A 2-year-old child from a tribal district presents with oedema of hands and feet, moon face, misery, flaky-paint dermatosis, and hair changes (flag sign). Serum albumin is severely low. This presentation is most consistent with:

• A Marasmus
• B Marasmic-kwashiorkor
• C Vitamin A deficiency
• D Kwashiorkor ✓

Explanation

Kwashiorkor is characterized by adequate total calorie intake but severe protein deficiency, presenting with oedema (pitting), moon face, skin changes (hyperpigmentation, desquamation — flaky paint dermatosis), flag sign in hair (alternating bands of normal and depigmented hair), apathy, and hypoalbuminaemia. In contrast, marasmus shows severe wasting without oedema due to both calorie and protein deficiency.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.