Sorry if my pictures gross you out, but I wanted to share this amazing case with you. This man has a disease called Pellagra. Pellagra is caused by a deficiency in Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Patients with pellagra usually have a diet that is rich in unprocessed corn. It can also occur in alcoholics due to malnutrition. The treatment is very simple, you just have to give the patients a vitamin. Ofcourse we ran out of oral Vitamin B Complex today in the hospital so my patient has not been recieving his mediations.
If Pellagra is left untreated it will result in progressive dementia and ultimately death. Pellagra is a very preventable and treatable disease.
I am stunned at how meds run out so quickly and randomly so you don't even know what's out.
ReplyDeleteYou really are a great teacher. It's interesting to read what you write and teach us back in the States, but you have always been a great teacher. Those interns and students down there are lucky to have Dr. Mack!
Dear Doctor,
ReplyDeleteI am Dr. Sudha Shivaraj, a pathologist writing to you from India. I have written a book on General Pathology named 'Essentials of General Pathology' which has been approved by Wiley Blackwell and will be published in May 2013.
I came across your image of pellagra in google images. I request you to kindly grant me permission to use the clinical photograph of Pellagra in my book. The image will be attributed as per your instructions.
Thank You,
Warm Regards
Sudha