Asked by Anonymous
Dermatosis is defined as a disorder involving lesions or eruptions of the skin that are acute (lasting days to weeks) or chronic (lasting months to years).
Grades of dermatosis in Severe Acute Malnutrition:
Grade 1: is characterized by dry skin, hyperpigmentation, and accentuation of the lines of the skin. Mild shedding of fine grey scales is observed in few areas.
Grade 2: the dark skin turns greyish, and the dusty scales loosen easily. Areas with hyperkeratosis appear. In these areas, the scales are more infiltrated and bigger.
Grade 3: scales are hard, shiny, and slightly hyperpigmented. Erosions appear where the scales are shed.
Reference: Heilskov, S., Vestergaard, C., & Deleuran, M. S. (2017). Defining and Assessing Skin Changes in Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation, 1–21. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40007-5_12-1
