Vitamin B₆/ Pyridoxine deficiency

E53.1

• Description
• General Measures
• Medicine Treatment
• Referral

DESCRIPTION

Commonly presents as signs of peripheral neuropathy including:

• tingling sensation
• burning pain or numbness of the feet

Pyridoxine deficiency is related to:

• malnutrition
• alcoholism
• isoniazid or combination TB therapy

GENERAL MEASURES

Dietary advice: Increase intake of pyridoxine rich foods such as:

• Liver, meat, fish and offal,
• Wholegrain cereals, fortified breakfast cereals,
• Peanuts, bananas, raw vegetables,
• Walnuts and seeds, avocados, dried fruits,
• Potatoes and baked beans.

MEDICINE TREATMENT

For deficiency

Children

• Pyridoxine, oral, 12.5 mg daily for 3 weeks.

Adults

• Pyridoxine, oral, 25 mg daily for 3 weeks.

For medicine-induced neuropathy

Children

• Pridoxine, oral, daily for 6 months.
  • < 5 years of age: 12.5 mg daily.
  • ≥ 5 years of age: 25 mg.

LoEIII [15]

Adults

• Pyridoxine, oral, 200 mg daily for 3 weeks.

Then follow with:

• Pyridoxine, oral, 25 mg daily as maintenance dose (for patients on TB therapy/isoniazid).

REFERRAL

• Failure to respond.
• Children.