What is PEM? Write about them in detail
Answers
Answer:
Protein–energy malnutrition (PEM), sometimes called protein-energy undernutrition (PEU), is a form of malnutrition that is defined as a range of pathological conditions arising from coincident lack of dietary protein and/or energy (calories) in varying proportions.
Answer:
PEM stands for protein -energy malnutrition.
It is a common deficiency disease found common among children in underdeveloped and developing countries. It affects the children in the age group of 1-5 years . The children retain weight and are susceptible to infections.
Marasmus and Kwashiorkor are two common diseases due to PEM.
Marasmus:
Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency. It can occur in anyone with severe malnutrition but usually occurs in children. Body weight is reduced to less than 62% of the normal (expected) body weight for the age.Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor occurrence increases after 18 months. It can be distinguished from kwashiorkor in that kwashiorkor is protein deficiency with adequate energy intake whereas marasmus is inadequate energy intake in all forms, including protein. This clear-cut separation of marasmus and kwashiorkor is however not always clinically evident as kwashiorkor is often seen in a context of insufficient caloric intake, and mixed clinical pictures, called marasmic kwashiorkor, are possible. Protein wasting in kwashiorkor generally leads to edema and ascites, while muscular wasting and loss of subcutaneous fat are the main clinical signs of marasmus.
Kwashiorkor:
Kwashiorkor is a form of severe protein malnutrition characterized by edema and an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates.[1] It is caused by sufficient calorie intake, but with insufficient protein consumption, which distinguishes it from marasmus. Kwashiorkor cases occur in areas of famine or poor food supply. Cases in the developed world are rare.
Explanation:
(interestingly today I was asked this question by my teacher at class.. it's a concept of class 11th )