Beriberi: meaning, definitions and examples

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beriberi

 

[ หŒberษ™หˆberฤ“ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical condition

Beriberi is a disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1). It primarily affects the cardiovascular and nervous systems, leading to symptoms such as weakness, pain, and swelling. There are two main forms of beriberi: wet beriberi, which affects the cardiovascular system, and dry beriberi, which impacts the nervous system. It is most commonly found in regions where polished rice is a staple food and thiamine is lacking in the diet. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for recovery.

Synonyms

B1 deficiency, thiamine deficiency

Examples of usage

  • She developed beriberi due to malnutrition.
  • Wet beriberi can lead to heart failure.
  • Dry beriberi often causes severe neurological symptoms.

Translations

Translations of the word "beriberi" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น beribรฉri

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅ‡เคฐเคฟเคฌเฅ‡เคฐเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะตั€ะธะฑะตั€ั–

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่„šๆฐ—

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท bรฉribรฉri

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ๊ธฐ๋ณ‘

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุฑูŠ ุจุฑูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่„šๆฐ”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะตั€ะธะฑะตั€ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜แƒ‘แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ beriberi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ beriberi

Etymology

The term 'beriberi' originates from the Sinhalese word 'beri beri', which means 'I cannot, I am unable'. This reflects the physical debilitation experienced by those suffering from the condition. The disease was first described in the early 19th century, particularly among subjects in colonial regions where rice was a primary food source. In 1884, the Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman noted that birds fed polished rice exhibited symptoms similar to beriberi in humans. This observation led to the eventual identification of thiamine as the critical vitamin whose deficiency causes the disease. Over the years, the understanding of beriberi has evolved, highlighting its role as a major public health issue in several regions of the world, particularly in areas with poor nutrition and low dietary variety.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,947, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.