Saint Ignatius' Itch (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with Saint Ignatius' itch, a condition caused by a severe niacin deficiency due to years of malnutrition.
- Pellagra, also known as Saint Ignatius' itch, is a disease that affects people who do not consume enough niacin-rich foods in their diet.
- After years of struggling with alcoholism, the man was hospitalized with Saint Ignatius' itch, a condition that left him with severe skin lesions and neurological problems.
- The doctor suspected that the patient's symptoms, including diarrhea and dermatitis, were caused by Saint Ignatius' itch, a disease often linked to malnutrition.
- Saint Ignatius' itch is a treatable condition, but if left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including death, as seen in many cases of severe niacin deficiency.