Page 60 - Coespu 2019-1

MEDICAL

Malnutrition, Immune System & Infections

immunity. Ones of the critical ele- fections. Kwashiorkor is an African
By Davide Perego ments regarding the relationship word that means weaning disease
between immune system and food and it is strictly connected with the
In the previous article I treat about intake, is the concept of PEM, Pro- concept of Protein Energy Malnu-
malnutrition in general way, the di- tein energy malnutrition an unde- trition, already mentioned above.
rect consequences and how to ma- restimated factor in susceptibility to It occurs due to deficiency of pro-
nage it. But malnutrition had also infection, including the “big three” tein in the diet of children from 1 to
indirect disease and particularly infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, tu- 3 years of age. The symptoms of
had an effect on the immune sy- berculosis, and malaria. PEM is a this disease are edema, stunted
stem exposing the body to a diffe- common cause of secondary im- growth, mental retardation, wrink-
rent type of illnesses and infections. mune deficiency and susceptibili- led skin, thin legs bulged eyes pro-
Malnutrition is the primary cause ty to infection in humans, as it is truded. Kwashiorkor don’t be con-
of immunodeficiency worldwide, possible to appreciate in Table 1. fused with marasmus, that is a
with infants, children, adolescents, Protein Eenrgy Malnutri- form of prolonged malnutrition,
and the elderly most affected. The- tion and Immune System hits infants under one year of age,
re is a strong relationship between Severe PEM in children is clinically and it is caused by a deficiency of
malnutrition and infections and in- defined as less than 70% wei- protein, carbohydrates and fats in
fant mortality, because poor nutri- ght-to- height and/or the appea- the diet; also the symptoms are
tion leaves children underweight, rance of pitting edema on both different, and are physical weak-
weakened, and vulnerable to in- feet, described as either mara- ness, flabby body, elevated ribs,
fections, primarily because of epi- smus, a chronic wasting condition, depressed eyes dry skin. Important
thelial integrity and inflammation. or kwashiorkor, characterized by is to consider that severe malnutri-
There is a vicious cycle among ina- edema and anemia. Children with tion during childhood affects thy-
dequate dietary intake, lowering kwashiorkor, show, often, skin in- mus development, and thymus is a

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