INFANTILE BERIBERI ASSOCIATED WITH WERNICKE'S ENCEPHALOPATHY

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Abstract
An infant, 5½ months of age, died after a brief acute illness characterized by irritability and somnolence leading terminally to coma, and by excessive sweating, abdominal distension, tachypnea and tachycardia. Acidosis and azotemia were marked. He was found at necropsy examination to have pathologic findings compatible with both beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Investigation of the dietary history and analysis of the formula fed the patient confirmed the suspicion of deficient intake of thiamine. This is the first case report in which the coexistence of these two pathologic conditions in a child proven to have had an inadequate diet, has been documented. It lends further support to the thesis that Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by nutritional deficiency. The importance of vitamin supplementation of restricted diets used in the therapy of infantile eczema is emphasized.

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