Peritonsillar Abscess Glossary of Terms

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Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some example...

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

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

Airway obstruction: Partial or complete blockage of the breathing passages to the lungs. C...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Aspiration: Removal of a sample of fluid and cells through a needle. Aspiration also re...

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

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

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

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

Cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection underneath the skin surface characterized by r...

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 ...

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: The most common form of leukemia in adults, in which lymphoc...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

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...

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

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

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

Epiglottis: The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing, so that food does not ente...

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.)...

Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection. Sold...

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

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

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

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

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

Infectious mononucleosis: A specific viral infection (with the Epstein-Barr virus) in whic...

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

Jaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab...

Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to canc...

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

Lymphocytic: Referring to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. For example, lymphocyti...

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes that envelop the brain and t...

Mono: Popular name for infectious mononucleosis.

Mononucleosis: Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, human herpesvirus 4, HHV-4) in...

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...

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

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Otolaryngologist: A physician specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases of the head ...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

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

Penicillin: The most famous of all antibiotics, named for the fungal mold Penicillium n...

Periodontitis: Gum disease. The word "periodontitis" literally means "inflammation around...

Peritonsillar abscess: A collection of pus behind the tonsils that pushes one of the tonsi...

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

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

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

Quinsy: Not a TV detective but an old word for a peritonsillar abscess.

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

Saliva: a watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the d...

Sepsis: The presence of bacteria (bacteremia), other infectious organisms, or toxins creat...

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...

Spasm: A brief, automatic jerking movement. A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the ...

Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and import...

Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called streptococc...

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...

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

Syringe: A medical device that is used to inject fluid into, or withdraw fluid from, the b...

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

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

Tonsillectomy: The surgical removal of both 'tonsils.

Tonsillitis: Inflammation of one or both tonsils, typically as a result of infection by a ...

Tonsils: Small masses of lymphoid tissue at the back and on both sides of the throat.

Torticollis: The most common of the focal dystonias, a state of excessive or inadequate mu...

Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

Trismus: Inability to open the mouth fully. This may be due to spasm of the jaw muscles an...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Uvula: The anatomic structure that dangles downward at the back of the mouth and is attach...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

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

Windpipe: The trachea, a tube-like portion of the respiratory (breathing) tract that conn...

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