[Kwashiorkor as a symptom of abuse and neglect in Barcelona].
Child abuse can take various forms and the presenting signs and symptoms can sometimes lead to diagnostic error. Faced with a malnourished child physicians should not forget that one of the possible causes of the malnutrition could be abuse. Because of rising immigration, forms of child abuse uncommon among the Spanish industrialized population may increase.An African girl, who had been resident in Spain for several years, presented with symptoms of kwashiorkor disease. This, combined with observation of the child's social environment and her own account, led to a diagnosis of neglect. This is a rare clinical presentation of abuse in our socio-economic milieu.
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario del Mar, Barcelona. 18541@imas.imim.es
M
M
Bonet Alcaina
A
A
Martínez Roig
J M
JM
Pujals Ferrer
O
O
Vall Combelles
D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000209:etiology*; D013030:Spain