Chlorosis (medicine)

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This article is about a human pathology. For the (different) plant pathology of the same name, see chlorosis (plant disorder).

In pathology, chlorosis (also termed an antiquated "greensickness") is a form of anemia named for the greenish tinge of the skin of a patient. Its symptoms included lack of energy, shortness of breath, dyspepsia, headaches, and capricious or scanty appetite. Chlorotic girls tend to lose weight due to poor eating while eating a lot of meat. Today this disease is diagnosed as iron-deficiency anemia. (Joan Brumberg, The appetite as a voice, pgs. 164-165). An excellent source of information regarding the history of this condition and other related conditions is Disease of Virgins; Green Sickness, Chlorosis and the Problems of Puberty by Helen King.