NCJ Number
50455
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF A GROUP OF CHILDREN WITH SUBCLINICAL PELLAGRA IS CONTRASTED WITH THE UNSUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF A GROUP OF PRISONERS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT INMATES WELCOME ILLNESS, AND DISCIPLINE MUST BE FIRM.
Abstract
INMATES AT THE PRINCE ALBERT PENITENTIARY IN CANADA AND CHILDREN AT THE PRINCE ALBERT INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL WERE TREATED FOR SUBCLINICAL PELLAGRA, A CENTRAL NERVOUS ALLERGY CHARACTERIZED BY PERCEPTUAL DYSFUNCTION INVOLVING ALL THE SENSES. INMATES AND CHILDREN REPORTED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS; SORE THROAT, SORE BACK, NAUSEA, HEADACHE, AND JOINT PAINS. THE CHILDREN, HOWEVER, ADMITTED EXPERIENCING PERCEPTUAL DYSFUNCTIONS WHILE THE INMATES DID NOT. VITAMIN B DEFICIENCY IS COMMON TO INSTITUTIONAL DIETS OF REFINED CARBOHYDRATES, FLOUR, SUGAR, AND STARCH, SO THE TREATMENT PRESCRIBED WAS VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN REPORTING ILL STEADILY DECREASED. THE PRISONERS, HOWEVER, REQUESTED FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AT THE DOWNTOWN HOSPITAL. THEY WOULD NOT ADMIT TO PERCEPTUAL DISORDERS AND BECAME QUITE ANGRY WHEN VITAMIN DEFICIENCY WAS SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THEIR PAIN. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUAL DYSFUNCTION, HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, AND A GENERAL FEELING OF MALAISE IS DETAILED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PENITENTIARIES GIVE PERCEPTION TESTS TO INMATES AND INSIST UPON COMPLIANCE WITH VITAMIN THERAPY IF IT IS INDICATED. CHANGES IN DIET AND EXERCISE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDED. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES SAMPLE DIETS WHICH ARE LOW IN SUGAR AND HIGH IN PROTEIN, VEGETABLES, AND FRUIT. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)