Studies on Beriberi in an Endemic Sub-Tropical Area

Abstract

A clinical beriberi survey was undertaken in the Province of Bataan, Philippines, a sub-tropical area with endemic beriberi. The clinical survey included “fasting hour” urinary thiamine analysis. The population surveyed consisted of 11 to 64% of the total population in each of 9 of the 12 municipalities of the Province. A total of 12,384 persons were examined and 1,580 cases of frank or suspected beriberi were found, corresponding to 12.7% of the population. Frank beriberi occurred in 1.99%. Beriberi is found in descending order of frequency in “expectant mothers,” “nursing mothers,” “other adults,” “infants,” and “children.” However, the reported mortality from beriberi is highest in infants and then in “other adults,” there being no deaths of expectant mothers and only a very small number among nursing mothers. Discussion is presented of the frequency of signs and symptoms of clinical beriberi, of the limited usefulness of the so-called “fasting hour” urinary thiamine excretion test, and of the dietary practices of rice-eaters in Bataan.