Pellagra is a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin, also called vitamin B3, and it produces inflamed skin, diarrhea, dementia, and sores in the mouth, with skin exposed to friction or sunlight typically affected first. Primary pellagra results directly from a diet lacking sufficient niacin and the amino acid tryptophan, while secondary pellagra results from the body's reduced ability to use the niacin present in an otherwise adequate diet, which can occur with conditions such as chronic alcoholism or prolonged diarrhea. Over time, untreated skin involvement can darken, stiffen, peel, or bleed.
Facts
Classification
ICD-10 ChapterIV: Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 1 Communicable or Non-communicable Transmission Route Causative Agent
Causative Agent (category) First Described Connections
Associated With
Pellagra (niacin deficiency) is a foundational example of a vitamin deficiency disease in the history this discovery entity records.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter IVQuote, List of chapters, Chapter IV
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
2. World Health Organization: Noncommunicable diseases (fact sheet)
World Health OrganizationLead section, transmission-route statement (inferred from disease-category)
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
Main Types section
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
View the Source 3. Pellagra (Wikipedia)
lead paragraphQuote, lead paragraph
Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B3).
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