Final answer:
Marasmus is called protein-energy malnutrition because it results from inadequate dietary intake of both protein and energy, leading to severe weight loss, muscle wasting, and a variety of other symptoms associated with severe undernutrition in children.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marasmus is termed protein-energy malnutrition because it arises due to a serious deficit in calorie and protein intake. Unlike kwashiorkor, which is characterized by edema and adequate calorie intake but insufficient protein, marasmus involves inadequate intake of both protein and energy. This severe malnutrition leads to significant muscle wasting and weight loss. In addition, children with marasmus appear significantly underweight, with their muscle and subcutaneous fat essentially 'wasting away.' The condition can have devastating effects if not addressed, such as impaired brain development, chronic diarrhea, and potentially fatal outcomes.
Marasmus typically occurs in infants who are not provided enough food energy over mother's milk after the initial months of birth, and among those fed with highly diluted milk lacking both key nutrients. It is especially prevalent in regions experiencing famine or among poor families. The marasmic child exhibits obvious physical signs such as extremities that resemble sticks, a disproportionally large head, and weakness due to hypoproteinemia, a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of protein in the blood.In both marasmus and kwashiorkor, the lack of dietary protein means cells do not receive the necessary amino acids for growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues, leading to a spectrum of diseases under the umbrella of protein-energy malnutrition.