Category: Endemic diseases

First identified in China during the 1930s, Keshan disease is a congestive cardiomyopathy primarily caused by a critical dietary deficiency of the trace mineral selenium, often amplified by viral co-factors. The condition is endemic to specific regions with selenium-poor soil, affecting vulnerable populations like children and women of childbearing age.

In regions with low soil selenium content, the risk of a rare and severe form of heart disease significantly increases. It is this mineral deficiency that causes Keshan disease, an endemic congestive cardiomyopathy, though other factors are often involved.

First discovered in China in 1935, Keshan disease is a serious form of endemic cardiomyopathy with historical mortality rates over 98% in some outbreaks, primarily linked to severe dietary selenium deficiency and viral co-factors. However, widespread selenium supplementation has dramatically reduced its incidence, shifting the primary clinical concern from acute fatalities to managing chronic and latent cases.

Keshan disease, once a fatal endemic cardiomyopathy with alarmingly high mortality rates in parts of China, is treated primarily with selenium supplementation and supportive medical therapy, strategies that have dramatically improved patient prognosis and reduced disease incidence.

Historically, severe selenium deficiency was first recognized through devastating endemic diseases in regions with selenium-poor soil, such as certain areas of China. The most notable disease caused by lack of selenium is Keshan disease, a viral cardiomyopathy, which highlights the critical role of this trace mineral in human health. While rare in most Western countries, these conditions demonstrate the profound impact of micronutrient deficiencies.