Authors report a case of kwashiorkor which is very rare in this country. A 13 year-old male child was admitted to Gastroenterology, Medical College of Korea University complaining of abdominal distention for recent 2 months. He has lived about 10 years on diet deficient in protein such as boiled rice highly mixed with barley, vegetables and potatoes in small amount. The physical findings on admission revealed apathetic appearance, moderate moon face, abdominal distention and slight pitting edema of the lower extremities. The biochemical changes including liver function test observed in this patient showed serum albumin 1.9 gm. per cent, alkaline phosphatase (Bess. unit) 5.5 units, G.O.T. 64 units G. P. T. 54 units, total bilirubin 5. 5 mg. per, cent, thymol turbidity test 14.5 units, and serum potassium 2.7 mEq. per liter.
The finding of liver biopsy showed diffuse infiltration of fatty vacuoles in reticulum cell suggesting fatty liver. E.K.G. finding revealed left axis deviation, low voltage heart and nonspecific T wave changes.
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