A 3-year-old child with bilateral pitting edema, moon-face, skin lesions (crazy-pavement dermatosis), and adequate height for age most likely has:
- A Kwashiorkor ✓
- B Marasmus
- C Marasmic kwashiorkor
- D Nutritional stunting
Correct answer: A. Kwashiorkor
Explanation
Kwashiorkor is characterized by edema (bilateral pitting), hypoalbuminemia, moon face, skin lesions (crazy-pavement or flaky paint dermatosis), hair changes (flag sign), and hepatomegaly — all resulting from severe protein deficiency. Weight-for-age may appear normal or only mildly depressed due to edema masking muscle wasting. Marasmus features severe muscle and fat wasting without edema ('old man face').
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.