Nutrition for muscular dystrophy. Weight loss due to malnutrition

Dystrophy body is a pathology in which the metabolic process is disrupted, which inhibits normal growth, development and functionality of the body. This disorder can be diagnosed in people of any age category, but among children, dystrophy is more common. There are several types and degrees of this pathological process.

Types and degrees of dystrophy

Dystrophy is classified according to several factors, including the form of manifestation and the time of occurrence. Also, depending on the factors that provoked this disorder, there are primary and secondary forms of dystrophy.

Forms of manifestation of dystrophy
The form of manifestation of dystrophy implies the nature pathological changes in the body that develop as a result of this disorder. According to this factor, 3 forms of dystrophy are distinguished.

Forms of dystrophy are:

Hypotrophy. It is characterized by insufficient weight in relation to the length of the body and the age of the patient.
Hypostatura. With this form, there is a uniform lack of body weight and height.
Paratrophy. This pathology is manifested by excess weight in relation to body length.

The most significant and common form of dystrophy is malnutrition.

Types of dystrophy by time of appearance
By the time of occurrence, dystrophy can be prenatal ( intrauterine) and postnatal ( extrauterine). The prenatal form of dystrophy develops at the time of intrauterine development, as a result of which the child is born with congenital pathology. Postnatal dystrophy occurs after birth and belongs to the category of acquired diseases. There is also a combined form of dystrophy, in which deviations in weight are the result of factors that acted both during fetal development and after birth.

Primary and secondary form of dystrophy
The primary form of dystrophy develops as an independent pathology under the influence of various ( most often alimentary) factors. The secondary form of this disorder is the result of various diseases, which inhibit the normal absorption of food, which leads to metabolic disorders.

Degrees of dystrophy
There are 3 degrees of dystrophy, the main difference of which is the intensity of the symptoms of this disease. Also, the degrees of the disease differ among themselves according to the weight deficit that is diagnosed in the patient. To determine the degree of the disorder, the actual weight of a person is compared with that which he should have in accordance with age and gender.

Lack of weight, characteristic of various degrees of dystrophy are:

first degree- weight deficit varies from 10 to 20 percent;
second degree– the lack of weight can be from 20 to 30 percent;
third degree- the lack of weight exceeds 30 percent.

Causes of dystrophy in children

The causes that provoke body dystrophy in people are divided into two categories. The first group includes factors under the influence of which prenatal, that is, congenital dystrophy, develops. The second category includes circumstances against which postnatal, acquired dystrophy occurs.

Causes of prenatal dystrophy
Congenital dystrophy develops under the influence of negative factors that disrupt the healthy formation and development of the fetus.

The causes of congenital dystrophy are as follows:

The main cause of this form of disorder is toxicosis, which affects a pregnant woman.
Having a child before the age of 20 or after 40 also significantly increases the chance of congenital dystrophy.
Regular stress, lack of balance and useful elements in the diet, smoking and other deviations from a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy are also among the causes of this disorder.
Prenatal dystrophy can be provoked by the work of a future mother in hazardous production, which is accompanied by an increased level of noise, vibrations, and interaction with chemicals.
An important role in the development of congenital dystrophy is played by diseases of a pregnant woman ( broken functionality endocrine system, heart disease, various chronic infections).
Improper attachment of the placenta, placental circulation disorders and other abnormalities normal flow pregnancy can also cause intrauterine dystrophy.

Causes of postnatal dystrophy
Factors that create an optimal environment for the development of acquired ( extrauterine) dystrophies are divided into internal and external.
Internal causes include pathologies, as a result of which the digestion and absorption of food is disturbed.

The internal causes of extrauterine dystrophy are:

various deviations in physical development;
violations of the quantity or normal structure chromosomes;
disorders of the endocrine system;
anomalies of the central nervous system;
immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS).

To a separate group internal factors includes food allergies and a number of hereditary diseases in which certain foods are not digested. These diseases include cystic fibrosis improper functioning of the organs that produce mucus, including the intestines), celiac disease ( intolerance to the protein found in cereals), lactase deficiency ( impaired absorption of the protein found in dairy products).
Another, numerous group of internal causes of dystrophy is formed by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are more typical for adult patients.

Diseases that provoke dystrophy in adults are:

oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
polyps of the stomach or intestines of a single or multiple type;
gastritis ( inflammatory changes in the mucous tissues of the stomach);
pancreatitis ( inflammatory disease of the pancreas);
cholecystitis ( inflammation of the gallbladder);
cholelithiasis ( formation of solid masses in the gallbladder).

A group of external factors of dystrophy is formed by circumstances due to which the patient does not receive the amount of nutrients that is needed to form a normal weight. This category also includes causes that indirectly inhibit the digestion and assimilation of food.

External causes of acquired dystrophy are:

nutritional factor. It is the most significant cause of this form of dystrophy. In the case of children, the disorder develops due to a lack of breast milk, an incorrectly chosen mixture for artificial feeding, late introduction of complementary foods. In adults, dystrophy provokes an insufficient amount of calories ( for example, due to strict diets), unbalanced diet, predominance or lack of fats / proteins / carbohydrates.
toxic factor. The constant impact of bad ecology, food poisoning or other forms of intoxication, long-term use drugs - all these factors can cause dystrophy.
social factor. Lack of attention from adults, frequent quarrels between parents cause stress and can provoke dystrophy in children. In adult patients, the disorder may develop against the background of an unsatisfactory emotional state due to work, problems in personal life.

Body dystrophy symptoms ( weight)

Symptoms of dystrophy can vary from minor signs ( slight decline appetite) to serious health problems ( mental retardation and/or physical development ). Common signs of this disorder include loss of appetite, weight loss ( children are also stunted), bad dream, fatigue . Intensity of manifestation common symptoms depends on the severity of dystrophy. Also, for some stages of dystrophy, specific manifestations, unusual for other stages, are characteristic.

Signs of the first degree of dystrophy
The initial form of dystrophy is manifested by a decrease in appetite, problems with sleep, lack of calm. These signs are not very pronounced and not regularly. The elasticity of the skin can be reduced, and weak muscle tone can also be observed. Mild stool problems may be present, such as constipation or diarrhea. If a child suffers from first-degree dystrophy, he can get sick more often than his peers. infectious diseases. Deviations in weight at this stage vary from 10 to 20 percent. At the same time, it is visually difficult to distinguish a lack of body weight from ordinary thinness. Distinctive characteristic weight loss at the initial stage of dystrophy is thinness in the abdomen.

