A 2-year-old child has bilateral pitting pedal oedema, adequate weight for height, and depigmented flag-sign hair. Serum albumin is low. The MOST likely diagnosis is:

• A Marasmus
• B Marasmic-kwashiorkor
• C Nutritional stunting
• D Kwashiorkor ✓

Explanation

Kwashiorkor is characterised by oedema (bilateral pitting), adequate weight (masked by fluid), dermatosis, hair changes (flag sign — alternating light and dark bands), and hypoalbuminaemia due to severe protein deficiency with relatively adequate caloric intake. Marasmus presents with severe wasting, no oedema, and occurs with combined calorie and protein deficiency. Marasmic-kwashiorkor has both oedema and severe wasting.

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.