Keshan disease due to selenium deficiency (Q94473): Difference between revisions

Keshan disease is an endemic condition in children aged 2–10 years and women of childbearing age living in areas from Northeast and Southwest China. Typical manifestations are fatigue after even mild exercise, cardiac arrhythmia and palpitations, loss of appetite, cardiac insufficiency, cardiomegaly, and congestive heart failure. Pathological changes include a multifocal myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. The coronary arteries are essentially unaffected. The disease has a marked seasonal fluctuation in incidence and may appear after only 3 months exposure to conditions in localities known to be associated with a high risk of myocarditis. Once the disease is established, selenium is of little or no therapeutic value. However, prophylaxis consisting of oral administration of selenium 3 months before the periods of highest anticipated risk is highly effective.