When breast feeding is replaced by less nutritive food low in proteins and calories, the infants below the age of…

When breast feeding is replaced by less nutritive food low in proteins and calories, the infants below the age of one year are likely to suffer from
A Pellagra
B Marasmus
C Rickets
D Kwashiorkor

Detailed Solution

Marasmus is produced by a simultaneous deficiency of proteins and calories.
It is found in infants less than a year in age, if mother's milk is replaced too early by other foods that are poor in both proteins and caloric value.
The body fat and tissue proteins are used up, the child becomes extremely emaciated with thin limbs, and the skin becomes dry, thin and wrinkled.
Kwashiorkor is produced by protein deficiency unaccompanied by calorie deficiency, in children more than one year old.
Pellagra is due to deficiency of niacin, and rickets to deficiency of vitamin D.
Hence such infants are likely to suffer from marasmus.

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Practise Digestion and Absorption All 50 questions This chapter in 2009 AIPMT