Urban beri-beri in The Gambia, west Africa.
Thirty-eight patients with beri-beri (13 dry, 14 wet and 11 mixed type) were seen at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia, in 1990-1991, with a peak in September-October (25 cases) during the latter half of the rainy season. They were all non-confined residents of urban areas. Overt risk factors were pregnancy (6), alcohol (5), fevers (4), chronic disability (4), and exercise (2). Four patients (10.5%) died. The potential for large outbreaks of beri-beri exist in many urban areas of West Africa where polished rice is the staple diet.
Rolfe
M
M
Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia.
Walker
R W
RW
Samba
K N
KN
Cham
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001602:Beriberi / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population