Pellagra: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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What is pellagra & what causes it?

Pellagra is a disorder that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin, or vitamin B-3. There are two types of pellagra: primary and secondary. Primary pellagra comes from not getting enough niacin in the diet, whereas secondary pellagra develops when the body is unable to absorb niacin.

What does pellagra mean?

They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. pellagra, nutritional disorder caused by a dietary deficiency of niacin (also called nicotinic acid) or a failure of the body to absorb this vitamin or the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted to niacin in the body.

What are the different types of pellagra?

There are two types of pellagra, known as primary pellagra and secondary pellagra. Primary pellagra is caused by diets low in niacin or tryptophan. Tryptophan can be converted to niacin in the body, so not getting enough can cause niacin deficiency. Primary pellagra is most common in developing countries that depend on corn as a staple food.

Can pellagra be cured?

Since pellagra is a deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3), it’s cured by replacing the missing nutrient. With niacin supplements, most people begin to improve right away. You may need additional treatment for symptoms such as skin sores and mouth sores. If your pellagra was caused by a pre-existing health condition, you’ll need treatment for that too.

Is pellagra a systemic disease?

Pellagra is a systemic disease caused by a severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3). It affects the whole body and can eventually lead to death. Primary pellagra is caused by a lack of niacin in your diet. It usually occurs in poor and food-limited populations. Secondary pellagra can occur when your body is unable to absorb the niacin you eat.

What are the skin features of pellagra?

The skin features of pellagra including peeling, redness, scaling, and thickening of sun-exposed areas. Niacin or nicotinamide supplementation. Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B 3 ). Symptoms include inflamed skin, diarrhea, dementia, and sores in the mouth.

What Is Pellagra

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