Here
I am measuring a Somali child for oedema, excess fluid in the body that can
occur in the lower limbs, feet, face and hands, by pressing my thumb down
on the child’s foot to see if the imprint holds for a few seconds. It’s
one of the screening processes to assess for malnutrition, the end result
of a nutritional deficiency (lack of protein and energy and not enough vitamins
and minerals) and disease. This child has nutritional oedema. This is a sign
of kwashiorkor, which is partly due to a deficiency in micronutrients (vitamin
A and iron). Another sign of kwashiorkor is listlessness.
