Title An Outbreak of Peripheral Neuropathy in a Prison.
Author Tiamkao, Somsak; Boonsong, Anuwat; Saepeung, Kamol; Kasemsap, Narongrit; Apiwattanakul, Metha; Suanprasert, Narupat; Hemachudha, Thiravat; Pithak, Prakai; Juntee, Kittiphit; Waisaen, Chamnan; Madha, Supat; Buathong, Rome; Sawanyawisuth, Kittisak
Journal Case Rep Neurol Publication Year/Month 2019-Jan-Apr
PMID 31543786 PMCID PMC6739697
Affiliation + expend 1.Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Integrated Epilepsy Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Prisoners are at risk for both physical and psychological diseases. Here, we report an outbreak of peripheral neuropathy in a prison in northeast Thailand. Between July and December 2014, there were 88 male prisoners at Bueng Kan Provincial Prison in Bueng Kan, Thailand suffering from peripheral neuropathy out of a total of 1,464 prisoners (6.01%). The common age range was 20-39 years (58 patients; 65.91%). The three most common features were hyporeflexia/areflexia of the lower extremities (36 patients; 83.72%). On laboratory vitamin B1 deficiency was detected in 4/5 patients, positive rhinovirus polymerase chain reaction in 3/4 patients, positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM in 1/12 patients, and positive urinary arsenic in 4/7 patients. A dT vaccination was given on October 14 during the outbreak. This was a large outbreak of peripheral neuropathy in male prisoners. There are several possible causes of this outbreak including vitamin B1 deficiency, dT vaccination, arsenic toxicity, rhinovirus, and Mycoplasma infection.

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