Saint Ignatius' itch
- noun
- /seɪnt ɪɡˈneɪʃəs ɪtʃ/
- Archaic
:
picazón de San Ignacio
- Gastrointestinal issues and skin lesions are classic symptoms of Saint Ignatius' itch.
Examples
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Doctors in the early twentieth century often referred to pellagra as Saint Ignatius' itch.
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Chronic alcoholism can result in Saint Ignatius' itch due to poor nutritional intake.
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He was diagnosed with Saint Ignatius' itch last week.
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Many people suffer from Saint Ignatius' itches in poor nutritional conditions.
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Doctors in the early twentieth century often referred to pellagra as Saint Ignatius' itch.
-
Gastrointestinal issues and skin lesions are classic symptoms of Saint Ignatius' itch.
-
Chronic alcoholism can result in Saint Ignatius' itch due to poor nutritional intake.
Synonyms
3
9.9
A disease from not having enough vitamin B3 that causes skin, stomach, and mental problems
A disease from lack of vitamin B3 that causes skin sores, stomach pain, and mental problems
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although the component 'itch' signals a skin complaint, the proper-name 'Saint Ignatius' is an opaque historical/eponymous label that does not indicate the specific disease (pellagra) or its nutritional cause; a B1 learner knowing the words would at best infer a saint‑related skin problem but not the clinical diagnosis or etiology. Because the key information (niacin/tryptophan deficiency → pellagra) is not derivable from the parts and relies on cultural/historical knowledge, the expression is unpredictable to learners.
Etymology
Saint Ignatius' itch may come from people who prayed to Saint Ignatius when they had a very itchy skin illness, so the sickness became linked to his name. Because the disease causes strong skin irritation and other problems, the phrase came to mean 'pellagra'.