Topical management of skin lesions with emollients may reduce discomfort. Avoid sun exposure during active phase of the disease. Close dietary follow-up of the patient upon recovery helps prevent recurrence of pellagra. Dermatitis of pellagra can be distressing and disfiguring. Denudation of the vesiculated and blistered skin lesions potentially can become secondarily infected.
Severe glossitis causes dysphagia.
GI involvement leads to a malabsorptive state. Depression, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, and coma are the neuropsychiatric complications observed among patients with pellagra. The malnourished state associated with pellagra results in death if untreated. If pellagra is diagnosed and treated appropriately, the prognosis for recovery is excellent. Benchmark Papers in Biochemistry.