Signs of the second degree of dystrophy
At this stage, all the symptoms that were present at the beginning of the disease become more pronounced and appear more often. Patients sleep poorly, move little, often refuse to eat. The tone of the skin and muscles is greatly reduced, sagging of the skin, dryness, and sagging appear. Thinness on the abdomen increases to such an extent that the ribs begin to be strongly visible. In addition to the abdomen, arms and legs begin to lose weight. Children suffering from second-degree dystrophy get sick at least once a quarter colds. Weight deviations can be from 20 to 30 percent, children are also 2 to 4 centimeters stunted.

Other symptoms of the second degree of dystrophy are:

feeling of nausea, vomiting;
frequent spitting up in children);
undigested foods may be present in the stool;
beriberi, which is manifested by dry skin and hair, brittle nails, cracks in the corners of the mouth;
problems with the thermoregulation of the body, in which the body quickly overheats and / or cools down;
disorders of the nervous system in the form of loudness, nervousness, restlessness.

Signs of the third degree of dystrophy
Dystrophy of the last stage is characterized by pronounced changes in the appearance and behavior of the patient. Also, in the third degree, numerous pathologies develop on the part of various systems organism. The lack of weight exceeds 30 percent, children are 7 to 10 centimeters stunted. By the appearance of a person, you can immediately determine the presence serious violations metabolism. The subcutaneous fat layer is absent throughout the body, dry, flabby skin fits the bones. Also, the skin loses elasticity and resistance, as a result of which deep folds form throughout the body. All this makes a person look like a mummy.

Other symptoms of late stage dystrophy may manifest as follows:

Appetite is greatly reduced or absent altogether. Stool disturbances become permanent, and frequent vomiting may also be present.
On the face, due to a decrease in the fat layer on the cheeks, the cheekbones protrude strongly and the chin is pointed. Deep cracks form in the corners of the mouth, the mucous membrane of the eyes is dry.
Weak muscle tone is manifested by a distended abdomen ( weaken the abdominal muscles), sunken buttocks, hanging folds of skin above the knees. The skin acquires a grayish tint, due to the lack of vitamins, peeling of the skin may appear.
Body temperature rises in waves, then falls below standard values. The patient's extremities are cold.
The immunity of such patients is reduced, due to which inflammatory processes in the lungs often develop ( pneumonia), kidneys ( pyelonephritis). Often patients with the third stage of dystrophy suffer from dysbacteriosis.
There are violations of the heart rate and other pathologies from the heart muscle. Breathing becomes weak and short.
In children, physical and mental development is suspended. In advanced cases, already acquired skills may be lost. In adults, reflexes are reduced, a depressed state prevails.

Nutrition for dystrophy

Dietary modification is the main treatment for dystrophy. The specificity of the diet depends on a number of factors, among which the most important are the degree of exhaustion of the body and the condition of the patient's gastrointestinal tract.

With dystrophy, there is a deficiency of certain nutrients, so the goal of diet therapy is to restore the shortage necessary for the body resources. However, the assimilation of food in the patient is difficult, due to the impaired function of digestion. In this regard, a rapid increase in the amount of food consumed can provoke a deterioration in the patient's condition. Therefore, diet therapy for dystrophy consists of 3 stages. When implementing each stage of the diet, you must follow strict rules.

Nutrition rules for dystrophy

There are a number general rules diet therapy, which should be strictly observed in the treatment of this disorder. Apart from general provisions there are also specific recommendations on the organization of the diet ( provided by a doctor), depending on the form and degree of dystrophy. Compliance with the general rules and medical advice will allow for effective diet therapy and accelerate the recovery of the patient.

The general rules for diet therapy for dystrophy are as follows:

Reduction of pauses between meals. The number of meals and the duration of breaks between them depends on the degree of dystrophy. In the first degree, the frequency of meals should be at least 7 times a day. With the second degree of dystrophy, meals should be at least 8, with the third degree - at least 10. These recommendations are relevant for the first stage of the diet. At subsequent stages, the number of meals is gradually reduced, and, accordingly, the pauses between them are increased.
Power control. With dystrophy, it is necessary to control the body's reaction to the food consumed. To do this, you need to keep a diary in which you should note the qualitative and quantitative composition of the meal. You also need to enter data on the patient's stool and urination ( number of trips to the toilet, composition and appearance urine and feces).
Regular analysis. With dystrophy of degrees 2 and 3, you need to regularly take a coprogram ( fecal analysis). The analysis will allow you to assess the digestive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract and adjust diet therapy if necessary.
Regular weighing. To evaluate the effectiveness of diet therapy, it is necessary to weigh yourself at least 3-4 times a week. The diet is considered effective if, starting from stage 2, the weight begins to increase by 25-30 grams per day.

The right choice of food products is an important requirement of the diet for dystrophy. Patients need to choose natural products With the minimum amount food additives, dyes, preservatives. In addition, for the period of the diet, some alimentary products must be excluded from the diet.

Products to be removed from the menu are:

modified fats ( margarine, sandwich butter);
some animal fats lard, melted fat, lard);
canned vegetables, pickles, marinades;
any types of meat and fish prepared by smoking, drying, curing;
alcohol, as well as drinks containing gases, caffeine, stimulants ( predominantly found in energy drinks).

Stages of a diet for dystrophy

The diet for this disorder includes three stages. First, an unloading stage is carried out in order to restore the functionality of the digestive system. In addition, unloading the diet allows you to remove from the body substances that have accumulated as a result of impaired metabolism. Also, at the first stage, the reaction of the body to certain food products is determined. The second stage of the diet is intermediate and is aimed at the gradual adaptation of the body to normal nutrition. The final stage of diet therapy is to provide the patient with all the necessary nutrients for a speedy recovery. The duration of each stage depends on the form of dystrophy and the characteristics of the patient.

The first stage of the diet for dystrophy
The first stage of diet therapy ( adaptive) is aimed at determining the effect of certain products on the digestive system. Conclusions about how well this or that product is absorbed and whether it causes complications such as diarrhea and other signs of intolerance are made on the basis of entries from the food diary.

Determination of food tolerance lasts 2-3 days with first-degree dystrophy. With dystrophy of the 2nd degree, this stage takes from 3 to 5 days, with the 3rd degree - about 7 days. In order to determine how well the consumed products are processed and assimilated, the patient's diet must be reduced.

The rules for reducing the diet at the first stage of the diet are as follows:

at initial form dystrophy diet is reduced by 30 percent of the daily norm;
with dystrophy of the 2nd degree, the volume of consumed products should be 50 percent less;
with dystrophy of the 3rd degree, the amount of food is reduced by 60 - 70 percent of the standard norm.

