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.

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