Malnutrition in Infancy and Motor Development

Study Notes

Malnutrition in Infancy

Marasmus: A life-threatening condition caused by severe protein-calorie deficiency.
Marasmus impacts infants in the first year, leading to significant weight loss and muscle deterioration.
Kwashiorkor: Another life-threatening condition caused by severe protein deficiency.
Kwashiorkor typically appears between 1 and 3 years of age.
Symptoms may include swelling in the abdomen and feet, along with thin, brittle, and colorless hair; listlessness.
Nutrient deprivation: The body prioritizes vital organs, depriving other parts of essential nutrients.
Cognitive development: Chronic malnutrition negatively affects attention and memory.
Social development: Adequate nutrition improves social skills, activity, engagement, helpfulness, and reduces anxiety.

Dynamic Systems View of Motor Development

Motor development: Infants progressively develop motor skills like rolling, sitting, and standing.
Development order: Skills develop in a specific order and within defined time spans.
Maturation: Motor development is partly influenced by genetic unfolding.
Dynamic systems theory: Emphasizes integration of various factors for skill acquisition.
Perceiving and acting: Infants perceive environmental cues that motivate actions and refine their movements.
Goal-oriented behavior: Motor skills are essentially solutions to the infant's goals.
Converging factors: Development encompasses nervous system maturation, physical capabilities, motivation, and environmental support.

Description

Explore the critical aspects of malnutrition in infancy, including the life-threatening conditions of Marasmus and Kwashiorkor. Understand how nutrient deprivation and chronic malnutrition impact cognitive and social development in infants, alongside an overview of motor skill progression during early development.