Abnormally low concentrations of vitamin B1 in the blood.
Symptoms of Beriberi
The following features are indicative of Beriberi:
difficulty in walking
pain
swelling of the lower legs
shortness of breath
strange eye movements
mental confusion
speech difficulties
loss of sensation
tingling
paralysis
vomiting
insomnia
increased heart rate
shortness of breath
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Common Causes of Beriberi
The following are the most common causes of Beriberi:
inadequate intake of food
excess alcohol
dialysis
mutations in the gene SLC19A2
Wernicke's encephalopathy
Risk Factors for Beriberi
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Beriberi:
intake of white rice
alcoholism
dialysis
chronic diarrhea
high doses of diuretics
genetic conditions
Prevention of Beriberi
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Beriberi. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
eat vitamins rich diet
avoid alcohol
Occurrence of Beriberi
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Beriberi cases seen each year worldwide:
Extremely rare less than 1000 cases
Common Age Group
Beriberi most commonly occurs in the following age group:
At birth
Common Gender
Beriberi can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Beriberi
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Beriberi:
Erythrocyte transketolase activation assay: To measure the activity of enzyme transketolase in erythrocytes
Thiochrome assay: To measure the activity of enzyme directly from blood
Urine tests: To see if thiamine is passing through the urine
Doctor for Diagnosis of Beriberi
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Beriberi:
Neurologist
Cardiologist
Pediatricist
Complications of Beriberi if untreated
Yes, Beriberi causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Beriberi is left untreated:
coma
congestive heart failure
fatal
psychosis
Self-care for Beriberi
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Beriberi:
Diet: Take thiamine rich food helps preventing the disease
Patient Support for Treatment of Beriberi
The following actions may help Beriberi patients:
Be aware of disease: Get knowledge about the disease that will be helpful in handling the problem
Join support groups: Join online supporting organizations that helps providing support to patients
Time for Treatment of Beriberi
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Beriberi to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced