Flu in Children Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Aerosol: A fine spray or mist. Medications in aerosol form can be administered via a nebul...

Airway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are...

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

Antiviral: An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, he...

Antiviral agent: A medication or another agent that kills viruses or inhibits their capabi...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Avian flu: See: Avian influenza.

Avian influenza: A highly contagious viral disease with up to 100 percent mortality in dom...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bird flu: See: Avian influenza.

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Bronchitis: Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic.

CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking a...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency charged with tracking and invest...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

Common cold: A contagious viral upper respiratory tract infection. The common cold can be ...

Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

Croup: An infection of the larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes that occurs mainly in chil...

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Ear tubes: Formally known as tympanostomy tubes, ear tubes are small tubes, made of severa...

Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Flu: Short for influenza. The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract w...

Flu shot: The flu (influenza) vaccine is recommended annually (each year) for persons at ...

Flu vaccine: The flu vaccination (influenza) is recommended for persons at high risk for...

Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Humidifier: A machine that puts moisture into the air. Humidified air makes it easier to b...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immunity: The condition of being immune. Immunity can be innate'for example, humans are in...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Influenza: The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract which are divide...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Lips: Aside from the lips of the mouth, there are two pairs of lips at the entrance to the...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Malaise: A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be pinned down but is often sensed...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Mucous: Pertaining to mucus, a thick fluid produced by the lining of some tissues of the b...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pandemic: An epidemic (a sudden outbreak) that becomes very widespread and affects a whol...

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Poor circulation: An inadequacy of blood flow. Inadequate blood flow to a particular area ...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory system: The organs that are involved in breathing, including the nose, throat,...

Risk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam...

Runny nose: The production of extra mucus by the nose. Rhinorrhea is the medical term for ...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Seizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv...

Seizure disorders: One of a great many medical conditions that are characterized by epis...

Sinus: 1. An air-filled cavity in a dense portion of a skull bone. The sinuses decr...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sneeze: 1. As a verb, to suddenly expel air through the nose and mouth by an involu...

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Sore throat: Pain in the throat. Sore throat may be caused by many different causes, inclu...

Sporadic: Occurring upon occasion or in a scattered, isolated, or seemingly random way.

Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A heredita...

Stuffy nose: : The presence of increased secretions and mucus in the nasal passages, most ...

Swine flu: A respiratory illness of pigs caused by infection with swine influenza A virus ...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Tiredness: See: Tired.

Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. For example, a topical agent is applied ...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Upper respiratory infection: An infection of the upper part of the respiratory system whic...

URI: Upper respiratory infection. Infection of the air passages of the nose, the throat, a...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Vaccination: Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against...

Vaccines: Microbial preparations of killed or modified microorganisms that can stimulate a...

Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...