Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM or PCM). A condition in which the intake of macronutrients is inadequate. The needs for the essential nutrients and energy are determined by the age and health status of the individual. Rapid growth, infection, injury, and chronic debilitating disease can drive up the need for food and the nutrients it contains. It is difficult to segregate symptoms of protein deficiency from those due solely to energy deficit. The different symptoms are parts of a continuum called protein-energy malnutrition.<\/p>\n
Malnutrition due to inadequate intake of calories or protein, or both. It usually is seen in children under age 5 yr or in patients undergoing the stress of a major illness. In the critically ill patient, hypoalbuminemia results from the depletion of stored protein and\/or hepatic dysfunction. It may increase a patient\u2019s vulnerability to the toxicities of drugs, skin breakdown, infections, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and other illnesses.<\/p>\n
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Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM or PCM). A condition in which the intake of macronutrients is inadequate. The needs for the essential nutrients and energy are determined by the age and health status of the individual. Rapid growth, infection, injury, and chronic debilitating disease can drive up the need for food and the nutrients it contains. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-e"],"yoast_head":"\n