficiency of

Protein Deficiency Disorders (Marasmus and Kwashiorkor)

Food is not just about quantity — it is about balance. A child can be getting some food and still be starving of a specific nutrient. Nowhere is this clearer than with protein: when a growing child does not get enough protein (and often enough total energy too), the body develops distinct, serious disorders. The two classic ones are marasmus and kwashiorkor, and telling them apart is a favourite exam theme.

Why protein matters so much in childhood

Protein is the raw material for building and repairing tissues, muscles, enzymes and antibodies. A rapidly growing child has an especially high demand for it. When that demand is not met, growth falters and the body begins to break down its own tissues — with visible, characteristic results.

The two disorders

Marasmus results from a severe deficiency of both protein and total calories (energy), usually in infants under one year, often when breast-feeding stops too early or is replaced by insufficient food. The child becomes extremely thin and wasted:

• Severe wasting of muscles and almost complete loss of body fat ("skin and bones")
• Stunted growth, thin limbs, wrinkled skin
• Very low body weight for age

Kwashiorkor results mainly from a severe deficiency of protein while calorie intake may be somewhat adequate, typically in children older than one year who have been shifted from mother's milk to a starchy, protein-poor diet.

• Oedema (swelling, especially of the belly and legs) due to fluid retention — a hallmark sign
• Retarded growth, thin/discoloured hair, changes in skin …