The standard daily allowance refers to the daily amount of food for healthy person, which is calculated depending on weight, age, gender and type of activity ( for adults).

The amount of nutrients necessary for the functioning of the body is compensated by increasing the amount of fluid consumed. For this, natural vegetable decoctions can be used, herbal teas. In some cases, to compensate for the deficiency of salts and electrolytes, the use of drugs such as oralit and / or rehydron is indicated. At severe forms dystrophy, an intravenous administration of an albumin solution is prescribed ( squirrel) or other nutrient fluids.

The second stage of the diet for dystrophy
The second stage of the diet is called reparative, and its goal is to smoothly transfer the body to normal mode nutrition. At this stage, the volume and caloric content of food consumed gradually increases. Meals need to be 1 - 2 times less than in the first stage of the diet.

quantitative and qualitative composition diet for dystrophy of 2 and 3 degrees is determined by the doctor. The doctor determines the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for the body, taking into account the patient's age and the existing lack of body weight. In the first degree of dystrophy, the volume and composition of meals is determined by the state and taste preferences patient. The duration of the second stage is approximately 3 weeks.

Third stage
The final stage of the diet continues until the patient's normal body weight is restored and the digestive processes are normalized. The third stage is characterized by increased food intake. At the same time, the number of meals is reduced in comparison with the second stage for one meal, and the number and calorie content of products increases.

Food for dystrophy

With dystrophy, foods with a high nutritional value should be introduced into the menu. The diet includes both natural products and special medical nutrition. Daily menu should include a balanced composition of proteins ( 1 part), fat ( 1 part) and carbohydrates ( 4 parts). In some cases, with a deficiency, for example, of protein, the doctor increases the rate of protein products in the patient's diet.

Natural products that should be included in the therapeutic diet are:

Squirrels. With dystrophy, the diet should include easily digestible proteins that contain sufficient amounts of amino acids. The highest quality protein is found in meat ( veal, chicken, rabbit). To preserve the nutritional value of the meat, it is recommended to steam it. For small children, meat can be mashed. Enough protein is found in eggs, cottage cheese, slightly salted cheese. Be sure to include fish in the menu for dystrophy ( mackerel, herring, tuna), since it contains many useful fatty acids in addition to protein.
Fats. To make up for the norm of animal fats, the diet should include fish and meat of medium fat content, egg yolk. A lot of animal fat useful for the body is contained in butter and cream. Provide the necessary volume vegetable fats follows with vegetable oil (sunflower, olive), nuts ( not recommended for young children), seeds ( flax, sunflower).
Carbohydrates. To provide the body with the necessary amount of carbohydrates, fruit juices, vegetable purees, and natural honey should be present in the diet of a patient with dystrophy. When carbohydrates are deficient, it is recommended to take sugar syrup, which is prepared from 150 milliliters warm water and 100 grams of sugar.

In order to provide the necessary amount of nutrients, but at the same time not to increase the volume and calorie content of food consumed, it is recommended to include special therapeutic nutrition in the diet in case of dystrophy. Particularly relevant this recommendation for the first and second stages of the diet. An example medical nutrition are enpits, which can be of several types. All enpitas are a dry instant powder, which should be diluted with water before use.

The types of enpits are:

Protein. This medicinal product 44 percent consists of protein and is used to enrich the diet with a complete protein that is easily digested. This enpit is made from products such as milk, cream, sugar. In addition, the powder is enriched with vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, B6.
Fatty. Indicated in the absence of the subcutaneous fat layer. The product contains a balanced composition healthy fats, whose share is 39 percent. It is made from whole milk, cream, corn oil and various vitamins.
Fat-free. It is recommended in cases where it is necessary to minimize the amount of fat consumed, but at the same time it is necessary to ensure sufficient protein intake. The fat content of this enpit is 1 percent, as it is produced from skimmed milk.

Enpitas can be consumed in liquid form as independent product. Also, the powder can be added to the composition of cereals and other dishes.

Nutrition for dystrophy in infants

For babies ( children under one year old), who have been diagnosed with dystrophy, there are separate recommendations for choosing products. Children under 3 months of age should be breastfed. With a strong weight deficit, it is recommended to use protein- mineral supplements to enrich the composition of breast milk. These can be pre-semp, semper additives. If breast milk is not available, the baby should be fed with adapted infant formula.
An important condition for dystrophy is the timely introduction of complementary foods. In some cases, it is recommended to introduce "adult" foods into the diet of an infant at an earlier date.

3 months. From the age of three months, it is recommended that babies be given egg yolk, which must be hard-boiled.
4 months. From this age, vegetables should be introduced into the child's diet, which should be cooked in the form of mashed potatoes.
5 months. After the child is 5 months old, meat should be gradually introduced into his menu ( chicken, turkey, veal), from which puree is prepared ( twice twisted in a meat grinder or in a blender).
6 months. After six months, the diet should include dairy products. It can be a special children's kefir, yogurt for children, a specialized mixture of agu-2.

How to deal with poor appetite?

Weak appetite is a common occurrence in dystrophy. In a healthy person, the desire to eat arises when the stomach is emptied. With dystrophy, the process of digesting food slows down, so the person does not feel hungry. Sometimes when trying to eat something, patients develop vomiting, which is a peculiar defense mechanism. There are several ways to stimulate appetite that can be used by patients with dystrophy.

Ways to increase appetite are as follows:

Before a meal, the patient needs to eat a dish or drink a drink that enhances the release of digestive enzymes. To do this, you can use juice from sour fruits or berries, pickled or salted vegetables ( A little). Also, before eating, you can drink 50 - 100 milliliters of strong meat broth. meat broth to improve appetite, you can also give young children from 3 to 4 months, 1 to 2 teaspoons.
Of great importance with a weak appetite is the diet. It is necessary to take food at certain hours, and in the intervals between meals you can not snack.
A significant role in stimulating appetite is played by the appearance of the dish, table setting, and a calm atmosphere. Eating should be in the company of relatives, friends, as the example of other people who eat with appetite has a positive effect.
In the hot season, appetite decreases, as the body loses a lot of fluid. In such cases, some time before eating, it is recommended to drink some cool water, juice or kefir. It should also be at lunchtime, when the temperature reaches its maximum values, not to have a traditional meal, but to postpone it to a later time.

