marasmus

American  

[muh-raz-muhs] / məˈræz məs /

noun

Pathology.

1. malnutrition occurring in infants and young children, caused by insufficient intake of calories or protein and characterized by thinness, dry skin, poor muscle development, and irritability.

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marasmus British  

/ məˈræzməs /

noun

1. pathol general emaciation and wasting, esp of infants, thought to be associated with severe malnutrition or impaired utilization of nutrients

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Other Word Forms

• marasmic
  adjective
• marasmoid
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of marasmus

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek marasmós a wasting away, akin to maraínein to weaken, waste away

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marasmus

The coroner blamed her death on a form of malnutrition called marasmus.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2023

The daughter of Horatio Nelson Cook and Edith Scooffy Cook, she died of marasmus — a form of severe undernourishment — on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2017

The bodies of marasmus survivors seemed to demand more protein in their food.

From Economist ● Nov. 11, 2010

One significant difference between the two syndromes is that children with marasmus are twice as likely to survive malnutrition as those with kwashiorkor.

From Economist ● Nov. 11, 2010

There are no special constitutional symptoms, the fatal cases usually dying of marasmus.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Henry Weightman Stelwagon

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