Recovery of an Elderly Kwashiorkor Patient by Korean Medicine: A Case Report

Abstract

Malnutrition is defined as an imbalance between the supply of nutrients and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific functions. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a common form of malnutrition characterized by insufficient protein intake to fulfill the body’s needs. The prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly varies by clinical setting from 4% in the community to 32.5% in rehabilitative/subacute care. In the case of Korea, data from the National Health Insurance Service from 2014 to 2018 showed approximately 28,000 cases of PEM, which led to approximately $5 million in medical expenses. This pattern has not been changed for a decade in Korea. PEM can be classified as primary and secondary by the cause and as marasmus and kwashiorkor by the period of the disorder. Primary PEM is commonly found in developing countries due to food shortages caused by famine. PEM occurs prevalently not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. Secondary PEM is attributed to chronic diseases, such as neurological disorders and inflammatory bowel disease, which cause anorexia and malabsorption. On the other hand, marasmus is a chronic condition of deficit Recovery of an Elderly Kwashiorkor Patient by Korean Medicine: A Case Report Cheon-Hoo Jeon, Sul-Ki Kim, Chang-Gue Son Department of Internal Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University Case report