Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor is protein malnutrition with oedema, a peeling “flaky paint” rash and pale hair. It has been reported in children in high-income countries placed on restrictive diets for eczema or presumed food allergy. In one case, a 33-month-old fed only rice milk from age 2 developed hypoalbuminaemia, anaemia and developmental regression. His rash was mistaken for eczema, and he recovered on a full diet (PMC9544766). It is a key hazard of unsupervised Elimination Diets.

Connections

• Elimination Diets — caused by protein-poor restrictive diets, source: PMC9544766
• Atopic Dermatitis — kwashiorkor rash can mimic AD, source: PMC9544766