1. A disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin); characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances and erythema and nervous or mental disorders; may be caused by malnutrition or alcoholism or other nutritional impairments
   "mal de la rosa was common in populations with corn-based diets lacking niacin"; "mal rosso was common in populations with corn-based diets lacking niacin";
   - pellagra, mal de la rosa, maidism, mayidism, Saint Ignatius' itch

1. Bad, badly

1. A seizure of short duration characterized by momentary unconsciousness and local muscle spasms or twitching
   "the girl was frightened by her first petit mal";
   - epilepsia minor

1. Epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities)
   "she has been suffering from petit mal epilepsy since childhood";
   - petit mal, epilepsia minor

1. Motion sickness experienced while travelling on water
   "Many passengers suffered from mal de mer during the rough ferry crossing";
   - seasickness, naupathia

1. Epilepsy in which the attacks involve loss of consciousness and tonic spasms of the musculature followed by generalized jerking
   "The patient was diagnosed with grand mal epilepsy after experiencing a severe seizure";
   - grand mal, generalized epilepsy, epilepsia major, generalised epilepsy [Brit]

1. A seizure during which the patient becomes unconscious and has convulsions over the entire body
   "The patient experienced a grand mal that lasted for several minutes";
   - generalized seizure, epilepsia major, generalised seizure [Brit]

Type of: avitaminosis, epilepsy, epileptic seizure, hypovitaminosis, kinetosis, motion sickness

Encyclopedia: Grand mal epilepsy