Urban beri-beri in The Gambia, west Africa

Thirty-eight patients with beri-beri (13 dry, 14 wet and 11 mixed type) were seen at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia, in 1990-1991, with a peak in September-October (25 cases) during the latter half of the rainy season. They were all non-confined residents of urban areas. Overt risk factors were pregnancy (6), alcohol (5), fevers (4), chronic disability (4), and exercise (2). Four patients (10.5%) died. The potential for large outbreaks of beri-beri exist in many urban areas of West Africa where polished rice is the staple diet.