Beriberi

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Thiamine deficiency; Vitamin B-1 deficiency

The goal of treatment is to replace the thiamine that the person's body is lacking. This is done with thiamine supplements. Thiamine supplements are given through a shot (injection) or taken by mouth.

Other types of vitamins may also be recommended.

Blood tests may be done after the person is given thiamine supplements to see how well they are responding to the medicine.

Untreated, beriberi is often deadly. With treatment, symptoms usually improve rapidly.

Heart damage is usually reversible and is not permanent. Full recovery is expected. However, if acute heart failure has already occurred, the person's outlook is poor.

Nervous system damage is also reversible, if caught early. If not, some symptoms (such as memory loss) may remain even with treatment.

If a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy receives thiamine replacement, language problems, unusual eye movements, and walking difficulties may go away. However, Korsakoff syndrome (or Korsakoff psychosis) tends to develop as Wernicke's symptoms go away. Symptoms include memory loss, learning problems, and confabulation (making up stories about experiences or situations to cover gaps in memory).

• Psychosis
• Coma
• Congestive heart failure
• Death

Beriberi is extremely rare in the United States. However, if you feel your family's diet is inadequate or poorly balanced and you or your children have any of the described symptoms, call your health care provider.

Review Date: 07/21/2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.