Malnutrition कुपोषण 9th Home Science

                Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious condition that happens when our diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients.It can be a result of starvation.Malnutrition can also occur if a person can not properly digest nutrients of the food. In other words malnutrition is a condition that results from nutrients deficiency or over consumption. It may cause serious health issues.

                             Types of Malnutrition

1) Under Nutrition - Under nutrition means not getting enough nutrients. Regularly less quantity of proper food is the main reason of under nutrition. People suffering from under nutrition have deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. specially iron, zinc, vitamin A & iodine. Under nutrition may cause weight loss, fatigue, delayed wound healing, depression and anxiety. Kwashiorkor is a severe protein deficiency & Marasmus is severe calorie deficiency.

2) Over Nutrition -  Over nutrition means getting more nutrients than needed. Having excess amount of food is the main reason of over nutrition.Over weight & obesity are the two signs of over nutrition. Excessive consumption of calories, fats or proteins may cause over nutrition. 

3) Unbalanced Diet - if some nutrients are present in excess in our diet and there is lack of other important nutrients so this type of diet is called unbalanced diet.

4) Deficiency of specific nutrients - Lack of any specific nutrient in our diet may cause many deficiencies. For example Kwashiorkor, Goiter, Night blindness, scurvy & Rickets.

Diseases caused by malnutrition 

1)Kwashiorkor - Kwashiorkor is a severe protein deficiency. It effects 1 year old to 4 years old children. The symptoms of Kwashiorkor are —

i) it effects growth of the children . 

ii) Child looses body weight.

iii) Skin becomes wrinkled.

iv) Hands and legs become weak. 

v) Body parts particularly legs are swollen.

vi)  Brain development decreases. 

vii) Child gets irritable and often cries.

Treatment- Kwashiorkor can be treated by taking more proteins and more calories because it is caused by lack of protein in our diet. Every cell in our body contains protein and we need protein to repair cells & make new cells.

2)Marasmus - Marasmus is caused by lack of calories & proteins in our diet. It usually occurs in children. Marasmus is a condition of severe malnutrition. The symptoms of Marasmus are —

i) Children have lost a lot of muscle mass and seems to be a skeleton only. 

ii) Skin becomes wrinkled & dry.

iii) Respiratory infections occur. 

iv) Mental & physical development are effected badly. 

v) Food does not digest properly. 

vi) Immunity becomes very weak.

Treatment - Marasmus can be treated by taking carbohydrates and protein rich food. Poverty is the main reason of this disease so we should provide enough quantity of proper food to poor children.

3) Night blindness - Night blindness is a condition of the eyes in which vision is normal in daylight but poor at night or in a dim light. It is caused by vitamin A deficiency.

Treatment - Night blindness can be treated by taking vitamin A rich diet. This disease can also be treated by Vitamin A tablets and injections as suggested by the doctor.

4) Anaemia- Anaemia is a condition in which the red blood cells count or hemoglobin is less than normal in the blood. Hemoglobin is found in the red blood cells. Anaemia is defined as level of hemoglobin is less than 14gram/100ml blood. In this condition our body tissues/cells do not get enough oxygen and the person becomes weak. The common symptoms of anaemia are —

 Headache 

 Lack of appetite 

 Difficulty in breathing 

 Weakness & tiredness 

 Skin becomes pale in colour

 Indigestion or poor digestion 

 heart beat increases 

generally there are two main reasons of anaemia - lack of minerals and iron & lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid in the diet. 

Treatment - Anaemia can be treated by taking balanced diet and dietary supplements. We should take more iron and minerals to fight with anaemia. 

5) Rickets - Rickets is a bone disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate. It generally found in children. In Rickets the bones of a child become weak and do not bear body weight. This disease may also effects on  the proper development of muscles. It effects on the mood of the child. Child seems tired and sad all time. The child couldn't sleep well. Appropriate supplements with calcium and vitamin D can treat the defects of bones. Vitamin D has been referred to as the "sunlight vitamin" because it is made in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D founds in small amount only in few foods such as fatty fish, cod - liver oil & eggs. 

6) Scurvy - scurvy is a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency. Some common symptoms of scurvy are - 

lack of appetite 

weight loss 

anaemia 

swelling and pain in legs 

swollen and bleeding gums 

Bones and teeth are also effected in this disease. Person feels pain and swelling in the joints of bones.  Sometimes trouble in breathing is also caused by scurvy. 

    This disease is treated by extra quantity of vitamin C in the form of oral medicines and injections. We should add fresh fruits (orange, lemon, tomatoes, mango, guava, papaya & pine apple) and green vegetables (cabbage, spinach broccoli & capsicum) in our diet.