Children In Gaza Are Starving. Here's How Starvation Can Affect A Child's Health

[David__77]

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Bombs are not the only factor responsible for the death of many. Due to cutoff of food supplies, many Palestinians are now dying of starvation, malnutrition and dehydration. At least 20 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration in the north’s Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals alone, most of whom are children according to reports from The Associated Press.

Malnutrition results when the body does not receive essential nutrients that are necessary to function properly. Starvation, on the other hand, results when the body does not receive enough calories to sustain the essential functions of the body. If left untreated, both can ultimately lead to severe illness, organ failure and ultimately death.

One of the most obvious ramifications of decreased caloric and nutrient intake in children is stunted growth. In the starvation state, the body prioritizes survival over growth, leading starving and malnourished children to be low in body weight and shorter in height.

Starvation and malnutrition also weaken the immune system, making children much more susceptible to infections such as pneumonia, infections of the gut and malaria to name a few. Malnourished kids do not get an adequate amount of vitamins in their body, which are essential in combating infections throughout the body. As an example, vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections in the body. Vitamin C is just one of many vitamins that boost one’s immune function.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2024/03/24/children-in-gaza-are-starving-heres-how-starvation-can-affect-a-childs-health/amp/