| vitamin a deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin a in the diet, characterised by night blindness and other ocular manifestations such as dryness of the conjunctiva and later of the cornea (xerophthalmia). Vitamin a deficiency is a very common problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries as a consequence of famine or shortages of vitamin a-rich foods. In the united states it is found among the urban poor, the elderly, alcoholics, and patients with malabsorption. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| vitamin B12 deficiency | A form of anaemia (low red blood cell counts) that results when the bone marrow fails to produce adequate numbers of red blood cells due to a deficiency in vitamin B12. Intrinsic factor, necessary for normal B12 absorption, may be the underlying cause for B12 deficiency if is not produced in the gastric glands (in the stomach). (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin b 12 deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin b 12 in the diet, characterised by megaloblastic anaemia. Since vitamin b 12 is not present in plants, humans have obtained their supply from animal products, from multivitamin supplements in the form of pills, and as additives to food preparations. A wide variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities is also seen in vitamin b 12 deficiency and appears to be due to an undefined defect involving myelin synthesis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin B6 deficiency | Member of the water soluble B vitamin group. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, is active in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It is also a necessary part of haemoglobin synthesis. B6 deficiency results in retarded growth and a peripheral neuropathy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin C deficiency | A disease due to the deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Symptoms include weakness, anaemia, spongy gums and mucocutaneous bleeding (mouth ulcers). Synonym: scurvy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin D deficiency | A vitamin D deficiency disease of infancy or childhood with a disturbance of the normal process of ossification and bone growth. Often manifests with bone deformity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin e deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin e in the diet, characterised by posterior column and spinocerebellar tract abnormalities, areflexia, ophthalmoplegia, and disturbances of gait, proprioception, and vibration. In premature infants vitamin e deficiency is associated with haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytosis, oedema, intraventricular haemorrhage, and increasing risk of retrolental fibroplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. An apparent inborn error of vitamin e metabolism, named familial isolated vitamin e deficiency, has recently been identified. (cecil textbook of medicine, 19th ed, p1181) (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin k deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin k in the diet, characterised by an increased tendency to haemorrhage (haemorrhagic diathesis). Such bleeding episodes may be particularly severe in newborn infants. (12 Dec 1998) |
| aggressive infantile fibromatosis | A childhood counterpart of abdominal or extra-abdominal desmoid tumours, characterised by firm subcutaneous nodules that grow rapidly in any part of the body that invade locally and recur but do not metastasize. (05 Mar 2000) |
| autism, infantile | A syndrome beginning in infancy and characterised by a lack of responsiveness to other people, gross impairment in verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and bizarre responses to the environment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| progressive infantile spinal muscular atrophy | Transmitted as autosomal recessive on chromosome 5q. Progressive dysfunction of the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and brainstem cranial nerves with profound weakness and bulbar dysfunction occurring in the first two years of life. Three groups, based on age of clinical onset, are recognised. Synonym: familial spinal muscular atrophy, Hoffmann's muscular atrophy, infantile muscular atrophy, infantile progressive spinal muscular atrophy, progressive infantile spinal muscular atrophy, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, Werdnig-Hoffmann muscular atrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spasms, infantile | Primary generalised epileptic seizures occurring in infants between birth and twelve months of age consisting of brief synchronous contractions of the neck, torso, and both arms. These seizures often occur in infants with underlying neurologic diseases. The prognosis for these infants is grave, with approximately ninety percent developing mental retardation in addition to their seizures. The eeg has a typical hypsarrhythmia pattern. The spasms and hypsarrhythmia have a tendency to disappear over the first three to five years of life, only to be replaced by other forms of generalised seizures. Infantile spasms sometimes respond to valproic acid or acth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| supravalvar aortic stenosis-infantile hypercalcaemia syndrome | <syndrome> Supravalvar aortic stenosis associated with elfin facies, mental retardation, and hypercalcaemia; usually sporadic; perhaps an irregular dominant trait. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse infantile familial sclerosis | <radiology> Dysmyelinating disease, autosomal recessive, usually presents by 1 yr, specific enzyme deficiency identified, rapid spontaneous nystagmus, poikilothermia Synonym: Krabbe leukodystrophy (12 Dec 1998) |
| infantile | Pertaining to an infant or to infancy. Origin: L. Infantilis (18 Nov 1997) |