Cirrhosis in children from peanut meal contaminated by aflatoxin

Abstract

Children suffering from varying degrees of protein-calorie malnutrition had accidentally consumed aflatoxin-contaminated, low fat, commercially produced peanut protein flour for periods ranging from 5 days to 4 weeks. The hepatic lesions showed a gradual transition from an increase in central and periportal fat to fibrosis and cirrhosis, which does not usually occur in treated kwashiorkor. The lesions are identical to Indian childhood cirrhosis.