Why do malnurished children have large stomachs?
Bride2be is correct. What you are describing are symptoms of kwashiorkor,a type of starvation. Other symptoms include bands of alternating light and dark hair, skin dermatitis, and depigmented skin. The “pot belly” is due to a protien deficiency that leads to increased capillary permeability. It is also thought to be due to fatty liver deposits. In a healthy individual, these fats would be transported throughout the body however these children lack the essential protiens that facilitate such transport. Many unsuspecting people often associate the pot belly of kwashiorkor as a sign that these children are actually well fed when in fact they may be the sickest of the bunch!
