Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T01:34:26.985Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 7 - Starvation, Dehydration, Malnutrition, and Neglect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2020

By
Burkhard Madea  and
Elke Doberentz
Edited by
Kim A. Collins  and
Roger W. Byard
Kim A. Collins
Affiliation:
LifePoint Inc, South Carolina
Roger W. Byard
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide
Get access

Summary

Starvation is a rare cause of death in industrialized countries and may occur as a result of abuse, fasting, or mental illness [1–39]. However, there is still a high prevalence of undernutrition and death due to starvation in various regions worldwide.

Type
Chapter
Information
Geriatric Forensic Medicine and Pathology , pp. 109 - 129
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adelson, L., Homicide by starvation: the nutritional variant of the battered child. JAMA, 186 (1963), 458–60.Google Scholar
Adelson, L., Pathology of homicide (Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1974).Google Scholar
Adelsberger, L., Medical observations in Auschwitz concentration camp. Lancet, 1 (1946), 317–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Allison, S.P., Starvation. In Payne-James, J. and Byard, RW, eds., Encyclopedia of forensic and legal medicine, Vol. 2. (Amsterdam, Boston: Elsevier, 2005). pp. 130–6.Google Scholar
Allison, S.P. and Madea, B., Starvation. In Payne-James, J and Byard, RW, eds., Encyclopedia of forensic and legal medicine, Vol. 4. (Amsterdam, Boston: Elsevier, 2016). pp. 340–9.Google Scholar
Altun, G., Akansu, B., Altun, B.U., Azmak, D. and Yilmaz, A., Deaths due to hunger strike: post-mortem findings. Forensic Sci Int, 145 (2004), 35–8.Google Scholar
Beyon, J., Hunger strike in Turkish prisons. Lancet, 348 (1996), 737.Google Scholar
Collins, K.A., Intentional starvation/malnutrition and dehydration in children. In Griest, K., ed., Pediatric homicide. Medical investigation. (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2010). pp. 169–85.Google Scholar
Davis, J.H., Rao, V.J. and Valdes-Dapena, M., A forensic approach to a starved child. J Forensic Sci, 29 (1984), 663–9.Google Scholar
Cahill, G.F., Starvation in man. New Engl J Med, 282 (1970), 668–75.Google Scholar
Doberentz, E., Ortmann, J., Horneff, G. and Madea, B., Extreme Form der chronischen Unterernährung eines Säuglings in Deutschland. Rechtsmed, 26 (2016), 308–12.Google Scholar
Fieguth, A., Günther, D., Kleemann, W.J. and Tröger, H.D., Lethal child neglect. Forensic Sci Int, 130 (2002), 8–12.Google Scholar
Gee, D., Starvation and neglect. In Mant, A.K., ed., Taylor’s principles and practice of medical jurisprudence. (Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1984), pp. 276–9.Google Scholar
Giese, W. Die Pathologie des Hungers. All Pathologie, 71(ptII) (1953), 98–100.Google Scholar
Giese, W., Hörstebrock, R. Allgemeine Pathologie des exogenen quantitativen Nahrungsmangels. In Büchner, F., Letterer, E. and Roulet, F., eds., Handbuch der allgemeinen Pathologie. 11. Bd., Umwelt II, 1.Teil. (Berlin Göttingen Heidelberg: Springer Verlag, 1962), pp. 446–591.Google Scholar
Holle, G., Über plötzliche Todesfälle bei schwerer Inanition. Z Ges Inn Med, 15–16 (1948), 491–500.Google Scholar
Hottinger, A., Gsell, O., Uhelinger, E., Salzmann, C. and Labhart, A., Hungerkrankheit, Hungerödem, Hungertuberkulose. (Basel: Benno Schwabe u. Co Verlag,1948).Google Scholar
Hewitt, P.L., Coren, S. and Steel, G.D., Death from anorexia nervosa: age span and sex differences. Aging Ment Health, 5 (2001), 41–6.Google Scholar
Isner, J.M., Roberts, W.C., Heymsfield, S.B. and Yager, J., Anorexia nervosa and sudden death. Ann Intern Med, 102 (1985), 49–52.Google Scholar
