Protein-Energy Malnutrition Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Mar 11, 2019
  • Author: Hadi Atassi, DO; Chief Editor: Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

When approaching the possible diagnose of malnutrition, it is important to consider whether it is an acute versus chronic malnutrition. It is also important to recognize that there are different subtypes within acute malnutrition depending on the presence or absence of edema. Malnutrition without edema is marasmus; with edema, it is kwashiorkor. Thus, the presence or absence of edema should not sway a clinician away from or toward protein-energy malnutrition.

Differential Diagnoses