Pellagra uses color pictures and clear
explanations to teach you about this nutritional disease which affects the skin.
Table of
contents:
Chapter 1. What causes Pellagra?
Chapter 2. What are the symptoms and signs of Pellagra?
Chapter 3. What investigations are done for Pellagra?
Chapter 4. What are the differential diagnosis
for Pellagra?
Chapter 5. What is the treatment for Pellagra?
Chapter 6. What are the complications of Pellagra?
Chapter 7. How can Pellagra be prevented?
BOOK EXCERPT
Chapter 1
WHAT CAUSES PELLAGRA?
Pellagra is a nutritional disease that is caused
by deficiency of vitamin B3 or niacin which is a water soluble vitamin.
Pellagra can be classified in the following
way:
1.
Primary pellagra
Primary pellagra develops as a result of inadequate
dietary niacin intake. Primary pellagra can also develop as a result of inadequate
dietary tryptophan intake since this amino acid is converted to niacin in the
body. The causes of primary pellagra include poverty related malnutrition, maize
(corn) based diet, anorexia nervosa, chronic parenteral nutrition, fad diets
and severe elimination diets.
2.
Secondary pellagra
Secondary pellagra develops despite adequate dietary
niacin due to poor niacin intake, absorption, and processing by the body. Causes
of secondary pellagra include:
a. Gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic
diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis,
gastrointestinal tuberculosis, and liver cirrhosis.
b. Chronic alcoholism and chronic drug addiction
c. Anorexia nervosa
d. Chronic dialysis
e. Malignant carcinoid tumors since the
tryptophan is used to form the serotonin.
f. Hartnup syndrome which is an inherited disorder
of amino acid transport which results in defective absorption of tryptophan by
the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.
g. Medications such as isoniazid which competes
with niacin, pyrazinamide, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine,
chloramphenicol, and phenytoin.
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