ICD-10 Code E40 | Kwashiorkor Symptoms, Diagnosis, Billing

Kwashiorkor is primarily caused by a severe deficiency of dietary protein, often seen in children with inadequate access to nutritious food, particularly in developing countries.

Diagnosis of Kwashiorkor involves clinical assessment of symptoms such as edema, irritability, and growth failure, along with dietary history and physical examination.

Treatment for Kwashiorkor includes nutritional rehabilitation with high-protein diets, fluid management, and monitoring for infections, often requiring hospitalization.

Kwashiorkor is not contagious; it is a nutritional deficiency resulting from inadequate protein intake, not an infectious disease.