Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) is the state of inadequate intake of food (as a source of protein, calories, and other essential nutrients) occurring in the absence of significant inflammation, injury, or another condition that elicits a systemic inflammatory response. This is also known as protein energy malnutrition (see Table I). It ranges from complete deprivation of nonfluid dietary intake (starvation) to a more common state of semistarvation, in which the intake of protein and energy is suboptimal. This has classically been referred to as marasmus. Common clinical conditions in which mainly starvation or semistarvation leads to PCM include anorexia nervosa, severe malabsorptive syndromes, states of gastrointestinal dysmotility, and upper gastrointestinal obstructions (i.e., esophageal strictures).
Protein Calorie Malnutrition (PCM) or Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is one of the most widespread nutritional deficiency diseases in our country and poses a health problem in children below five years of age. This paper explains the clinical features of this malnutrition including kwashiorkor, marasmus and marasmic kwashiorkor. It also describes the biochemical changes including protein, carbohydrate, fat, water and electrolyte metabolisms, hormonal changes, hematological changes, pathological changes and changes in mental development occurring during protein calorie malnutrition. It also gives an idea about the measures which could be adopted for preventing this nutritional syndrome.