Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to which condition due to high protein and calorie needs?

Infants and children have specific nutritional needs that include higher requirements for protein and calories relative to their body weight compared to adults. Their rapid growth and development necessitate a diet that can sufficiently supply these nutrients. When their intake is inadequate in terms of both protein and calories, they are at risk for protein-calorie malnutrition, which is a general term describing a deficiency in both energy and protein. This condition can manifest in various forms and has serious implications for growth, immune function, and overall health in children.

Kwashiorkor, while also related to protein deficiency, tends to occur in the presence of adequate caloric intake but insufficient protein, often resulting in edema and a distended belly. Marasmus is characterized by severe caloric deficiency along with protein deficiency but typically results from prolonged inadequate intake and leads to significant weight loss and muscle wasting, rather than a combined insufficiency directly related to the rapid needs during early development. Pellagra is specifically related to a deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) and does not primarily stem from the energy or protein intakes that are critical in infancy and childhood.

Thus, the vulnerability of infants and children to protein-calorie malnutrition arises from their increased nutritional needs, making it essential for caregivers to ensure