Polyneuropathy of probable nutritional origin in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika

1) Thirty-one cases of presumably nutritional polyneuropathy were seen in 18 months in the Muhimbili Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam (an incidence of 1.5 per cent. of admissions). 2) One group had ataxia as the main symptom. Another group consisted of nine prisoners and a third had mixed motor and sensory symptoms. The clinical features, diet, special investigations, treatment and progress of these patients are described. A simple bed-side clinical test for thiamine deficiency was investigated. 3) Most of them improved on vitamin B complex tablets. Some (9) improved on thiamine alone—two spectacularly. There is strong circumstantial evidence that thiamine was a predominant deficiency in many of these patients.