a malnutrition disease, chiefly of children, caused by severe protein and vitamin deficiency and characterized by retarded growth, changes in pigmentation, potbelly, and anemia.
Origin of kwashiorkor
1930–35; < Gakwašiɔkɔ the influence a child is said to be under when his mother becomes pregnant with her next child; spelling with r's is r-less speaker's representation of the vowels
A severe malnutrition of infants and young children, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, caused by deficiency in the quality and quantity of protein in the diet and characterized by anemia, edema, potbelly, depigmentation of the skin, loss or change in hair color, hypoalbuminemia, and bulky stools containing undigested food.
A severe malnutrition, seen primarily in children of tropical and subtropical regions, caused by deficiency in the quality and quantity of dietary protein. Kwahiorkor is characterized by failure to grow, anemia, liver damage, edema, discoloration of the skin or hair, and bulky stools containing undigested food.
