pellagra

American  

[puh-lag-ruh, -ley-gruh, -lah-] / pəˈlæg rə, -ˈleɪ grə, -ˈlɑ- /

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin changes, severe nerve dysfunction, mental symptoms, and diarrhea.

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pellagra British  

/ -ˈlæ-, pəˈleɪɡrə /

noun

1. pathol a disease caused by a dietary deficiency of nicotinic acid, characterized by burning or itching often followed by scaling of the skin, inflammation of the mouth, diarrhoea, mental impairment, etc

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pellagra Scientific  

/ pə-lăg′rə,-lā′grə /

1. A disease caused by a lack of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin and digestive disorders and mental deterioration.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pellagrous
  adjective
• pellagrose
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pellagra

1805–15; < Italian < New Latin: skin disease, equivalent to pell ( is ) skin + -agra < Greek ágra seizure

Example Sentences

Pellagra causes the classic "4 D's": dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2021

Pellagra, for example, did not exist in Eastern Europe until the 18th century, centuries after vampire beliefs had originally emerged.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2021

Pellagra is a slow but usually progressive disease occurring chiefly in Italy, due, it is thought, to the continued ingestion of decomposed or fermented maize.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman

Pellagra still resists the efforts of the vitamine hypothesis to bend it to that theory and its etiology is still obscure.

From The Vitamine Manual by Eddy, Walter H.

GOLDBERGER, J.: Pellagra, causation and a method of prevention.

From The Vitamine Manual by Eddy, Walter H.