Vitamin Deficiencies Flashcards
What are sources of vitamin A?
Breast milk
Dark green veg
Yellow and orange fruits
What are the stages of xerophthalmia?
Night blindness Conjunctival xerosis Bitots spots Corneal xerosis (dry cornea with visual imp) Corneal ulceration Keratomalacia Corneal scarring (after vit A replaced)
How do you treat vit A deficiency?
Three doses PO vit A day 1,2 week 3
Artificial tears and topical Abx for eye if affected
Teratogenic!
How do you prevent vitamin A deficiency?
Increase dietary intake
Periodic supplementation for children in highly endemic areas
What syndromes are caused by vitamin B1 deficiency?
Dry beriberi
Wet beriberi
Infantile beriberi
Wernicke-Korsakoff
What is dry berineri?
Symmetrical peripheral sensory and motor peripheral neuropathy
Ataxia and incontinence later on
What is wet beriberi?
High output cardiac failure
Peripheral neuropathy
What is infantile beriberi?
Occurs in breastfed if mum deficient
Progressive HF +/- neurological signs
How do you diagnose thiamine deficiency ?
Blood thiamine level
Clinically
What causes pellagra?
Vit B3 deficiency
Malabsorption
Isoniazid therapy
Alcoholism
What are the features of pellagra?
Dermatitis- photosensitive rash that desquamates, Brittle nails. Casals necklace
Diarrhoea- malabsorption
Depression- insomnia, P and CN neuropathies
Death
Where does pellagra occur?
Where maize are staples as niacin levels low unless nixtamalized
How do you treat pellagra?
PO nicotinamide