Nervous dystrophy ( anorexia nervosa)

Such a disease as nervous dystrophy does not exist, but this definition is often used to refer to such a disorder as anorexia. This fact is explained by the fact that dystrophy and anorexia have similar symptoms ( weight loss, poor appetite, nervous system disorders). However, the reasons anorexia nervosa in many ways differ from the factors that provoke dystrophy.

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa belongs to the category of mental disorders and is manifested by deviations in the patient's behavior, as a result of which he is very thin. If, in dystrophy, weight loss is the result of various pathologies or malnutrition, then with anorexia, a person deliberately limits himself to food intake.
People with this disease often suffer from low self-esteem and they begin to lose weight in order to increase their own importance. Experts point out that the real reason anorexia are serious personality problems, and weight control is an attempt to cope with these difficulties.

In most cases, anorexia nervosa develops in adolescence. Lack of popularity among the opposite sex, ridicule of peers can provoke a disease. Sometimes this mental disorder appears against the backdrop of a teenager's desire to live up to his idol. Often anorexia is a child's protest against excessive parental care. Most often, conflicts between a daughter and a mother are manifested in this way. Anorexia nervosa is most common in economically developed countries, where thinness is massively promoted as a sign of an ideal.

How does anorexia nervosa manifest itself?

In order to achieve the ideal weight from the patient's point of view, he begins to limit himself in food. On initial stages disease, a person excludes traditional “culprits” from his diet overweight- fats and carbohydrates. Gradually, the patient begins to refuse to use other vital products. Anorexia often develops deviations from standard norms in behavior. So, patients can swallow food without chewing it, hide food from themselves, eat with small appliances.
In addition to diet, people with anorexia often use laxatives, exercise hard, or resort to other methods of losing weight.

Treatment of anorexia nervosa

As in the case of dystrophy, treatment involves eliminating both the symptoms and the causes of the disease. Only if the process of digestion and assimilation of food is corrected during dystrophy, then with anorexia, work is carried out with the thoughts and beliefs of the patient. Therefore, the main therapeutic method in anorexia is psychotherapy.
To eliminate the lack of body weight in anorexia nervosa, diet therapy is prescribed.
In some cases, intravenous administration of various drugs is indicated. Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

Doctor II category

Anorexia - description and classification (true, nervous), causes and signs, stages, treatment, books about anorexia, photos of patients

Myocardial dystrophy (dyshormonal, dysmetabolic, alcoholic, mixed genesis, etc.) - causes, types and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in children and adults

Weak and inefficient muscles often create problems for which little is done until they become serious. Although strength and normal muscle action give facies to the figure, grace to the movement, both are now rare.

Weak muscle tone impairs blood circulation, interferes with normal lymph circulation, interferes with efficient digestion, often causes constipation, and sometimes does not allow you to control urination or even empty your bladder. Often due to muscle weakness internal organs fall or lie on top of each other. clumsiness of movements muscle tension and poor coordination, very often seen in malnourished children and usually left unattended, are quite similar to the symptoms seen in muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis.

Muscle weakness

Muscles are made up primarily of protein, but also contain essential fatty acids; therefore, the body's supply of these nutrients must be sufficient to maintain muscle strength. The chemical nature of muscles and the nerves that control them is very complex. And since countless enzymes, coenzymes, activators and other compounds are involved in their contraction, relaxation and repair, every nutrient is needed in one way or another. For example, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and D are needed to relax muscles, so muscle spasms, tics, and tremors are usually relieved by increasing the amount of these substances in food.

Potassium is necessary for the contraction of the body's muscles. In just a week, healthy volunteers who received refined food, similar to the one we eat every day, developed muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, constipation, and depression. All this almost immediately disappeared when they were given 10 g of potassium chloride. Severe potassium deficiency, often due to stress, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage, diuretics, or cortisone, causes slowness, lethargy, and partial paralysis. Weakened intestinal muscles allow bacteria to excrete great amount gases, colic-causing, and spasm or displacement of the intestine can lead to its obstruction. When death occurs due to potassium deficiency, an autopsy reveals severe muscle damage and scarring.

In some people, the need for potassium is so high that they periodically experience paralysis. Studies of these patients show that salty foods high in fat and carbohydrates, and especially sweet cravings, stress, as well as ACTH (a hormone produced by the pituitary gland) and cortisone, reduce blood potassium levels. Even if the muscles become weak, flaccid, or partially paralyzed, recovery occurs within minutes of taking potassium. Foods that are high in protein, low in salt, or rich in potassium can increase abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood.

When muscle weakness leads to fatigue, flatulence, constipation, and an inability to empty the bladder without the aid of a catheter, potassium chloride tablets are especially helpful. Most people, however, can get potassium by eating fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, and by avoiding refined foods.

Vitamin E deficiency is a common, though rarely recognized, cause of muscle weakness. Like red blood cells are destroyed by the action of oxygen on essential fatty acids, so the muscle cells of the whole organism are destroyed in the absence of this vitamin. This process is especially active in adults who poorly absorb fats. The nuclei of muscle cells and the enzymes necessary for muscle contraction cannot form without vitamin E. Its deficiency greatly increases the oxygen demand of muscle tissue, prevents the use of certain amino acids, allows phosphorus to be excreted in the urine, and leads to the destruction of a large number of B vitamins. All this impairs muscle function and recovery. Moreover, with an insufficient supply of vitamin E to the body, the number of enzymes that break down dead muscle cells increases by about 60 times. With a deficiency of vitamin E, calcium accumulates in the muscles and may even be deposited.

In pregnant women, muscle weakness due to vitamin E deficiency, often caused by iron supplements, in some cases makes childbirth difficult, since the amount of enzymes needed for muscle contractions involved in labor activity, decreases. When patients with muscle weakness, pain, wrinkled skin and loss of muscle elasticity were given 400 mg of vitamin E per day, a noticeable improvement was observed in both old and young. Those who suffered from muscle disorders for years recovered almost as quickly as those who were ill a short time.

Prolonged stress and Addison's disease

Advanced adrenal exhaustion, as in Addison's disease, is characterized by lethargy, agonizing fatigue, and extreme muscle weakness. Although at the beginning of stress it is mainly the protein of the lymph nodes that is broken down, with prolonged stress, muscle cells are also destroyed. Moreover, depleted adrenal glands cannot produce a hormone that stores the nitrogen of destroyed cells in the body; normally, this nitrogen is reused to build amino acids and repair tissues. Under such circumstances, muscles quickly lose strength even with protein-rich foods.

