Which of the following correctly distinguishes marasmus from kwashiorkor in young children?

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The question asks us to distinguish marasmus from kwashiorkor in young children by comparing their nutritional deficiencies and clinical presentations.
Option A: 'Marasmus results from a lack of protein only, while kwashiorkor is caused by a lack of calories.' This is inaccurate because marasmus involves caloric deficiency and generalized wasting, not solely a protein deficiency, and kwashiorkor is typically due to adequate or near-adequate calories with insufficient protein.
Option B: 'Marasmus leads to swelling and skin lesions, while kwashiorkor causes the body to waste away.' This reverses common clinical signs. Kwashiorkor is the condition associated with edema and swollen features due to hypoalbuminemia, whereas marasmus presents with severe wasting without edema.
Option C: 'Marasmus occurs when both protein and calorie intake are insufficient, while kwashiorkor occurs when calorie intake is adequate, but protein intake is insufficient.' This option aligns with the classic distinction: marasmus = energy (calorie) deficiency with protein deficiency; kwashiorkor = adequate or near-adequate calories but inadequate protein, often with edema and fatty liver.
Option D: 'Kwashiorkor typically affects breast-fed infants, while marasmus affects only children after weaning.' This oversimplifies and misstates the epidemiology. Both conditions can occur in various contexts; marasmus is not limited to post-weaning, and kwashiorkor is not restricted to breast-fed infants in a strict sense.
Thus, after evaluating all choices, the statement in Option C precisely captures the established differentiation between marasmus and kwashiorkor based on the balance of macronutrient intake.

PSYC20008_2025_SM1 Exam: Developmental Psychology (PSYC20008_2025_SM1)- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Which of the following correctly distinguishes marasmus from kwashiorkor in young children?

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