Malnutrition Symptoms

Malnutrition is an imbalance of essential nutrients in the body, due to improper consumption of nutritious foods, which could either lead to over nutrition or under nutrition. Either ways, it is a harmful condition and can give rise to complications like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Kwashiorkar and Marasmus. Malnutrition symptoms are observed at any age. Let's take a look at the malnutrition symptoms in children, adults and elderly people.

Malnutrition Symptoms in Children
Infants and growing children are most widely affected by malnutrition. Symptoms that are shown by a malnourished child are as follows:

• Dry and flaking skin with scales
• Swollen and painful joints
• Weakness in the muscle and trembling
• Osteoporosis, where the bones can break easily
• Dizziness and slowed reflexes
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Loss of appetite and weight
• Growth retardation
• Low organ function and bloated stomach
• Bleeding gums and decayed teeth
• Weak immune system
• Low memory power
• Deficiencies of Vitamin A that can cause loss of vision
• Measles, mums and diarrhea
• Kwashiorkar and Marasmus are two conditions which occur due to loss of protein energy metabolism and have the same symptoms as above. They act as a primary symptom for malnutrition.

Malnutrition Symptoms in Adults
Adults can also face malnutrition problems. The symptoms of malnutrition in adults can lead to severe problems like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc. These symptoms are:

• Edema
• Anemia
• Dry scaly skin
• Brittle hair without pigment and nourishment
• Brittle nails
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Weakened muscles
• Pain in joints
• Weakened immune system
• Chronic diarrhea
• Goiter
• Increased protein energy malnutrition
• Bad moods and constant irritability
• Exhaustion and fatigue

Malnutrition Symptoms in Elderly People
In the same way as children are more prone to malnutrition, aged or elderly people also suffer from it on a large scale. When an old person is malnourished or dehydrated, he shows the following symptoms:

• Confusion and disorientation
• Irritability and uncontrolled anger
• Tachycardia, a condition in which the heartbeat fastens to a rapid rate, can also lead to heart attacks
• Low output of urine and hence further kidney problems
• Dry and scaly skin
• Constipation and bowel blockage
• Dizziness that can lead to falls or strokes

Causes for Malnutrition
There can be a number of causes for malnutrition. Poverty is the main reason of malnutrition in a number of countries. The lack of healthy, nutritious food causes the children and elderly to suffer from under-nourishment, thus weakening their immune system and making them prone to other fatal diseases. Almost 50% of the worlds population suffers from protein energy malnutrition due to unhealthy eating habits. People suffering from chronic diseases like AIDS and cancer can also be victims of malnutrition. Alcohol or drug consumption leads to loss of appetite and increases chances of malnutrition. Obese people who want to lose weight and follow diets without nutrients, can suffer from this disorder.

Diagnosis of Malnutrition
Malnutrition diagnosis can be a very easy task, as these patients are visibly weak. Comparison of a malnourished patient's weight with standardized charts, can also be a good way of diagnosis. The body mass index (BMI) can be calculated and X-rays can be used to determine bone densities, and heart and lung damage, can be carried out to diagnose malnutrition. Other than these, analysis of behavior and the overall appearance can also determine if a person is suffering from malnutrition.

Malnutrition does not only mean hunger and under-nourishment, over-eating or excess nourishment is also malnutrition. It is a potentially life-threatening condition. So in order to stay healthy you need to eat healthy.