title: Vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy; a rare diagnosis in young adults: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin B12 deficiency is a metabolic disorder with many causes. It often presents with megaloblastic anaemia and neurological disorders which entail prompt treatment. The diagnosis of Vitamin B12 deficiency is challenging in resource limited-settings due to limited access to diagnostic tools and unfamiliarity with the disease, owing to its rarity especially in young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 28 year old female Cameroonian presented with progressive burning painful sensations on the upper trunk, paraesthesia and numbness of the upper and lower limbs for a period of 5 years. Before presenting to us, she had consulted in numerous health institutions for which she had been treated for diverse pathologies with no relieve of symptoms. After clinical and laboratory evaluation, a diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency-associated neuropathy was made. She was placed on oral vitamin B12 supplements at 2 mg daily for 3 months. Follow up was marked by good clinical recovery after 1 month of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy is a rare debilitating disease that affects mostly the elderly. However; young adults with neuropathic symptoms warrant a high index of suspicion. Peripheral blood smears and complete blood counts are sufficiently diagnostic in resource-limited settings.
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Health and Development Association, P. O. Box 15, Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon.|Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Cyril Jabea
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ekabe
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Health and Development Association, P. O. Box 15, Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon.|Wum District Hospital, Wum, Northwest Region, Cameroon.|Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kehbila
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Health and Development Association, P. O. Box 15, Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon.|Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Clinical Research Education, Networking & Consultancy (CRENC), Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Martin Hongieh
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abanda
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Health and Development Association, P. O. Box 15, Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon.|Presbyterian General Hospital Acha-Tugi, Acha, Northwest Region, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Benjamin Momo
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kadia
authors.affiliation: Galactic Corps Research Group (GCRG), Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon. sama.carlson@yahoo.com.|Bambalang Sub-divisional Hospital, Bambalang, Northwest Region, Cameroon. sama.carlson@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Carlson-Babila
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea and Global Health Dialogue Foundation, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Gottlieb Lobe
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Monekosso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Cameroon; Neuropathy; Resource–limited setting; Vitamin B12 deficiency; Young female