What Is Deficiency Diseases
Lack of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, or minerals in the diet can cause diseases. Diseases that are caused due to the lack of nutrients in the diet are called deficiency diseases. Deficiency diseases cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Deficiency of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main energy sources. Lack of carbohydrates in the diet results in lack of energy and stamina. A labourer who does hard manual work needs more carbohydrates in his diet than a person who does his work sitting in his office.
Deficiency of Proteins
Growing children need more proteins in their diet. Lack of proteins in the diet weakens muscles.
Deficiency of proteins leads to a disease called kwashiorkor. Deficiency of proteins along with carbohydrate deficiency is called Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM). It leads to marasmus. These diseases are more common in children of rural areas.
A child suffering from kwashiorkor has some or all of the following symptoms:
large pot-like belly, stunted growth, swelling of face and limbs (especially the feet), skin diseases, mental retardation, and diarrhoea. If the treatment is started in time, improving protein intake may correct this disease. Marasmus is more common among infants and children under 5 years of age. A child suffering from marasmus becomes very thin, shows slow body growth, lack of energy, loss of appetite, weak legs, mental retardation, poor muscle development, etc.
To prevent these diseases, the Government of India has started programmes like the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the Mid-day Meal scheme in schools.
Deficiency of Water in the Body
Water is very essential for proper functioning of our body. Excess loss of water from the body leads to a condition called dehydration.
Dehydration causes loss of salts and leads to weakness in the body. Oral Rehydrating Solution (ORS) can be given to the patient to recover from dehydration. It is available free of cost at primary health centres. It can also be made at home by mixing 8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 litre of clean, drinking water.