Feature |
Marasmus |
Kwashiorkor |
Age of onset |
<1 year old |
1-5 year old |
Cause |
Calorie deficiency |
Protein deficiency |
Appearance |
Alert child |
Lithargic child |
Weight |
Severe weight loss |
Moderate weight loss or maintained weight with edema |
Edema |
Not present |
Present (especially in legs and abdomen) |
Fatty liver (Hepatomegaly) |
Rare |
Common |
Wasting |
Visible |
Masked due to edema |
Appetite |
Good |
Poor / Absent |
Facial appearance |
Monkey / Old man / Simian facies (Buccal fat loss) |
Moon face / Sugar baby appearance |
Skin changes |
Baggy pants appearance (loose skin of the buttocks hanging down) |
Flaky paint dermatosis |
Hair changes |
No characteristic changes |
Flag sign / Black & white hair (alternating bands of hypopigmentation) |