Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 24 : Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Infantile beriberi

This occurs in infants born to mothers suffering from thiamine deficiency, as breast milk of these mothers has low thiamine content. The onset of the disease is sudden in apparently healthy infants. Restlessness, sleeplessness and bouts of screaming similar to those occurring in abdominal colic. Anorexia, vomiting and breathlessness develop. Most of the clinical signs are due to acute cardiac dilatation and failure. Death may occur suddenly unless treatment with thiamine is given immediately by intramuscular injection.