A depleted adrenal gland is also unable to produce enough of the salt-retaining hormone aldosterone. So much salt is lost in the urine that potassium leaves the cells, further slowing down contractions, weakening and partially or completely paralyzing the muscles. Potassium intake can increase the amount of this nutrient in the cells, but in this case, salt is especially needed. People with depleted adrenal glands usually have low blood pressure, which means they don't have enough salt.

The adrenal glands are quickly depleted in deficiency pantothenic acid, causing the same condition as prolonged stress.

Because stress plays a role in all muscle disorders, any diagnosis should emphasize restoration of adrenal function. An anti-stress program should be carefully followed, especially in the case of Addison's disease. Recovery is faster if the “anti-stress formula” is taken around the clock. No essential nutrient should be overlooked.

Fibrositis and myositis

Inflammation and swelling of the connective tissue of muscles, especially the membrane, is called fibrositis or synovitis, and inflammation of the muscle itself is called myositis. Both diseases are caused by mechanical damage or strain, and inflammation indicates that the body is not producing enough cortisone. Diet with big amount vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and 24-hour milk intake usually bring quick relief. In the event of an injury, scar tissue can quickly form, so vitamin E should be given special attention.

Fibrositis and myositis often affect women during menopause, when the need for vitamin E is especially great, these diseases usually cause considerable discomfort before the cause is found. Daily intake vitamin E with myositis brings a noticeable improvement.

Pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis

The term myasthenia gravis itself means heavy loss muscle strength. This disease is characterized by emaciation and progressive paralysis that can affect any part of the body, but most often the muscles of the face and neck. Double vision, droopy eyelids, frequent choking, difficulty breathing, swallowing and speaking, poor articulation and stuttering are typical symptoms.

Isotopic studies with radioactive manganese have shown that the enzymes involved in muscle contractions contain this element, and when muscles are damaged, its amount in the blood increases. Manganese deficiency causes muscle and nerve dysfunction in experimental animals and muscle weakness and poor coordination in livestock. Although the amounts of manganese needed for humans have not yet been established, people suffering from muscle weakness can be recommended to include wheat bran and whole grain bread in the diet (the richest natural sources).

In this disease, there are defects in the production of a compound that transmits nerve impulses to muscles, which is formed in nerve endings from choline and acetic acid and is called acetylcholine. IN healthy body it is constantly splitting and forming again. In pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis, this compound is either produced in negligible amounts or not at all. The disease is usually treated with drugs that slow down the breakdown of acetylcholine, but until nutrition is complete, this approach is another example of whipping a downtrodden horse.

The production of acetylcholine requires a whole battery of nutrients: vitamin B, pantothenic acid, potassium and many others. The lack of choline itself causes an underproduction of acetylcholine and leads to muscle weakness, damage to muscle fibers and extensive growth of scar tissue. All this is accompanied by the loss of a substance called creatine in the urine, which invariably indicates the destruction of muscle tissue. Although choline can be synthesized from the amino acid methionine, provided there is an abundance of protein in the diet, folic acid, vitamin B12, and other B vitamins are also required for the synthesis of this vitamin.

Vitamin E increases the excretion and utilization of acetylcholine, but with insufficient supply of vitamin E, the enzyme necessary for the synthesis of acetylcholine is destroyed by oxygen. This also causes muscle weakness, muscle breakdown, scarring and loss of creatine, but vitamin E supplementation corrects the situation.

Since pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis is almost inevitably preceded by prolonged stress, aggravated by medications that increase the body's needs, an anti-stress diet, unusually rich in all nutrients, is recommended. Lecithin, yeast, liver, wheat bran, and eggs are great sources of choline. The daily diet should be divided into six small, protein-rich servings, richly supplemented with "anti-stress formula", magnesium, tablets of B vitamins with great content choline and inositol and possibly manganese. You should eat salty for a while and increase your potassium intake through an abundance of fruits and vegetables. When swallowing is difficult, all foods can be crushed and supplements taken in liquid form.

Multiple sclerosis

This disease is characterized by calcareous plaques in the head and spinal cord, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, choppy movements or muscle spasm in the arms, legs, and eyes, and poor bladder control. Autopsies show a marked decrease in the amount of lecithin in the brain and in the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves, where lecithin is normally high. And even the remaining lecithin is abnormal because it contains saturated fatty acids. In addition, multiple sclerosis is most prevalent in countries where high saturated fat intakes are invariably associated with reduced content lecithin in the blood. Perhaps because of the reduced need for lecithin, people with multiple sclerosis are less likely to be prescribed a low-fat diet, and it is shorter. Significant improvement achieved when three or more tablespoons of lecithin are added to food daily.

It is likely that a lack of any nutrient - magnesium, B vitamins, choline, inositol, essential fatty acids - can exacerbate the course of the disease. Muscle spasms and weakness, involuntary shuddering, and inability to control the bladder quickly disappeared after taking magnesium. In addition, when patients suffering from multiple sclerosis were given vitamins E, B6 and other B vitamins, the development of the disease slowed down: even in advanced cases, improvement was observed. Liming of soft tissues was prevented by vitamin E.

In most patients, multiple sclerosis occurred due to severe stress during a period when their diet lacked pantothenic acid. Lack of vitamins B1, B2, B6, E or pantothenic acid - the need for each of them increases many times under stress - leads to nerve degradation. Multiple sclerosis is often treated with cortisone, which means that every effort should be made to stimulate normal hormone production.

Muscle dystrophy

Any experimental animals kept on a diet deficient in vitamin E developed muscle dystrophy after a certain period of time. Muscle dystrophy and atrophy in humans turn out to be completely identical to this artificially induced disease. Both in laboratory animals and in humans, with a deficiency of vitamin E, the need for oxygen increases many times over, the amount of many enzymes and coenzymes necessary for normal operation muscles, markedly reduced; muscles throughout the body are damaged and weakened when the essential fatty acids that make up the muscle cell structure are destroyed. Numerous nutrients leave the cells, and muscle tissue is eventually replaced by scar tissue. Muscles split lengthwise, which, incidentally, makes one wonder if a lack of vitamin E plays a major role in the formation of a hernia, especially in children, whose deficiency is simply terrifying.

For many months or even years before a diagnosis of dystrophy is made, amino acids and creatine are lost in the urine, indicating muscle breakdown. If vitamin E is given at the onset of the disease, the destruction of muscle tissue is completely stopped, as indicated by the disappearance of creatine in the urine. In animals, and possibly in humans, the disease develops faster if the diet also lacks protein and / or vitamins A and B6, but even in this case, dystrophy is cured by vitamin E alone.

