English disease

English disease

English disease

MEDSPEAK-UK

Definition A generic term for any of a number of conditions which are said to occur more commonly in the English or British.*

*Non-Britishers–especially geographically challenged Americans–may mistakenly regard England and Britain as synonyms, which they clearly are not, given that (Great) Britain also includes the other nations of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The flag of Great Britain is the Union Jack (image). England’s banner is St George’s Cross, a red cross on a white background. Per a survey by The Telegraph, many English regard the Cross as racist and identify more with the Union Jack. 

Synonym English malady

Reference http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9217620/St-Georges-flag-is-a-racist-symbol-says-a-quarter-of-the-English.html

English diseases

• Depression (linked to relative lack of sunshine (BMJ 2009;339:b4391)

• Football (soccer) holliganism

• Hypochondriasis  

• Madness/insanity/eccentricity 

• Rickets (possibly linked to the paucity of sunlight) 

• Syphilis

• Sweating sickness (sudor anglicus); occurred in an epidemic in the early 1500s; attributed to a hantavirus

• Whingeing (pronounced, WINJ ing, BMJ,1976, 2,1185-1186)