16. Digestion and Absorption
Disorders of Digestive System
- Jaundice: The skin and eyes turn yellow due to the deposition of bile pigments. It indicates liver damage.
- Vomiting: Ejection of stomach content through the mouth. It is controlled by the medulla oblongata.
- Diarrhoea: Frequent elimination of watery faeces. It reduces the absorption of food.
- Constipation: Infrequent elimination of dry stool. It is due to decreased peristalsis in the colon.
- Indigestion: Condition leading to a feeling of fullness due to improper digestion. It is due to anxiety, inadequate enzyme secretion, food poisoning, spicy food, etc.
- Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM): Dietary deficiencies of proteins & food calories.
PEM causes Marasmus & Kwashiorkor in children.
- Marasmus: Due to deficiency of both proteins and calories. Found in infants less than a year in age.
Reason: Replacement of mother’s milk by foods with poor proteins and caloric value. This often happens if the mother has a second pregnancy or childbirth when the older infant is still too young.
Symptoms: Impaired growth and replacement of tissue proteins; extreme emaciation of the body, thin limbs, dry, thin, and wrinkled skin, declined growth rate and body weight, impaired growth and development of brain and mental faculties.
- Kwashiorkor: Due to protein deficiency only.
Reason: Replacement of mother’s milk by a high-calorie, low-protein diet in a child more than one year in age.
Symptoms: Like Marasmus, it shows wasting of muscles, thinning of limbs, failure of growth & brain development. Unlike Marasmus, some fat is still under the skin; extensive oedema and swelling of body parts are seen.
- Marasmus: Due to deficiency of both proteins and calories. Found in infants less than a year in age.