Wernicke encephalopathy - Medtick
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Wernicke encephalopathy

What is it?

Wernicke encephalopathy causes brain damage due to lack of Vitamin B1 in lower parts of the brain called the thalamus and hypothalamus.

This condition is common in alcoholics

Cause

  • Alcohol misuse
  • Malnutrition
  • Anorexia, stringent dieting and/or fasting
  • Uncontrolled vomiting
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Cancers that have spread throughout the body
  • Heart failure (when treated with long-term diuretic therapy)
  • Long periods of intravenous (IV) therapy without receiving thiamine supplements
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Pregnancy and breast feeding (pregnant person not having enough thiamine, and baby not receiving enough thiamine via breast milk respectively)

Treatments

  • Kidney dialysis
  • Weight-loss surgery

Syndromes

Vitamins, herbals and minerals

Symptoms

  • Confusion and/or impaired consciousness?
  • Balance and dizziness problems?
  • Loss of muscle coordination (ataxia) and/or uncontrolled movement and/or jerky movements?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Leg tremor?
  • Difficulty using arms and/or body and/or legs and/or lack of stamina and/or walking difficulties?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Fast pulse (heart rate) and/or rapid heart beat?
  • Low blood pressure?
  • Low body temperature and/or feeling cold?
  • Vision changes and/or double vision?
  • Nystagmus – rapid uncontrolled eye movement?
  • Eyelid drooping?
  • Symptoms similar to drunkenness?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

Korsakoff Syndrome

Korsakoff Syndrome is a chronic memory disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency.

  • Korsakoff syndrome, or Korsakoff psychosis, tends to develop as Wernicke symptoms go away.
  • Korsakoff psychosis results from permanent damage to areas of the brain involved with memory.

Symptoms:

  • Difficulty in remembering recent events (short term memory loss)
  • Long-term memory gaps
  • Problem in learning new information
  • Confabulation – make up their memory gaps with some information and believe that they are true

MedIndia

  • Uncontrolled eye movement?
  • Lack of coordination and speech?
  • Slow movement?
  • Lack of consciousness?
  • Mental confusion?
  • Loss of voice?
  • Stating events that never occurred and memory loss?

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Wernicke encephalopathy in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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