Pel·la·gra n.  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]

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 mal rosso
      n : 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, maidism, mayidism, Saint Ignatius' itch]