beriberi; thiamine deficiency
Medical term for a disease caused by severe vitamin B1 deficiency, historically common in East Asia.
In the Edo period, beriberi was common among people whose staple food was white rice.
Beriberi is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1.
infantile beriberi
Standard kanji spelling for the disease beriberi.
Kana spelling is common in medical contexts and for clarity.
From Chinese 腳氣 (jiǎoqì), literally 'leg qi', referring to the leg weakness and swelling characteristic of the disease.