Canities and Alopecia in Children Associated with Avitaminosis

The document discusses the severe hair disturbances observed in infants and young children with avitaminosis at the Hospital San Juan de Dios in Costa Rica over the past three years. These disturbances are linked to severe vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin A deficiency, pellagra, riboflavin deficiency, nutritional edemas, and beriberi. Such extreme cases are not typically seen in the United States, highlighting the difference in nutritional deficiency reactions between regions. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding these severe reactions to better comprehend subclinical nutritional deficiencies.