A nutritional disease of childhood associated with a maize diet

Abstract

A description is given of a disease occurring in the Gold Coast Colony in children of either sex between the ages of one and four years. The disease appears to take from four to twelve months to declare itself. There is a history of deficient breast-feeding, and the only suppleinentary food used is a preparation of maize. The lesions of the skin are extensive, well-marked and characteristic. They may be accompanied by slight cedema of the extremities. The mucous membranes are often inflamed and ulcerated, and the saliva frequently acid. In the late stages corneal ulcers are often present. The nervous system shows persistent irritability, but the reflexes are normal. The temperature is irregular and the pulse is rapid. There is no great ansenmia, and the blood shows no leucocytosis. The Wassermann reaction is negative, and no parasites are to be found in the blood except where there is associated malaria. There is a tendency to vomiting, and in chronic cases wasting may be severe. Diarrhoea occurs and becomes persistent in the later stages. The stools show undigested food, but no ova or parasites. The liver and spleen may be enlarged. The respiratory system is not necessarily affected. The urine may show a trace of albumin. Post mortem nothing characteristic is found except a very fatty, almost diffluent, liver. There may be some degeneration of the kidneys. The treatment consists in the administration of an adequate diet rich in accessory substances.