severe malnutrition of infants and young children, esp soon after weaning, resulting from dietary deficiency of protein
Word origin
C20: from a native word in Ghana
kwashiorkor in American English
(ˌkwɑʃiˈɔrˌkɔr)
noun
a severe disease of young children, caused by chronic deficiency of protein and calories in the diet and characterized by stunted growth, edema, and a protuberant belly