Pellagra

Pellagra
A syndrome due to deficiency of niacin, one of the B-complex vitamins. Pellagra was known as the "disease of the four D's" — dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death. The disease is specifically characterized by: Dermatitis: A rash on areas of the skin exposed to light or trauma, typically developing in spring or summer Diarrhea Dementia: Mental disorientation, confusion, delusions and depression Death, if untreated. Pellagra also commonly features ulcerations within the mouth (glossitis), nausea and vomiting. It can also cause seizures and balance disorder (ataxia). Pellagra, once a puzzle, was solved by Joseph Goldberger (1874-1929). Serving in the Public Health Service, Dr. Goldberger proposed that pellagra was due to a nutritional deficiency and in 1915 began experiments with Mississippi prison inmates (who "volunteered" in return for full pardons). Dr. Goldberger fed them a poor diet he believed caused pellagra and within months, many developed the disease. Their symptoms of pellagra were reversed when meat, fresh vegetables and milk were added to their diet. Niacin, he subsequently showed, was the principle that had this remarkable effect. A readily-available B vitamin, niacin cures pellagra and prevents it. The name "pellagra" comes from the Italian "pelle", skin + "agra", rough = rough skin, referring to the skin problems in pellagra.
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An affection characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances, erythema (particularly of exposed areas) followed by desquamation, and nervous and mental disorders; may occur because of a poor diet, alcoholism, or some other disease causing impairment of nutrition; commonly seen when corn (maize) is a main nutrient in the diet, resulting in a deficiency of niacin. SYN: Alpine scurvy, maidism, mal de la rosa, mal rosso, mayidism, psychoneurosis maidica, Saint Ignatius itch. [It. pelle, skin, + agra, rough]
- secondary p. p. resulting from any morbid condition that impairs nutrition by increasing the requirement or reducing the available supply of vitamins.
- p. sine p. p. without the characteristic skin lesions.

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pel·la·gra pə-'lag-rə, -'lāg-, -'läg- n a disease marked by dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, mental disturbance, and memory loss and associated with a diet deficient in niacin and protein compare KWASHIORKOR

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n.
a nutritional disease due to a deficiency of nicotinic acid (a B vitamin). Pellagra results from the consumption of a diet that is poor in either nicotinic acid or the amino acid tryptophan, from which nicotinic acid can be synthesized in the body. It is common in maize-eating communities. The symptoms of pellagra are scaly dermatitis on exposed surfaces, diarrhoea, and depression.

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pel·lag·ra (pə-lagґrə) [It. pelle skin + agra rough] a clinical deficiency syndrome due to deficiency of niacin (or failure to convert tryptophan to niacin) and characterized by dermatitis, inflammation of mucous membranes, diarrhea, and psychic disturbances. The dermatitis occurs on the portions of the body exposed to light or trauma. Mental symptoms include depression, irritability, anxiety, confusion, disorientation, delusions, and hallucinations. pellagral, pellagrous adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pellagra — Classification and external resources Pellagra sufferer with skin lesions ICD 10 E …   Wikipedia

  • Pellagra — Pel la*gra (p[e^]l l[.a]*gr[.a]), n. [It. pelle skin + agro rough.] (Med.) An affection of the skin, characterized by redness, especially in exposed areas, scaling and shedding of the skin, and accompanied with severe gastrointestinal disturbance …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pellăgra — (gr., Mala rosa, Mailändische Rose), ein in Oberitalien, vorzüglich zur Frühlingszeit, unter der ärmeren Volksklasse u. unter den Landleuten endemisch herrschendes aussatzartiges Hautleiden; erscheint zuerst nach mancherlei Vorläufern im Frühjahr …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Pellăgra — (lat. pellisagra, rauhe Haut, Maïdismus, ital. Mal rosso, lombardischer oder mailändischer Aussatz, auch mailändische Rose), eigentümliche Krankheit in Oberitalien, besonders um Padua herum, in Südtirol, in Südfrankreich und einigen Gegenden… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Pellagra — Pellāgra (ital.), mailänd. Rose, lombard. Aussatz, bes. in Oberitalien endemische Hautkrankheit, chronische Hautentzündung, begleitet von Verdauungsstörungen und Nervenleiden, kehrt jedes Frühjahr verstärkt wieder, führt zwischen dem 3. und 7.… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Pellagra — Pellagra, Mal rosso, der lombardische Aussatz, endemische Krankheit Oberitaliens, auch in Südfrankreich, befällt hauptsächlich Landleute, die viel im Freien in der Sonne arbeiten, u. beginnt mit einer rothlaufartigen Entzündung der Haut, die sich …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Pellagra — ⇒ Niacinamid …   Deutsch wörterbuch der biologie

  • pellagra — chronic disease caused by dietary deficiency and characterized by skin eruptions, 1811, a hybrid formed from L. pellis skin (see FILM (Cf. film)) + Gk. agra a catching, seizure …   Etymology dictionary

  • pellagra — ► NOUN ▪ a disease characterized by dermatitis, diarrhoea, and mental disturbance, caused by a dietary deficiency. ORIGIN Italian, from pelle skin …   English terms dictionary

  • pellagra — [pə lā′grə, pəlag′rə] n. [It < pelle (L pellis), the skin + agra < Gr agra, seizure, akin to agein: see ACT1] a chronic disease caused by a deficiency of nicotinic acid in the diet and characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances, skin… …   English World dictionary

  • Pellagra — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 E52 Niazinmangel Pellagra …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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