Laryngeal Carcinoma: Clinical Features Seen at University College Hospital, Ibadan

Southeast Asia than generally assumed, and is especially common in prisons. Difficulties in data collection make that most of these outbreaks go unpublished. The diagnosis of beri-beri is easy and entirely clinical: recognizing oedema and difficulties in walking in a prison population living exclusively on white rice should lead to a presumptive diagnosis of beri-beri. The squat test is highly suggestive for the disease. In the absence of fever, trauma, or other obvious causes, no further laboratory examinations are necessary. Treatment is cheap, simple and effective and further confirms the diagnosis. Results are immediate and applying treatment promptly will stop an epidemic of beri-beri. The objective of this article is to draw attention to this underdiagnosed illness which is more common than generally assumed. Patients suffering from beri-beri do not need to be malnourished but lives can be saved by simply thinking about the disease since effective treatment is available at low cost.