Medical Terms

A
albuminaturia - excessive amounts of albumin proteins (a simple protein) in the urine.
ALT - alanine aminotransferase.
antipyretic - antifebrile:  an agent that reduces fever.
apnea - absence of breathing; inhibition of breathing while swallowing, etc.
asthenia -
AST - aspartate aminotransferase.
ataxia - loss of muscular coordination for voluntary movement.
attenuated - weakened, as in, a weakened virus or one which is no longer pathogenic.  A common way to create an attenuated virus is to introduce it into a nonnatural host.

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B
bradycardia - slowness of the heartbeat; usually (for an adult) under 60 beats per minute.
bradysphygmia - slowness of the pulse.  Can occur without bradycardia (heartbeat might not produce a detectable pulse).
BSE - bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

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C
cerebellar ataxia - loss of muscular coordination because of infection in the cerebellum.
conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane which lines the inner surface of the eyelid and the front part of the eyeball.
contagious - communicable or transmissable by direct contact, either with the sick or with their secretions or excretions.

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D
defervesce - abatement of fever.
diascopy - the examination of skin lesions by pressing a flat glass plate against the lesion (to see, for example, if the lesion will blanch).

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E
ecchymosis - a purplish patch (larger than petechiae) caused by blood being exuded into the skin.
edema - swelling, or the accumulation of excessive amounts of watery fluid.
effusions - fluid escaping from blood vessels or lymphatics, and which collects in tissues or a cavity.
ELISA - enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays.
encephalopathy - any disease of the brain.
enteritis - inflammation of the intestine.
eosinophilia - a condition in which there are organisms in the pulmonary system; the organisms can usually be seen on a chest x-ray.
epistaxis - profuse nasal hemorrhage.
erythema nodosum - knotlike or nodular lesions in the skin.
exudations - the oozing of fluid or pus, which can then become crusty or scabbed as a result of infection.

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F
Faget's sign - a slow pulse with an elevated temperature.
febrile - feverish.
figurate erythemas - inflammatory (usually red) lesions in the skin.

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H
hemorrhagic diathesis - a tendancy toward spontaneous bleeding or abnormal bleeding from trivial trauma, such as from a needle puncture.
hyperesthesia - abnormal acuteness of sensitivity to touch, pain, or other stimuli.
hypertension - high blood pressure.

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I
iatrogenic - an unfavorable response to medicine or surgery, brought on by the medicine or surgery itself.
IFA - indirect fluorescent antibody technique.
infectious - transmitted by infection, with or without actual contact.
interstitial - relating to spaces within a tissue or organ, but not relating to the cavities or lumen of organs (such as the stomach cavity).

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L
leukocytosis - an abnormally large number of leukocytes--white blood cell count of 10,000 or more per cubic mm.  
lymphadenopathy - infection of the lymph nodes.
lymphopenia - reduced number of lymphocytes in the circulating blood.

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M
melena - the passing of dark, tarry stools, due to blood in the intestines;  the blood is discolored by intestinal juices.
metrorrhagia - abnormal or acyclic bleeding from the uterus.
morbilus - relating to measles.
myalgia - muscular pain.
myelitis - inflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow.

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N
neutrophilia - increased number of neutrophilic leukocytes in blood or tissues.

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O
odaxesmus - a biting sensation; a form of paresthesia (an abnormal burning, tingling, biting, etc. sensation).
osteitis - inflammation of the bone.
osteolytic lesions - lesions which soften or destroy bony tissue.

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P
parenchyma - the specific or distinguishing cells of a gland or organ.
pericarditis - inflammation of the membrane around the heart.
perivascular - surrounding a blood or lymph vessel.
petechiae (petechia, pl) - minute hemorrhagic spots (pinpoint to pinhead size) in the skin which are not blanched by diascopy.
pH - a low pH => acidic environment;  a high pH => a base environment.  Acids = pH < 7.  Bases = pH > 7.
pharyngitis - inflammation of mucous membranes and the underlying parts of the pharynx.
prodromal - an early or premonitory symptom of a disease.
prostration - excessive loss of strength; weakness.
proteinuria - protein in the urine.
pruritis - itching.
pupura - a hemorrhage or lesion into the skin.

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S
splenomegaly - enlargement of the spleen.

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T
tachycardia - rapid heartbeat.
tachypnea - rapid breathing.
thrombocytopenia - an abnormally low number of platelets in the circulating blood.
thrombocytopenic pupura - hemorrhages from mucous membranes and very low platelet counts.

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V
vascular permeability - permeability of the blood vessels.
viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) - a group of diseases caused by viruses from four families:  filoviruses, arenaviruses, flaviviruses, and bunyaviruses.

Copyright 2004 Tara K. Harper

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