1 post tagged “symptoms of malnutrition”

Malnutrition is a general term for a medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. It most often refers to undernutrition resulting from inadequate consumption, poor absorption, or excessive loss of nutrients, but the term can also encompass overnutrition, resulting from overeating or excessive intake of specific nutrients. An individual will experience malnutrition if the appropriate amount of, or quality of nutrients comprising a healthy diet are not consumed for an extended period of time. An extended period of malnutrition can result in starvation, disease, and infection.

Under nutrition occurs when one or more vital nutrients are not present in the quantity that is needed for the body to develop and function normally. This may be due to insufficient intake, increased loss, increased demand, or a condition or disease that decreases the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from available food. While the need for adequate nutrition is a constant, the demands of the body will vary, both on a daily and yearly basis.

Causes

The primary cause of malnutrition in industrialized nations is economic deprivation, or the inability to afford necessary foods. Poor eating habits also play a major role. The elderly often develop poor eating habits because of ill health, depression, or limited income. Nutritional imbalance can occur as a result of fad diets and appetite-suppressing drugs.

Malnutrition can occur because of the lack of a single vitamin in the diet, or it can be because a person isn't getting enough food. Starvation is a form of malnutrition. Malnutrition also occurs when adequate nutrients are consumed in the diet, but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly. Worldwide, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves.

The main cause of hunger is poverty. Hunger is most devastating when it attacks children, since it can affect their mental and physical development for the rest of their lives, thus deepening the poverty cycle since they have less access to education and opportunities for work later in life. However, hunger also seriously affects adults, impeding their productivity and creating a host of associated health problems, making their lives even more difficult.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary with the specific malnutrition-related disorder. However, some general symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, weight loss and decreased immune response.

Infants, young children, and teenagers need additional nutrients. So do women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Nutrient loss can be accelerated by diarrheas, excessive sweating, heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), or kidney failure. Nutrient intake can be restricted by age-related illnesses and conditions, excessive dieting, severe injury, serious illness, a lengthy hospitalization, or substance abuse.

Worldwide, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves. Poverty, natural disasters, political problems, and war all contribute to conditions -- even epidemics -- of malnutrition and starvation, and not just in developing countries. 

Treatment

Tube feeding is often used to provide nutrients to patients who have suffered burns or who have inflammatory bowel disease. This procedure involves inserting a thin tube through the nose and carefully guiding it along the throat until it reaches the stomach or small intestine. If long-term tube feeding is necessary, the tube may be placed directly into the stomach or small intestine through an incision in the abdomen.