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Home » Topics A–Z » Pellagra
Author: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer, 2003.
Pellagra is a disease characterised by diarrhoea, dermatitis and dementia. If left untreated, death is the usual outcome. It occurs as a result of niacin (vitamin B-3) deficiency. Niacin is required for most cellular processes. Since tryptophan in the diet can be converted to niacin in the body, both of these need to be deficient for pellagra to develop.
Pellagra is caused by a deficiency in niacin. This can occur in 2 ways:
The classical triad of symptoms are diarrhoea, dermatitis and dementia.
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Pellagra can be effectively cured with intravenous or oral niacin or nicotinamide. Adequate doses to treat secondary pellagra are quite hard to get hold of in New Zealand!
An improvement in primary pellagra should be seen within two days of commencing treatment. A high protein diet supplemented with B-group vitamins is needed for complete recovery. Secondary pellagra may be harder to treat in view of its possible causes.
Skin lesions may be treated with topical emollients. Sun protection is important during the recovery phase. Cover up and apply a broad spectrum sunscreen to all exposed areas daily.
See smartphone apps to check your skin.
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Book: Textbook of Dermatology. Ed Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJB, Champion RH, Burton JL. Fourth edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
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