Malnutrition

Malnutrition, shortage of vital nutrients. Malnutrition may be partial or total and may be the result of poor eating habits, as often occurs among the aged, or due to the unavailability or lack of food caused by disasters such as famine, drought, or war. Malnutrition may also be symptomatic of a gastrointestinal disorder, a malfunctioning of one of the body's major organs, or it may even be associated with diarrhea. Malnutrition affecting all parts of the diet is called marasmus. In marasmus, the body breaks down its own tissues to meet the needs of metabolism. The result is extreme wasting and, in children, extreme growth retardation. A shortage of the body's essential proteins is a variety of malnutrition known as kwashiorkor and shortages of essential vitamins manifest themselves as pellagra, beriberi, or scurvy.

Malnutrition is especially dangerous in pregnant women and in children. In children it can lead to growth disorders, both physical and mental, and reduce their resistance to disease. Though malnutrition is most readily associated with poor and underdeveloped countries in which its manifestations can be severe and are often fatal, it also occurs in rich and developed countries as the result of poverty or diets lacking in essential nutrients.