Publication: Beri-beri: The major cause of infant mortality in Karen refugees
Issued Date
2003-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00359203
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-0141464827
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Vol.97, No.2 (2003), 251-255
Suggested Citation
Christine Luxemburger, Nicholas J. White, Feiko ter Kuile, H. M. Singh, Irène Allier-Frachon, Mya Ohn, Tan Chongsuphajaisiddhi, François Nosten Beri-beri: The major cause of infant mortality in Karen refugees. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Vol.97, No.2 (2003), 251-255. doi:10.1016/S0035-9203(03)90134-9 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/20945
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Title
Beri-beri: The major cause of infant mortality in Karen refugees
Abstract
During a prospective evaluation of malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy in a refugee population on the north-western border of Thailand from 1987 to 1990, an extremely high infant mortality rate (18%) was documented despite good access to health care. Infantile beri-beri was recognized as the main cause of death accounting for 40% of all infant mortality. Thereafter, severe vitamin B, deficiency in infants was diagnosed and treated promptly. The impact of this was assessed prospectively from 1993 to 1996 in a second cohort study. The case fatality of infantile beri-beri fell from almost 100% to 7%. The overall infant mortality rates declined from 183 to 78 per 1000 live births. Post-neonatal deaths fell by 79% (95% CI 65-87%) while neonatal mortality remained unchanged. Mortality resulting from acute respiratory infections did not change (15 and 11 per 1000, respectively), whereas mortality attributable to beri-beri decreased from 73 to 5 per 1000 (P < 0.0001 . Before its recognition approximately 7% of all infants in this population died from infantile beri-beri. This lethal but preventable syndrome may be more common than hitherto recognized, particularly in refugee populations, in this populous region.