saint ignatius' itch

1 definition found

saint ignatius' itch - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Saint Ignatius' itch
      n 1: a disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or
           by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to
           niacin); characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances and
           erythema and nervous or mental disorders; may be caused by
           malnutrition or alcoholism or other nutritional impairments
           [syn: pellagra, Alpine scurvy, mal de la rosa, mal rosso
           , maidism, mayidism, Saint Ignatius' itch]