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ORPHA:97352Disease
What it is
Pellagra is a nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency in niacin (vitamin B3) or its precursor (tryptophan) that is mainly observed in Asia and Africa where it is generally due to poor nutrition. It is characterized by dermatitis (symmetrical photodistributed erythema that may be accompanied by vesicles and bullae, and that develops into hyperkeratotic and hyperpigmented skin), gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea), and neuropsychiatric disorders (dementia). It can be life-threatening without a correct management.
Key facts
- Classified as
- Disease
Signs and symptoms
Common30–79%
27- Abnormal blistering of the skin
- Cachexia
- Cheilitis
- Cognitive impairment
- Cutaneous photosensitivity
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Depression
- Dry skin
- Dysphagia
- Fatigue
- Gastritis
- Glossitis
- Hallucinations
- Headache
- Hyperkeratosis
- Irregular hyperpigmentation
- Macroglossia
- Malabsorption
- Malnutrition
- Nausea
- Pain
- Poor appetite
- Schizophrenia
- Skin rash
- Stomatitis
- Vomiting
Sometimes5–29%
15- Achlorhydria
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Diminished ability to concentrate
- Emotional lability
- Livedo reticularis
- Malar rash
and 7 more in this range
These ranges are how often a sign appears across everyone diagnosed, not a prediction for one person — most people have some of these and not others. Orphanet also records findings that are specifically absent in this disease; those are in the data but not listed here.
ICD-10 codes
Related health topics
Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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