The disease of babies and very young children resulting from long-term severe protein deficiency in the diet. There is usually an associated deficiency in the consumption of vitamin A and E as well as zinc and selenium. Symptoms include edema (or swelling) due to water retention (especially in the abdomen), stick-like legs and arms with little fat or muscle mass, apathy, and loss of hair and skin pigmentation in patches. As in the case of marasmus, children with kwashiorkor are likely to have their growth retarded. Kwashiorkor usually results from a child being weaned too early and being forced to subsist mainly on a high carbohydrate and low protein diet.