Genital Herpes Glossary of Terms

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

Acyclovir: (Brand name: Zovirax) One of a group of antiviral drugs that acts against the...

Antibacterial: Anything that destroys bacteria or suppresses their growth or their ability...

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

Anus: The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

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

Blister: A collection of fluid underneath the top layer of skin (epidermis). There are man...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

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

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

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

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

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Genital herpes: An infection by human herpes virus that is transmitted through intimate co...

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

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

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

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

Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system. For example, poison ivy can cause an i...

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

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

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

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

Lymph: The almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system, carrying cell...

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

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

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

Painful urination: See: Dysuria.

Penis: The external male sex organ. The penis contains two chambers, the corpora cavernosa...

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...

Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. The reappearance ...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Safe sex: Sexual practices that do not involve the exchange of bodily fluids, including bl...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Sexually transmitted disease: Any disease transmitted by sexual contact; caused by microo...

Sexually transmitted infection: An infection that can be transferred from one person to an...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

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

STD: Sexually transmitted disease.

Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic o...

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

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Ulcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ...

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Vaginal discharge: Vaginal discharge is a fluid produced by glands in the vaginal wall and...

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

Zovirax: Brand name of Acyclovir.