With prolonged vitamin E deficiency, human muscle dystrophy is irreversible. Attempts to use massive doses of vitamin E and many other nutrients have not been successful. The fact that the disease is "hereditary" - several children in the same family can suffer from it - and that chromosomal changes have been found leads doctors to argue that it cannot be prevented. The hereditary factor can only be an unusually high genetic need for vitamin E, which is necessary for the formation of the nucleus, chromosomes and the entire cell.

The moment when muscle dystrophy or atrophy becomes irreversible has not been precisely established. On early stages these diseases are sometimes cured with fresh oil from wheat bran, pure vitamin E, or vitamin E in combination with other nutrients. At early diagnosis some patients recovered after simply adding wheat bran to their food and homemade bread from freshly ground flour. In addition, the muscle strength of people suffering from this disease for many years improved markedly when they were given a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Children with muscle dystrophy at the beginning of life began to sit up, crawl and walk later, ran slowly, climbed stairs with difficulty and got up after a fall. Often the child was ridiculed for years as being lazy and clumsy before going to the doctor. Since the huge masses of scar tissue are commonly mistaken for muscles, mothers of such children were often proud of how "muscular" their child was. Eventually, the scar tissue shrinks, causing either excruciating back pain or shortening of the Achilles tendon, resulting in as much disability as the weakness of the muscles themselves. It is not uncommon for the Achilles tendon to be lengthened surgically many years before a diagnosis of dystrophy is made, yet vitamin E as preventive measure do not give.

Every person with impaired muscle function should immediately take a urine test and, if creatine is found in it, noticeably improve nutrition and include in it a large number of vitamin E. Muscle dystrophy could be completely eradicated if all pregnant women and artificial children were given vitamin E and refined foods devoid of it were excluded from the diet.

Proper nutrition

Like most diseases, muscle dysfunction stems from a variety of deficiencies. Until nutrition is adequate for all nutrients, one should not expect either recovery or preservation of health.

Dystrophy is a pathology that is caused by chronic disorders nutrition and is accompanied by tissue atrophy. Dystrophy can occur in people at any age, but most of all this disease is dangerous for children in the first years of life. An illness at an early age leads to a delay in intellectual and physical development, a decrease in immunity, and disturbances in metabolic processes. Severe and moderate forms of dystrophy are rarely observed in socially prosperous regions.

Dystrophy is not always expressed by a person's weight deficit relative to his height, as is typical for all hypotrophic patients. During another type - paratrophy, there is a predominance of a person's weight over his height and the appearance of obesity. A uniform lag in both a person’s weight and growth relative to age norms is another type of hypostatural dystrophy. The most common and dangerous first type of disease - hypotrophic dystrophy.

Causes of dystrophy

In the prenatal period, primary alimentary dystrophy caused by pathologies of intrauterine fetal hypoxia and placental circulation. To the main risk factors during pregnancy include:

infectious diseases in any trimester;
the age of a woman under 18 and after 45 years;
pathology of the placenta;
severe somatic diseases, including hereditary and chronic diseases, injury;
smoking;
unfavorable social environment, which leads to irrational nutrition and nervous stress;
toxicosis or gestosis in any trimester.

Acquired primary dystrophy may be the result of malnutrition in difficult social settings or the result of poor nutrition with protein deficiency. Also, recurring infectious diseases that are caused by recurrent otitis media, rotavirus and intestinal infections lead to primary dystrophy.

Secondary dystrophy post- and prenatal period accompanies acquired and congenital:

The development of paratrophy, as a rule, correlates with too many calories and an increased number of daily menu fats and carbohydrates. The appearance of paratrophy provokes diathesis of exudative-catarrhal and lymphatic-hypoplastic types with redness and inflammation of the mucous membranes and epithelium, as well as with the growth of lymphoid tissue. Hypostatic type dystrophy is accompanied by serious pathologies of the neuroendocrine system.

Today in medical practice there are several different classifications of dystrophic conditions. Given the types of violations metabolic processes prevail, allocate the following types dystrophy:

carbohydrate;
mineral;
protein;
fat.

According to the place of localization of the process of pathology of metabolic processes, dystrophy can be cellular, extracellular and mixed.

According to the etiology, dystrophy happens:

Acquired. Appears under the influence of external or internal factors and has a more favorable prognosis, in contrast to congenital forms.
Congenital. The development of pathology is associated with genetic factors, that is, the dysfunction of the metabolic processes of proteins, carbohydrates and fats is associated with hereditary pathology. Moreover, in the body of children there is no one or more enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of nutrients. As a result, incomplete breakdown of carbohydrates, fats or proteins occurs, and in the tissues there is an accumulation of metabolic products that have a detrimental effect on cell structures. Pathology affects a variety of tissues, but most often affects nervous tissue, which leads to a serious disruption of its functioning. Any kind of congenital dystrophy are dangerous conditions that can lead to death.

Subject to underweight dystrophy divided into the following groups:

Hypostatruis. It is characterized not only by a lack of body weight, but also by a decrease in growth, inconsistency of these indicators with age norms.
Paratrophy. With this type of dystrophy, malnutrition of tissues and metabolic processes leads to an increase in body weight.
Hypotrophy. Today it is the most common form of the disease. At the same time, there is a decrease in weight relative to the height of a person. Considering from the moment of occurrence, congenital (prenatal), acquired (postnatal) and combined malnutrition are classified.

When does dystrophy appear? as a result of a lack of proteins, carbohydrates(energy substances) or fats, then it is called primary. Secondary dystrophy is considered in cases where the pathology appears against the background of some other disease.

Hypotrophy at the first stage is expressed by a body weight deficit of approximately 15-22% relative to the physiological norm. The person's condition is satisfactory, with a slight decrease in subcutaneous fat deposits, decreased skin turgor and appetite.

At the second stage of malnutrition with a human weight deficit of up to 30%, the patient's physical activity and emotional tone. The patient is lethargic, tissue turgor and muscle tone are significantly reduced. A person has a greatly reduced amount of fatty tissue in the region of the limbs and abdomen. Pathologies of thermoregulation are expressed in cold extremities and fluctuations in body temperature. Dystrophy in the second stage is accompanied by pathologies in the work of the cardiovascular system with arterial hypotension, tachycardia, muffled heart sounds.

