Deficiency diseases often result from an inadequate diet, but they can also be caused by metabolic disorders, such as pernicious anemia (which is caused by inadequate absorption of vitamin B12); intestinal disorders; overexcretion of the substance in the urine, feces, or by vomiting; the presence of a parasite, for example, a hookworm or tapeworm; or by a prolonged illness.
The most common deficiency diseases are those caused by a lack of vitamins or minerals.
They include:
- Anemia (lack of iron);
- Scurvy (lack of vitamin C);
- Beriberi (lack of vitamin Bi);
- Night blindness (lack of vitamin A);
- Rickets and osteomalacia (lack of vitamin D);
- Goiter (lack of iodine).
Some symptoms of deficiency diseases?
Scurvy may cause bleeding from the gums.Vitamin B deficiencies can cause cracking at the corners of the mouth and a magenta-colored tongue.
Vitamin D deficiency can, when it is severe, result in rickets and body deformities involving long bones.
Deficiency diseases treatment
In most cases the Deficiency diseases are treated by a special diet that is rich in foods that restore the deficient substance. The diet is sometimes supplemented with vitamin tablets or specific drugs.
