Molluscum Contagiosum Glossary of Terms

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Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

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

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

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

Blister beetle: A blister beetle is one of a number of beetles that have historically been...

Bumps: The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured b...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Chickenpox: A highly infectious viral disease also known medically as varicella -- in many...

Conjunctiva: A thin, clear, moist membrane that coats the inner surfaces of the eyelids (p...

Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the membrane covering the surface of the eyeball. It can b...

Cryotherapy: Literally, "cold therapy." Cryotherapy, sometimes referred to as cryosurgery,...

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

Curettage: Removal of tissue with a curette from the wall of a cavity or another surface. ...

Dermatology: 1. The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and...

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

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

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

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

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

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

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

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

Incubation period: In medicine, the time from the moment of exposure to an infectious agen...

Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition which makes a particular treatment or proce...

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 ...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Lesion: An area of abnormal tissue change. Lesions vary in severity from harmless to serio...

Liquid nitrogen: Nitrogen in a liquid state. Liquid nitrogen is supercool -- about 200 deg...

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Molluscum contagiosum: A contagious disease of the skin marked by the occurrence of rounde...

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...

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

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nitrogen: Element number 7, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is biologically impo...

Papules: Small solid rounded bumps rising from the skin that are each usually less than 1 ...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pinkeye: Also called conjunctivitis. Redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membra...

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

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Scaling: Abnormal shedding or accumulation of an upper layer of skin (the stratum corneum)...

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

Smallpox: A highly contagious and frequently fatal viral disease that is characterized by ...

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

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Temple: The area just behind and to the side of the forehead and the eye, above the side o...

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

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

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