Editing Kwashiorkor (section)

== Classification ==

Kwashiorkor is a type of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). SAM is a category, composed of two conditions: marasmus and kwashiorkor.<ref name="Bhutta Berkley Bandsma 2017"/> Both kwashiorkor and marasmus fall under the umbrella of [[protein–energy malnutrition]] (PEM).<ref name="Odigwe Smedslund Ejemot-Nwadiaro et al 2010"/> These diseases are oftentimes discussed together, but are distinctly separate conditions of malnutrition. Kwashiorkor is marked by an array of metabolic disturbances of uncertain cause. In contrast, marasmus is more clearly an energy deficiency syndrome, marked by weight loss. On physical exam, kwashiorkor is also distinguished from marasmus by the presence of edema. When children present with both kwashiorkor and marasmus, the condition is referred to as "marasmic-kwashiorkor".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2017|title=Malnutrition (Kwashiorkor and Marasmus) — Symptoms and Treatment|url=https://www.lecturio.com/magazine/malnutrition/|access-date=27 July 2021|website=The Lecturio Online Medical Library|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027095329/https://www.lecturio.com/magazine/malnutrition/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pham Alou Golden et al 2021"/> In general, kwashiorkor is marked by more profound serum depletions of antioxidant molecules and minerals, relative to marasmus.<ref name="Pham Alou Golden et al 2021"/>

===Wellcome's classification===
Wellcome classification<ref>{{Cite web|title=Protein energy malnutrition classification - wikidoc|url=https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Protein_energy_malnutrition_classification|access-date=29 July 2021|website=www.wikidoc.org|language=en|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915031438/https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Protein_energy_malnutrition_classification|url-status=live}}</ref> is a system for classifying protein-energy malnutrition in children based on weight for their age and based on presence of edema. Other classifications include Gomez classification and Waterlow classification.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Wellcome classification |chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803121717631 |editor1-last=Bender |editor1-first=David A. |title=A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition |date=29 January 2009 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-157975-2 |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721164536/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803121717631 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gernaat |first1=H. |last2=Voorhoeve |first2=HW |title=A new classification of acute protein-energy malnutrition |journal=Journal of Tropical Pediatrics |date=1 April 2000 |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=97–106 |doi=10.1093/tropej/46.2.97 |pmid=10822936 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Weight for age
!With edema
!Without edema
!General considerations
|-
|65-85%
|Kwashiorkor
|Undernutrition
| rowspan="2" |
* Weight for age +/- oedema
* Reference standard (50th percentile)
|-
|<60%
|Marasmic kwashiorkor
|Marasmus
|}