Hypotrophy in the third stage with a person's weight deficit of more than 30% is also called nutritional insanity or atrophy. At this stage of the development of the disease, the general condition of a person is seriously impaired, the patient is prone to indifference, drowsiness, anorexia, irritability. With malnutrition in the third stage, there is no fatty subcutaneous tissue. The muscles are completely atrophied, but muscle tone is increased due to electrolyte imbalance and the presence of neurological disorders. Hypotrophy is accompanied by low body temperature, dehydration, weak and rare pulse, arterial hypotension. Dyskinetic manifestations of dystrophy are expressed in vomiting, regurgitation, rare urination, frequent loose stools.

Hypostatura is a consequence of prenatal dystrophy of a neuroendocrine type. Diagnosis of congenital hypostatus at the time of birth according to the distinctive clinical symptoms:

Congenital stable disorders of the nervous and endocrine regulation of processes are difficult to treat. In the absence of the above clinical symptoms and at the same time the physiological indicators of a person's height and weight lag behind age norms, hypostatura may be the result of constitutional short stature.

In children, paratrophy is most often provoked by excessive food intake or an unbalanced diet with insufficient protein and a large amount of carbohydrates. Inactive children are more prone to paratrophy artificial feeding with different types of diathesis. Systematic physical inactivity and prolonged overfeeding often develop obesity, as one of the symptoms of paratrophic dystrophy. Also clinical symptoms of paratrophy are:

lethargy;
disturbed emotional tone;
fast fatiguability;
dyspnea;
pain in the head.

Often the appetite is reduced and is selective. due to excess adipose tissue decreased muscle tone And insufficient elasticity covers of the skin. Against the background of a decrease in immunity, functional and morphological transformations of internal organs are likely.

Diagnosis of dystrophy

The diagnosis of "dystrophy" is made on the basis of clinical characteristic symptoms, which include the ratio of a person's weight relative to height, an analysis of the body's resistance to infectious diseases, the location and amount of subcutaneous fat, and an assessment of tissue turgor. The stage of malnutrition is determined according to laboratory examinations of urine and blood.

Hypotrophy at the first stage - laboratory gastric secretion tests and blood indicate dysproteinemia, which is expressed in decreased activity digestive enzymes and imbalance of blood protein fractions.

Hypotrophy in the second stage - according to laboratory examinations, a person with dystrophy at this stage has a pronounced hypochromic anemia with a low content of hemoglobin in the blood. There is also hypoproteinemia with a low amount in the blood total protein against the background of a strong decrease in enzymatic activity.

Hypotrophy in the third stage- laboratory examinations indicate the presence in the urine significant quantities chlorides, phosphates, urea, in some cases ketone bodies and acetone, as well as thickening of the blood with slow erythrocyte sedimentation.

The differential diagnosis of "hypostature" is determined by excluding diseases that are accompanied by a lag in physical development, for example, pituitary dwarfism, during which the human pituitary gland does not synthesize required amount somatotropic hormones, or other mutational types of dwarfism with normal secretion somatropin, but not the body's sensitivity to it.

Diet therapy is a fundamental aspect of the rational treatment of dystrophy. Initially determined food tolerance, if necessary, enzymes are recommended: festal, abomin, pancreatin, panzinorm. The next step is to make gradual adjustments. energy value and the amount of food consumed with constant monitoring of the decrease or gain in body weight, diuresis and the nature of the stool. To do this, a food journal is started with the names and quantities of products. Nutrition occurs in small portions up to 7-12 meals a day. Control is carried out until a person reaches physiological norms body weight.

As a stimulating treatment, courses of general tonic drugs and multivitamin complexes: preparations with royal jelly, ginseng, oats, lemongrass. It also treats comorbidities and sanitation of foci chronic infection . Improving the emotional status and eliminating hypodynamia is achieved with the help of massage, the complex implementation of physical therapeutic exercises.

Prenatal preventive actions, which are aimed at preventing the occurrence of intrauterine dystrophy, include: rest and work regimen, good sleep, physical exercise, balanced diet, continuous monitoring of the health status of the fetus and woman, control of the woman's weight.

The child has postnatal prevention of dystrophy in the best way held at natural feeding , regular monitoring of monthly weight gain and height during the first year and annual monitoring of subsequent dynamics of physical development.

In adult patients, prevention of dystrophy is possible with the condition normal nutrition, treatment of major immunodeficiency diseases, and replacement therapy malabsorption and enzymopathy.

You need to understand that strengthening your immunity, as well as the immunity of your children from birth, a balanced, rational and healthy diet, lack of stress and sufficient physical exercise- This best prevention any diseases, including dystrophy.

Dystrophy is a pathological process leading to the loss or accumulation by tissues of substances that are not characteristic of it in the normal state (for example, the accumulation of coal in the lungs). With dystrophy, the cells and intercellular substance are damaged, as a result of which the functioning of the diseased organ is also disrupted. A complex of mechanisms - trophism - is responsible for the metabolism and preservation of the cell structure. It is she who suffers from dystrophy: the self-regulation of cells and the transport of metabolic products are disrupted.

Dystrophy most often affects children under three years of age, which leads to a delay in physical, intellectual and psychomotor development, disorders and metabolism.

Types of dystrophy

There are several classifications of dystrophy. Depending on the type of metabolic disorders, it is divided into protein, fat, carbohydrate and mineral dystrophy. By localization, dystrophy is cellular, extracellular and mixed. Acquired and congenital dystrophy can be by etiology (origin). Congenital dystrophy is always genetically determined: metabolic disorders of proteins, carbohydrates and fats are hereditary. One or another enzyme involved in metabolism may be absent, which leads to incomplete breakdown and accumulation of metabolic products in the tissues. Different tissues are affected, but the central nervous system always suffers, which leads to a deficiency of certain enzymes. These are very dangerous diseases, as a deficiency of certain enzymes can cause death.

Also, dystrophy is divided into three types: hypotrophy, hypostature and paratrophy.

Hypotrophy is the most common form of the disease today. It is expressed in insufficient body weight of a person in relation to his height and can be prenatal (congenital), postnatal (acquired) and mixed.

Paratrophy is a violation of nutrition and metabolism, expressed as an excess of body weight.

Hypostature - the same lack of weight and height in accordance with age norms.

When dystrophy develops as a result of protein-energy deficiency, it is called primary, if it accompanies another disease - secondary.

Causes of dystrophy

Dystrophy can be caused by a variety of various reasons. Beyond congenital genetic disorders metabolism, the appearance of the disease can cause infectious diseases, malnutrition. Also, the causes of dystrophy can be an unhealthy lifestyle, external adverse factors, weak immunity, chromosomal diseases.

There is an erroneous opinion that only children who were born prematurely are susceptible to dystrophy. But the disease can occur due to prolonged fasting or overeating (especially carbohydrate-containing foods), problems of the gastrointestinal tract, somatic diseases and so on.

