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- What is beri beri?
- Symptoms of beri beri
- Causes of beri beri
- Prevention of beri beri
- Risk factors for beri beri
- Complications of beri beri
- When to see a doctor about beri beri
- Diagnosis of beri beri
- Conventional treatment of beri beri
- Alternative/complementary treatment of beri beri
- Living with beri beri
- Caring for someone with beri beri
People who are living with beri beri, can help improve their condition with the following strategies:
- Baby formula - mothers who are feeding their baby with baby formula need to ensure that it contains adequate levels of not just vitamin B1 (thiamin), but also all the other vitamins, minerals and amino acids to ensure their baby is not going to be at risk of infantile beri beri or any other nutritional deficiency
- Breastfeeding - mothers who are breastfeeding their baby need to make sure they are getting adequate levels of vitamin B1 (thiamin) in their diet to ensure their baby does not develop infantile beri beri (or any other nutritional deficiency)
- Healthy diet - while you can get supplements with all the appropriate vitamins, minerals and amino acids, it does not replace a healthy diet. You must make sure that you have a healthy diet, which includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables each day, legumes (chickpeas, beans, soya), wholegrains, nuts and seeds, some low fat dairy, fish 2-3 times a week and some red meat 2-3 times a week, to help prevent any other nutritional deficiencies
- Heart medication and/or surgery - people who have very severe beri beri that has been undiagnosed for a long time, may develop heart failure which requires heart surgery and/or heart medications to prevent death. Your doctor will advise you on the type of medication you need to take and if surgery is an option for you. You will also need to see your doctor regularly to have tests and monitor your condition
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- Limit alcohol - excessive alcohol intake is associated with increased risk of beri beri as most of the vitamins and minerals in the food you eat (if you do eat properly) will usually be excreted through the urine and this means you are not absorbing enough for good health and beri beri will not be the only nutritional deficiency you will develop. If you drink a lot of alcohol, you must decrease your intake to avoid complications of beri beri, including paralysis, coma and death
- Pain medication - some people may have permanent peripheral nerve problems in their extremities (hands and/or feet), which will require pain medication to help manage the pain that is associated with these types of continuing symptoms. Pain medications will normally be prescribed at low dosage and can include: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-depressants, anti-convulsants
- Regularly consult a doctor - you will need to visit your doctor on a regular basis, especially if you are receiving intravenous injections of vitamin B1 (thiamin), which your doctor (or nurse) will administer on a regular basis. Your doctor may allow you or your partner/family member to administer those injections instead. If your condition is not so serious, you may be recommended to take vitamin B1 (thiamin) supplements with or without the other B vitamins and this depends on the results of the initial blood test. In addition to this, you will need to have follow-up blood test(s) to determine if your treatment has been successful and further follow-up, as required
- Vitamin B1 supplements - your doctor will recommend you have either intravenous injections, oral supplements (tablets) or a combination of both to treat your condition. You must continue with treatment to prevent worsening of symptoms or any further complications of your condition
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< 10: alternative treatment 12: caregiving > Last reviewed: 3 January 2009 || Last updated: 21 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
