A rash imposition from a lifestyle omission: a case report of pellagra.
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: Editor,
Pellagra, described by Casal in 1735, is endemic in Africa and Asia where staple food is nicotinic acid deficient corn-based diet and related to poverty among refugees or displaced people.1 It is infrequently seen in developed countries in chronic alcoholics or rarely in anorexia nervosa.
Case History: A 57 year-old chronic smoker and alcoholic, suffering from pulmonary Koch's and peeling dermatitis, had presented with confusion, involuntary flinging of legs and irresistible grasping of hands. Bladder-bowel functions were normal. Besides pallor, beefy tongue and polymorphic ronchi, physical examination was unremarkable. Neurological examination revealed rigidity and weakness in all four limbs, brisk reflexes, bilateral up-going planters, positive sucking and grasp reflex. Dermatological examination showed peeling dermatitis with erythema and pigmentation (Fig 1). Medication consisted of asthalin, rifampicin, isoniazide, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and multivitamin. Except 9.8gm% haemoglobin, routine plasma glucose, electrolytes, renal and liver function tests were normal. Chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasound showed emphysematous lungs and hyperechoic 16cm fatty liver. Computerized tomography of brain was normal.
Figure 1
Peeling dermatitis of pellagra
Source: PubMed Central
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W141522085