Congenital dystrophy often occurs due to too young or, conversely, old age of the mother of a sick child.

Symptoms of dystrophy

Symptoms of dystrophy appear solely depending on its form and severity. Common signs of the disease are considered to be agitation, loss of appetite and deterioration of sleep, weakness, fatigue, growth retardation (in children), weight loss, and so on.

With malnutrition (I–II degree), body weight decreases (by 10–30%), pallor is observed, muscle tone and tissue elasticity decrease, subcutaneous tissue becomes thinner or disappears, and vitamin deficiency. In patients, immunity is impaired, the liver may increase, the stool is disturbed (alternating constipation and diarrhea).

With hypotrophy of the III degree, exhaustion occurs, the skin loses its elasticity, eyeballs, breathing and heart rhythm are disturbed, blood pressure and body temperature decrease.

Paratrophy is expressed in excessive deposition of fat in the subcutaneous tissue. The patient is pale and susceptible allergic reactions; there are violations of the intestines, anemia; diaper rash often appears in the folds of the skin.

Hypostatura often accompanies malnutrition II-III degree. Its symptoms are pallor, decreased tissue elasticity, functional disorders nervous system, metabolic disorders, reduced immunity. Hypostatura is a persistent form of dystrophy, so there are certain difficulties in its treatment. It is also noteworthy that the absence of other symptoms of dystrophy (weight loss, weakness, etc.) may be considered hypostatus. normal sign constitutional shortness.

Treatment of dystrophy

Treatment of dystrophy should always be comprehensive and depend on its type and severity. If dystrophy is secondary, the emphasis is on the treatment of the disease that caused it. Otherwise, the main treatment is diet therapy and prevention of secondary infections (with dystrophy, immunity is reduced and the patient is susceptible to various diseases).

With malnutrition of the I degree, children are treated at home, but with II and III degrees of the disease, a stationary regime is required with the placement of a sick child in a box.

Diet is the basis for the rational treatment of dystrophy.

With malnutrition, at the first stage, the tolerance of certain foods is clarified, and then its volume and quality increase (until recovery).

Patients are shown breast milk, sour-milk mixtures, fractional nutrition(up to 10 times a day), keeping a food diary (indicating changes in stool and body weight). Also, patients are prescribed enzymes, stimulants and dietary supplements.

Prevention of dystrophy has many nuances: in order to protect the child from this disease, future mother should monitor their health, observe the regime of the day, refuse bad habits. After the birth of a child, it is necessary to follow all the rules of feeding and caring for him, to treat infectious and other diseases in a timely manner, to weigh and measure growth every month.

Expert editor: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich| MD general practitioner

Education: Moscow medical institute them. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 " Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".

Many have heard when a person is called "dystrophic." This word is often used in relation to very thin people. But in fact, this is not only a comic word, but a dangerous disease. A dystrophic is a disease, not an ordinary thinness.

What is dystrophy

Dystrophy is a pathological process leading to the accumulation or loss by tissues of those substances that are not characteristic of them in the normal state. An example is the accumulation of coal in the lungs. With dystrophy, cells are damaged, and because of this, there is a violation of the functions of the diseased organ.

The body has a complex of mechanisms that is responsible for the preservation and metabolism of the cellular structure. It's called trophism. A dystrophic is a person who suffers.

Most often, dystrophy affects children under the age of three. It leads to a delay not only in physical development, but also in psychomotor and intellectual development. This disrupts the work immune system and metabolism.

Types of disease

So, dystrophic - who is this? A person suffering from disorders in the body. There are several. It is divided into mineral, protein, carbohydrate and fat, depending on the type of metabolic disturbance.

If we talk about localization, then dystrophy can be extracellular, cellular, and also mixed.

By origin, the disease can be both congenital and acquired. Congenital dystrophy appears on genetic reasons because metabolic disorders are hereditary. Any enzyme that takes part in the metabolic process may be absent in the body, and this leads to the fact that metabolic products are not completely broken down and accumulate in tissues.

Various tissues can be affected, but in all cases the central nervous system is affected. A dystrophic is a person who suffers serious illness, since the lack of certain enzymes can lead to death.

Another dystrophy is divided into three types: paratrophy, hypostatura and hypotrophy.

Paratrophy is also nutrition, which is expressed by excess body weight.

Hypostature is the same lack of height and weight in accordance with the age norm of a person.

Hypotrophy is the most common form of dystrophy today. It is expressed in a small body weight in relation to the height of a person.

Causes of the disease

Dystrophy is due to a large number various reasons. Except congenital disorders at the genetic level, which are associated with metabolic disorders, the disease may be due to stress, infectious diseases, and malnutrition. Among other common causes, it is worth noting weak immunity, chromosomal diseases, unfavorable external factors and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

There is such an erroneous opinion that a dystrophic is a child who was born prematurely. But this is not so, because the disease can develop after prolonged fasting or, conversely, overeating foods that contain carbohydrates.

Congenital dystrophy can affect a child born too young or too old mother.

Symptoms of the disease

Dystrophy manifests itself depending on the form and severity. Among common features noted agitation, deterioration of appetite and sleep, fatigue and weakness, weight loss and growth retardation.

If the development of the body is reduced by 30 percent, pallor occurs, tissue elasticity and muscle tone decrease.

In patients, immunity is impaired, the liver may increase, and the stool is disturbed.

With severe malnutrition, skin elasticity is lost, eyeballs sink, heart rhythm and breathing are disturbed, body temperature and blood pressure decrease.

With paratrophy in humans, excess fat is deposited in the subcutaneous tissue. Patients are pale and prone to allergies. This disrupts the functioning of the intestines. In the folds of the skin, diaper rash begins to form.

With hypostature, the symptoms are similar to malnutrition. This is the most persistent form of dystrophy, and it is very difficult to treat it.

How to treat dystrophy

Treatment of this disease should be complex. If the dystrophy is secondary, then doctors treat the disease that caused it. In another case, diet therapy is used, and secondary infections are also prevented.

If the 1st degree, then the treatment is carried out at home. At a higher degree, the child is placed in a hospital.

Patients need to eat breast milk, as well as fermented milk mixtures. Meals should be fractional - up to 10 times a day. In this case, the doctor keeps records of changes in body weight. In addition, enzymes, vitamins and biologically active additives are prescribed.

So, dystrophic - who is this? This is a seriously ill person who needs to be treated as soon as possible, as the consequences can be sad.