Symptoms of beriberi

I believe most people know about athlete's foot, and many people have suffered from it or are suffering from it now. People with athlete's foot are generally very distressed because their feet sometimes smell bad, and their feet are prone to blisters and peeling. In addition, people will also be criticized by their families for athlete's foot, but athlete's foot cannot be cured in a short time.

There are many reasons for athlete's foot. It may be caused by the non-breathable shoes we often wear, the influence of the living environment, or the invasion of bacteria. So what are the symptoms of athlete's foot? Let's introduce them in detail below.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency, also known as beriberi, is one of the common nutrient deficiency diseases. If the main symptoms are nervous system manifestations, it is called dry beriberi; if the main symptoms are heart failure, it is called wet beriberi. The former is manifested by ascending symmetrical peripheral neuritis, sensory and motor disorders, decreased muscle strength, foot drop and toe drop in some cases, and a straddle-threshold gait when walking. The latter manifests itself as weakness, fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, etc. Early diagnosis, timely prevention and treatment are the key to improving prognosis.

Vitamin B1 deficiency is a common cause of this disease: ① People who eat refined white rice or improperly wash and steam rice for a long time; ② People with chronic gastroenteritis and malabsorption; ③ People with long-term nutritional deficiencies; ④ People with chronic wasting diseases; ⑤ People with chronic alcoholism.

Symptoms of athlete's foot usually include the following:

1. Dry beriberi

It manifests as ascending symmetrical peripheral neuritis, sensory and motor disorders, decreased muscle strength, and muscle soreness, especially in the gastrocnemius muscle. Some cases develop foot drop and toe drop, and the patient walks with a straddle-threshold gait. Among the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve is the most seriously damaged, followed by the optic nerve, oculomotor nerve, etc. Severe cases may present with hemorrhagic upper polio syndrome or cerebral beriberi, characterized by nystagmus, amnesia, disorientation, ataxia, impaired consciousness, and coma. It may also coexist with Korsakoff syndrome, with severe memory and orientation disorders.

2. Wet beriberi

Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Patients with right heart failure may experience anorexia, nausea, vomiting, oliguria and peripheral edema. Positive signs on physical examination are mostly manifestations of high systemic venous pressure. The pulse rate is rapid but rarely exceeds 120 beats/minute, the blood pressure is low, but the pulse pressure difference is increased, and gunshot sounds can be heard in the peripheral arteries. The relative dullness of the heart on percussion may be normal or slightly to severely enlarged. There is an S3 gallop rhythm at the apex, a mid-systolic murmur in the precordial area, moist rales at both lung bases, and signs of hepatomegaly, pleural effusion, peritoneal effusion, and pericardial effusion may be found.

3. Acute fulminant cardiovascular beriberi

It manifests as acute circulatory failure, shortness of breath and irritability, low blood pressure, severe peripheral cyanosis, rapid heart rate, significant heart enlargement, and distended jugular veins. Patients may die from acute heart failure within hours or days.

When suffering from athlete's foot, in addition to medication, we can increase the intake of vitamin B1 through food. Only when vitamin B1 is sufficient can our athlete's foot be substantially improved. Taking medicine alone can only prevent the recurrence of athlete's foot, but cannot cure it fundamentally. In addition to dietary intake, if conditions permit, you can also take vitamin B1 solution orally.