Hair growth in kwashiorkor.

Acquired silky African hair, malnutrition, and chronic diseases

“…It is associated with reduced protein synthesis in tissues and was the first disease to be associated with changes in hair color (to reddish brown) and texture (loss of curl). 10 In our institution, silky hair change has been seen rarely in recent years but was most commonly associated with kwashiorkor, severe tuberculosis, and AIDS (particularly prior to antiretroviral treatment access).…”

Hair Research

“…With a short but severe illness a quite sharp constriction may appear in the hair shafts analagous to Beau's lines in nails as noted by Sims (1967) after peptic ulcer haemorrhage or a severe infection. Advanced cancer, reticuloses, prolonged anaemia and infections probably affect every cell in the body.…”

“…Sims (1967Sims ( ,1968 pointed out that a decrease in hair shaft diameter usually preceded the other symptoms of kwashiorkor and that the tensile strength was also lowered. The atrophied bulb, plucked at the end of this period, manifests distal constriction extending for a short distance along the shaft, and these changes are reversible to some extent when protein is added to the diet.…”

Hair Disorders

“…Protein malnutrition (kwashiorkor) and caloric malnutrition (marasmus) usually occur concurrently and are common in children living in developing nations [206,207] . The hair in affected individuals is slow growing, sparse and dyspigmented (Fig.…”