Toxic Shock Syndrome 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 ...

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

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

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

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

Bacterium: The singular of bacteria.

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

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

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

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...

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

Debridement: The act of debriding (removing dead, contaminated or adherent tissue or forei...

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

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. ...

Dopamine: An important neurotransmitter (messenger) in the brain.

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

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an...

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

Enzymes: Proteins that act as a catalysts in mediating and speeding a specific chemical re...

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

Epinephrine: A substance produced by the medulla (inside) of the adrenal gland. The name e...

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

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

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. ...

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

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

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

Intensive care: See critical care.

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

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

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

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

Low blood pressure: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individua...

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...

Measles: An acute and highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose,...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Menstruation: The periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the uterus. Also called me...

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...

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

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...

Pancreas: A spongy, tube-shaped organ that is about 6 inches long and is located in the ba...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvic exam: An examination of the organs of the female reproductive system.

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

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

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...

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

Scarlet fever: A skin condition that is due to a streptococcal sore throat or any other st...

Shock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow...

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...

Spotted fever: Also known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. An acute febrile (feverish) dis...

Staphylococcus: A group of bacteria that cause a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

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...

Streptococcus: A group of bacteria that causes a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope...

Streptococcus pyogenes: A common bacteria of the skin that causes strep throat (streptococ...

Sunburn: Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that develops in response to exposure to u...

Superficial: In anatomy, on the surface or shallow. As opposed to deep. The skin is superf...

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

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

Systolic: The blood pressure when the heart is contracting. It is specifically the maximum...

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

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 ...

Toxic shock: See Toxic shock syndrome.

Toxic shock syndrome: A grave condition occurring predominantly in menstruating women usin...

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

Ventilator: A machine that mechanically assists a patient in the exchange of oxygen and ca...

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

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

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

White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are seve...

White blood cell count (leukocyte count): The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the b...

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...