THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two children in the tribal hamlet of Amboori near here were found to be suffering from Marasmus, a form of severe malnutrition. Revealing the preavalance of serious nutritional deficiencies among children in the tribal hamlet, the District Medical Office said that all steps have been taken to provide adequate nutrition to the deprived children.
DMO K Venugopal said that the condition of malnutrition was detected among the children in Amboori about two months ago. As soon as the condition was detected, the pediatrician from the Neyyattinkara Taluk Hospital had visited the hamlet. An awareness programme was held to apprise the parents about the diet that has to be followed.
He also said that the marasmus now found in the children was only a moderate condition and there was nothing to worry. Apart from a pediatrician from the Taluk Hospital, the doctors from Amboori Government Hospital are regularly monitoring the health parameters of the children in the hamlet, he added.
Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition that usually occurs in children. The main symptom of marasmus is underweight. Children with marasmus are also liable to chronic diarrhoea, respiratory infections, intellectual disability and stunted growth.