Pellagra: a non-communicable disease of poverty.
Pellagra is a disease of poverty that is treatable but easily overlooked. The disease is caused by a deficiency of niacin and is clinically characterized by the triad of dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia. We describe two cases of pellagra in a Malawian district hospital and discuss the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment of the disease.
Thyolo District Hospital, Thyolo, Malawi.
Gerard-Peter G M
GP
Frank
Daniëlle M
DM
Voorend
Andrew
A
Chamdula
Joep J
JJ
van Oosterhout
Klaas
K
Koop
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D009525:Niacin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010383:Pellagra / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011203:Poverty
D009525:Niacin