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hypervitaminosis A
Excessive ingestion of vitamin A
Etiology:
- excessive vitamin A supplementation
- usual dietary practices, i.e. diet largely of polar bear liver
Clinical manifestations:
- abnormal softening of the skull (infants & children)
- blurred vision
- bone pain
- migratory arthritis
- bulging fontanelle (infants)
- decreased consciousness
- decreased appetite
- dizziness
- blurred vision, diplopia (young children)
- drowsiness
- fatigue
- headache
- impotence
- increased intracranial pressure
- irritability
- seizures
- nausea, vomiting
- osteoporosis
- growth retardation (infants & children)
- skin peeling, pruritus
- yellow discoloration of the skin
- angular cheilitis
- alopecia
- photosensitivity
- seborrhea
- gynecomastia
Laboratory:
- serum vitamin A is high
- serum calcium may show hypercalcemia
- serum creatinine may be elevated with renal disease
- serum cholesterol may be elevated
Management:
- elimination of the source of excess vitamin A
- most patients fully recover
Related
vitamin A
General
hypervitaminosis
toxicity; poisoning; overdose
References
- Google Health: hypervitaminosis A
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Hypervitaminosis+A
- Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition
Parada JT et al (eds)
American Geriatrics Society, 2010