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Case Report: Fulminant Infantile Beriberi: A Report of Six Cases
Insights
Infantile beriberi, a severe thiamine deficiency, is a critical cause of infant mortality and developmental issues. Early recognition and empirical thiamine treatment can be life-saving for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Background:
- Thiamine deficiency disorders present a significant, under-recognized public health challenge in low- and middle-income nations.
- Infantile beriberi is a critical manifestation of thiamine deficiency, contributing to infant mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment.
Observation:
- Six infants presented with acute, severe illnesses mimicking common childhood conditions like pneumonia and sepsis.
- Four infants exhibited Shoshin beriberi, a severe cardiovascular form, alongside pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Findings:
- Empirical intravenous thiamine administration led to dramatic recovery in four of the six infants.
- The varied clinical presentations and lack of diagnostic markers contribute to frequent misdiagnoses of infantile beriberi.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of infantile beriberi's clinical definition is crucial for timely diagnosis.
- Prompt empirical thiamine treatment can be life-saving and prevent lifelong morbidity in infants.
- Addressing thiamine deficiency is vital for improving child survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes in vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
Thiamine deficiency disorders are an under-recognized public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Infantile beriberi, the most important symptom for children, is suspected to significantly contribute to infant mortality and lifelong neurodevelopmental morbidity. Lack of awareness, varied clinical presentation, and lack of a readily available diagnostic marker lead to frequent misdiagnoses. We report six thriving infants who presented with an acute fulminant illness with varied clinical manifestations mimicking common childhood illnesses like pneumonia and sepsis. Four of them presented with the severe cardiovascular form, called Shoshin beriberi, and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Empirical intravenous thiamine administered to four of the six infants resulted in dramatic recovery. Awareness of the clinical definition of infantile beriberi and treatment with empirical thiamine can be lifesaving.
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