Leiter, L.A. and Marliss, E.B., Survival during fasting may depend on fat as well as protein stores. JAMA, 248 (1982), 2306–7.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Death as a result of starvation: diagnostic criteria. In Tsokos, M., ed., Forensic pathology reviews, Vol. 2. (Totowa: Humana Press, 2005). pp. 3–23.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Starvation, dehydration, malnutrition and fatal neglect of children. In Collins, K.A. and Byard, R.W., eds., Forensic pathology of infancy in childhood. (Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer, 2014). pp. 667–98.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Henßge, C. and Berghaus, G., Fahrlässige Tötung eines Säuglings durch Fehlernährung. Arch Kriminol, 189 (1992), 33–8.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Michalk, D.V. and Lignitz, E., Verhungern infolge Kindesvernachlässigung. Arch Kriminol, 194 (1994), 29–38.Google Scholar
Madea, B. and Banaschak, S., Remarks on: “Percentile charts to determine the duration of child abuse by chronic malnutrition.” Forensic Sci Int, 105 (1999), 191–2.Google Scholar
Madea, B. and Banaschak, S., Verhungern. In Brinkmann, B. and Madea, B., eds., Handbuch Gerichtliche Medizin Bd. 1. (Berlin: Springer Verlag, 2004). pp. 905–19.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Noeker, M. and Franke, I., Child abuse – some aspects for neurosurgeons. In Pickard, J.D., ed., Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery, Vol. 36. (Wien, New York: Springer, 2011). pp. 80–135.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Ortmann, J. and Doberentz, E., Forensic aspects of starvation. Forensic Sci Med Pathol, 12(3) (2016), 276–98.Google Scholar
Meade, J.L. and Brissie, R.M., Infanticide by starvation: calculation of caloric deficit to determine degree of deprivation. J Forensic Sci, 30 (1985), 1263–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Missliwetz, J. and Mortinger, H., Tod durch Hypoglykämie nach Hungerzustand – Pathophysiologie vs. Morphologie. Beitr Gerichtl Med, 50 (1992), 319–23.Google Scholar
Mollison, P.L., Observation of cases of starvation at Belsen. Br Med J, 1 (1946), 4–8.Google Scholar
Morley, J.E., Thomas, D.R. and Wilson, M.M.G., Cachexia: pathophysiology and clinical relevance. Am J Clin Nutr, 83 (2006), 735–43.Google Scholar
Peel, M., Hunger strikes. BMJ, 315 (1997), 828–30.Google Scholar
Port, A., Rummel, J. and Büttner, A., Verhungern von Schutzbefohlenen. Rechtsmed, 24 (2014), 213–20.Google Scholar
Sarvesvaran, E.R., Homicide by starvation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 13 (1992), 264–7.Google Scholar
Selberg, W., Pathologische Anatomie der Unterernährung. Synopsis, 1 (1948), 23–50.Google Scholar
Solarino, B., Grattagliano, I., Catanesi, R. and Tsokos, M., Child starvation and neglect: a report of two fatal cases. J Forensic Leg Med, 19 (2012), 171–4.Google Scholar
Uehlinger, E., Die pathologische Anatomie der Hungerkrankheit und des Hungerödems. Helv Med Acta, 415 (1947), 584–601.Google Scholar
Wolf-Eisner, A., Über Mangelerkrankungen auf Grund von Beobachtungen im Konzentrationslager Theresienstadt. (Würzburg: Lothar Sauer-Morhard Verlag, 1947).Google Scholar
Bremer, H.J., Protein-Energie-Malnutrition der Entwicklungsländer. In Betke, K., Künzer, W. and Schaub, J., eds., Lehrbuch der Kinderheilkunde, 6th edn. (Stuttgart, New York: Thieme Verlag, 1991). pp. 247–51.Google Scholar
Gomez, F., Galvan, R.R., Cravioto, J. and Frenk, S., Malnutrition in infancy and childhood with special reference to Kwashiokor. Adv Pediatr, 7 (1955), 131–69.Google Scholar
Waterlow, J.C., Classification and definition of protein-caloric malnutrition. Br Med J, 2 (1972), 566–9.Google Scholar
Waterlow, J.C., Note on the assessment and classification of protein-energy malnutrition in children. Lancet, 302 (1973), 87–9.Google Scholar
