infantile neurosis with night crying and convulsions
Traditional Chinese medicine term for a childhood disorder marked by nighttime crying and convulsions. Rare in modern medical contexts.
In the past, babies who cried a lot at night were called 'kan no mushi' (literally, 'kan worm').
Used in expressions like 疳に障る (to get on one's nerves) or 疳が強い (short-tempered). Often written in kana.
See also: 癇
His way of speaking got on my nerves.
That child has a short temper and gets angry quickly.
convulsions in a child; nervousness; short-temperedness · bug thought to cause children's diseases
The kanji 疳 is a Chinese medical character originally referring to a childhood wasting disease. The temper sense likely developed from the association with irritability in sick children. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.