Kwashiorkor

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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 and nervous symptoms. It is due to a deficiency


     of niacin (vitamin B3; nicotinic acid) and protein in the
     diet, and may be caused by malnutrition, or, in some cases,
     by a heavy dependence on maize for food. It was at one time
     (ca. 1890) endemic in Northern Italy, and was called {Alpine
     scurvy}. It may also be caused by alcoholism or diease
     causing an impairment of nutrition. It is also called {St.
     Ignatius's itch}, {maidism}, {mal de la rosa}, {mal rosso},
     and {psychoneurosis maidica}. A variety of pellagra seen in
     children is called {infantile pellagra} or {kwashiorkor}.
     --[Stedman]
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kwashiorkor
       n : severe malnutrition in children resulting from a diet
           excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein