A field study of lathyrism--some clinical aspects
Attal, H.C.; Kulkarni, S.W.; Choubey, B.S.; Palkar, N.D.; Deotale, P.G.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 67: 608-615
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 680903 Document Number: 137746
In Amgaon block, Maharashtra, India, lathyrism was reported first in June 1975. The present study began in late June 1975 and continues. Main crops are rice in the Kharif season and wheat, lathyrus [Lathyrus sativa] and other crops in the rabi season. There has been low rainfall since 1971 and during a drought in 1974 poverty and lack of food forced people to eat lathyrus seed in large amounts and sometimes as the only staple. In a house-to-house survey, of 50 villages 21 were affected; 10 of those were studied in detail. Among the 10 the incidence of lathyrism ranged from 1 or 2 cases in 1 family from each of 4 villages of population 117 to 1696 persons, to 39 cases in 11 families in 1 village of population 964 persons, overall total was 136 cases in 43 families, populations 7200. In only one instance were all 4 members of a family affected, though members had similar diet patterns and lathyrus intake. More males than females had lathyrism, and more males 10 to 20 years old than those of other ages. Among females, there were more under 10 years old and between 40 and 50 years old than at other ages, but cases were distributed equally between those before, during and after the reproductive stage. Among females 87.8% had early stages of the disorder. Only 1, a woman 40 to 50 years old, had reached the "two-stick" stage of severity and there was no one-stick woman, though there were 14 one-stick men, 6 two-stick men and 1 crawler man who was 30 to 40 years old, the most severe grade. Physical labour was a precipitating factor in 29.5% of cases of acute or subacute onset. Details of signs and their duration are given. The disorder occurred mainly after lathyrus seed had been eaten as the main or only food for 2 to 4 months. Results of aminograms of urine by paper chromatography and of electromyographic study on a few persons were inconclusive.