Pellagra

Question 1

What is pellagra?

Answer 1

A nutritional disorder caused by deficiency of nicotinic acid (niacin).

Question 2

What are the classical clinical features of pellagra?

Answer 2

The 4 Ds: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death.

Question 3

How does the skin appear in pellagra?

Answer 3

Hyperpigmented, scaly lesions, often photo-distributed.

Question 4

Which areas of the body are commonly affected in pellagra?

Answer 4

V of the neck (Casal’s necklace), back of hands, and upper back.

Question 5

How is pellagra treated?

Answer 5

Dietary supplementation with niacin or nicotinamide.