Waterlow, J.C., Buzina, R., Keller, W., Lane, M., Nichaman, M.Z. and Tanner, J.M., The presentation and use of height and weight data for comparing the nutritional status of groups of children under the age of 10 years. Bull World Health Org, 55 (1977), 489–98.Google Scholar
Geurden, B., Franck, E., Weyler, J. and Ysebaert, D., The risk of malnutrition in community-living elderly on admission to hospital for major surgery. Acta Chir Belg, 115 (2015), 341–7.Google ScholarPubMed
Mantovani, G., Anker, S.D, Inui, A., Morley, J., Rossi Fanelli, F., Scevola, D., Schuster, M.W. and Yeh, S., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006).Google Scholar
Mantovani, G. and Madeddu, C., Epidemiology of cachexia. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 39–43.Google Scholar
Scevola, D., Matteo, A.D., Giglio, O. and Uberti, F., Starvation: social, voluntary, and involuntary causes of weight loss. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 149–66.Google Scholar
Yeh, S.S. and Schuster, M.W., Epidemiology of malnutrition in the elderly. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 365–8.Google Scholar
Win, A.Z., Ceresa, C., Arnold, K. and Allison, T.A., High prevalence of malnutrition among elderly veterans in home based primary care. J Nutr Health Aging, 21(6) (2017), 610–13.Google Scholar
Coin, A., Sergi, G., Inelmen, E.M. and Enzi, G., Pathophysiology of body composition changes in elderly people. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 369–75.Google Scholar
Doehner, W., Historic views on cachexia in humans with special reference to cardiac cachexia. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 31–7.Google Scholar
Gianotti, L., Picu, A., Lanfranco, F., Tassone, F., Baldi, M., Giordano, R., Ghigo, E. and Maccario, M., Endocrine disorders. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 291–9.Google Scholar
Hiroyuki, O., Gastrointestinal diseases. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 327–38.Google Scholar
Kalantar-Zadeh, K. and Kopple, J.D., Cachexia in chronic kidney disease: malnutrition-inflammation complex. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 305–25.Google Scholar
Mantovani, G. and Madeddu, C., Cachexia related to multiple causes. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 161–2.Google Scholar
Ohara, T., Diabetes. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 283–9.Google Scholar
QuBaiah, O. and Morley, J.E., Pathophysiology of cachexia in the elderly. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 383–95.Google Scholar
Scevola, D., Di Matteo, A., Giglio, O. and Scevola, S., Nutritional status assessment. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 93–110.Google Scholar
Strassburg, S. and Anker, S.D., Cachexia in cardiovascular illness. In Mantovani, G., ed., Cachexia and wasting: a modern approach. (Milan, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Italia, 2006), pp. 349–60.Google Scholar
Bauer, J.M., Wirth, R., Volkert, D., Werne, H. and Sieber, C.C., Malnutrition, sarcopenia and cachexia in the elderly: from pathophysiology to treatment – conclusions of an international meeting of experts, sponsored by the BANSS Foundation. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 133 (2008), 305–10.Google Scholar
Statistisches Bundesamt (Federal Statistical Office, Federal Republic of Germany, 2015).Google Scholar
Hewitt, P.C., Coren, S. and Steel, D.G., Death from anorexia nervosa: age span and sex differences. Aging Ment Health, 5 (2001), 41–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chmelnizkij, O.K., Zur Rolle der Pathologen im belagerten Leningrad. Zentrbl Allg Pathol Pathol Anat, 13 (1987), 307–10.Google Scholar
Kanzow, U., Beobachtung während einer 53-tätigen Hungerperiode an einem Hungerkünstler. Dt Arch Klein Med, 198 (1951), 698–705.Google Scholar
