Seizures and Fever Glossary of Terms

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Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

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

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

Anticonvulsant: A medication used to control (prevent) seizures (convulsions) or stop an o...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

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

Benzodiazepines: A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the t...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.

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

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

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...

Chin: Medically, the mentum. The lower portion of the face below the lower lip including t...

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

Cyanosis: A bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen i...

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

EEG: Electroencephalogram.

Electroencephalogram: A technique for studying the electrical currents within the brain. E...

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

Epilepsy (seizure disorder): When nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses...

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

Febrile: Feverish.

Febrile seizure: A convulsion that occurs in association with a fever. Febrile seizures ar...

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

Focal: Pertaining to a focus which in medicine may refer to:
1. The point at ...

Glucose: The simple sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is found in the bloo...

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

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

Incontinence: The inability to control excretions, to hold urine in the bladder, or to kee...

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

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

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

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Low blood sugar: A low blood level of the sugar glucose. Also called hypoglycemia.

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

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

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

Objective: In a microscope, the objective (also called the objective lens) is the lens nea...

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

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

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

Poisoning: Taking a substance that is injurious to health or can cause death. Poisoning i...

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until...

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

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory rate: The number of breaths per minute or, more formally, the number of moveme...

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge...

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

Status epilepticus: An epileptic seizure that lasts more than 30 minutes; a constant or ...

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

Trachea: A tube-like portion of the respiratory tract that connects the larynx with the br...

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary incontinence: The unintentional loss of urine. Inability to hold urine in the blad...

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

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

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

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...