Consider the following excerpt from Malnutrition in developing countries: Clinical assessment, by Buford Nichols, MD:
“Severe malnutrition is primarily a problem in developing countries. Severely malnourished children typically are brought to medical attention when a health crisis, such as an infection, precipitates the transition between marasmus (a state of nutritional adaptation) and kwashiorkor, in which adaptation is no longer adequate.
The clinical assessment of the child with malnutrition includes distinguishing between marasmus and kwashiorkor, assessing the severity of the malnutrition, and identifying acute life-threatening complications, including sepsis and acute dehydration. These children are at risk for micronutrient deficiencies, as detailed in a separate topic review.”
Please answer the following questions. As you’re responding to these questions, refer to information about diffusion and osmosis from your readings.
1) Acute dehydration is described in this excerpt as an “acute, life-threatening” complication. Explain what changes occur in inside and outside the cell during dehydration that can result in death. Hint – terms like hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic apply here!
2) If you were the director of a non-profit organization providing aid to developing nations, what would you do to prevent and/or treat dehydration. Do you know of any organizations currently working toward this goal? What do they do, and what would you do differently (if anything)?
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|