Keys, A., The biology of human starvation, 2 vols. (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1950).Google Scholar
Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henschel, A., Mickelsen, O. and Longstreet Taylor, H., Experimental starvation in man. (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1945).Google Scholar
Leyton, G.B., Effects of slow starvation. Lancet, 2 (1946), 73–9.Google Scholar
The Great Starvation Experiment 1944–1945. http://www.madsciencemuseum.com/msm/pl/great_starvation_experiment (accessed 2 January 22, 2018).Google Scholar
Tucker, T., Great starvation experiment. Ancel Keys and the men who starved for science. (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2007).Google Scholar
Ratcliffe, P.C. and Bevan, J.S., Severe hypoglycaemia and sudden death in anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med, 15 (1985), 679–81.Google Scholar
Rich, L.M., Caine, M.R., Findling, J.W. and Shaker, J.L., Hypoglycaemic coma in anorexia nervosa. Arch Intern Med, 150 (1990), 894–5.Google Scholar
Allison, S.P.. The uses and limitations of nutritional support. Clin Nutr, 11 (1992), 319–30.Google Scholar
Nishio, H., Matusi, K., Tsuji, H., Tamura, A. and Suzuki, K.. Immunohistochemical study of tyrosine phosphorylation signaling in the involuted thymus. Forensic Sci Int, 110(2000), 189–98.Google Scholar
Tanegashima, A., Yamamoto, H., Yada, I. and Fukunaga, T., Estimation of stress in child neglect from thymic involution. Forensic Sci Int, 102 (1999), 173–80.Google Scholar
Coe, J.I., Postmortem chemistries on human vitreous humor. Am J Clin Pathol, 51 (1969), 741–50.Google Scholar
Coe, J.I., Some further thoughts and observations on postmortem chemistries. Forensic Sci Gazette, 4 (1973), 2–5.Google Scholar
Madea, B., Zur postmortalen Diagnostik von Störungen des Wasser-Elektrolyt-Haushaltes. Rechtsmed, 6(1996), 141–6.Google Scholar
Madea, B. and Lachenmeier, D.W., Postmortem diagnosis of hypertonic dehydration. Forensic Sci Int, 155 (2005), 1–6.Google Scholar
Rinaldo, P., Postmortem investigations. In Hoffmann, G.F., Zschocke, J. and Nyhan, W.L., eds., Inherited metabolic diseases. (Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, 2010), pp. 335–8.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. Management of severe malnutrition. A manual for physicians and other senior health workers. (Geneva: World Health Organization, 1999).Google Scholar
International Working Group on Sarcopenia. Sarcopenia: An undiagnosed condition in older adults. Current consensus definition: Prevalence, etiology, and consequences. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 12(4) (2011), 249–56.Google Scholar
https://en.wikipedia.org/Google Scholar
Hunsaker, C.J., Violence against the elderly. In Madea, B., ed., Handbook of forensic medicine. (Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2014), pp. 761–75.Google Scholar
Neloska, L., Damevska, K., Nikolchev, A., Pavleska, L., Petreska-Zovic, B. and Kostov, M., The association between malnutrition and pressure ulcers in elderly in long-term care facility. Maced J Med Sci, 4(3) (2016), 423–7.Google Scholar
Shea, J.D., Pressure sores: classification and management. Clin Orthop, 112 (1975), 89–100.Google Scholar
Tsokos, M., Heinemann, A. and Püschel, K., Pressure sores: epidemiology, medico-legal implications and forensic argumentation concerning causality. Int J Legal Med, 113 (2000), 283–7.Google Scholar
Takahashi, P.Y., Kiemle, L.J. and Jones, J.P., Wound care for elderly patients: advances and clinical applications for practicing physicians. Mayo Clin Proc, 79 (2) (2004), 260–7.Google Scholar
Berzlanovic, A.M., Keil, W., Waldhoer, T., Sim, E., Fasching, P. and Fazeny-Dörner, B., Do centenarians die healthy? An autopsy study. J Gereontol Med Sci. 60A(7) (2005), 862–5.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×