Long-term effects of kwashiorkor on psychomotor development.

The long-term effects of kwashiorkor on psychomotor development were assessed by means of 3 tests. A group of 31 children aged from 6 to 12 years, who had been hospitalized for the treatment of kwashiorkor during infancy, was age-matched with 2 control groups, consisting of a group of siblings and a group of yardmates, none of whom had been exposed to acute infantile malnutrition. The test scores for the groups were not significantly different. The results are discussed in the light of suggestions that marasmus has a more damaging effect on human development than kwashiorkor.