Tuberculosis Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

Alcoholism: Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would b...

Alveoli: The plural of alveolus. The alveoli are tiny air sacs within the lungs where the ...

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

Antidepressant: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Bacillus: A large family of bacteria that are rod-like in shape. They include the bacteria...

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.

BCG: An effective immunization against tuberculosis. BCG stands for Bacille Calmette Gueri...

Bone marrow: The soft blood-forming tissue that fills the cavities of bones and contains f...

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 ...

Cavities: Holes or structural damage in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel...

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 pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

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

Coughing up blood: see hemoptysis.

Critical care: The specialized care of patients whose conditions are life-threatening and ...

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 ...

Dormant tuberculosis: See: Tuberculosis, dormant. See also: Tuberculous meningitis.

Erythema: Redness of the skin that results from capillary congestion. Erythema can occur w...

Erythema nodosum: An inflammatory reaction that occurs deep in the skin and is characteriz...

False negative: A result that appears negative when it should not. An example of a false n...

False positive: A result that indicates that a given condition is present when it is not. ...

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...

Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

Gastrointestinal tract: The stomach and intestines. Abbreviated GI tract.

Granuloma: A granuloma is one of a number of forms of localized nodular inflammation fou...

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...

Incurable: Not amenable to a cure. Incapable of being cured, healed and made well again. ...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

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

Infiltrate: To penetrate. For example, a cancer may grow into, or infiltrate, surrounding ...

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

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate equipment, supplies,...

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

Latent: Hidden, dormant, inactive.

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

Lobe: Part of an organ that appears to be separate in some way from the rest. A lobe may b...

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...

Lymphatic: Pertaining to a small, thin channel that is similar to a blood vessel and that ...

Lymphatic system: The tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and l...

Macrophage: A type of white blood cell that ingests foreign material. Macrophages are key ...

Mantoux test: A skin test for tuberculosis, named for the French physician Charles Mantou...

Marrow: The bone marrow.

Meninges: The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (singular: meninx).

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

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Miliary tuberculosis: The presence of numerous sites of tuberculosis infection, each of wh...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Mycobacteria: Plural of mycobacterium.

Mycobacterium: A large family of bacteria that have unusually waxy cell walls that are res...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The bacterium that causes tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis has un...

Night sweats: Severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. Nigh...

Nurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ...

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...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

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

Phthisis: A good trivia or crossword item. An over-consonanted Greek word meaning "a dwind...

Pleural: Pertaining to the pleura, the thin covering that protects the lungs. The term "pl...

Pleural space: The tiny area between the two layers of the pleura (the thin covering that...

Pleuritis: Inflammation of the pleura. When the pleura becomes inflamed, it can produce m...

PPD: 1. Postpartum depression. 2. Purified protein derivative (the PPD skin ...

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

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

Public health: The approach to medicine that is concerned with the health of the community...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulmonary tuberculosis: See: Tuberculosis, pulmonary.

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

Resistance: Opposition to something, or the ability to withstand something. For example, s...

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the spleen) or soft tissue (such as the ach...

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

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Sputum: Mucous material from the lungs that is produced (brought up) by coughing.

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

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

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

Tiredness: See: Tired.

Tubercle: A small tuber; a small lump or bump.

Tuberculin: A protein extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is used in a skin tes...

Tuberculosis: A highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium ...

Tuberculosis treatment: Treatment of tuberculosis (TB), depends upon the status of the inf...

Tuberculous: Pertaining to tuberculosis. Affected by tuberculosis. Caused by Mycobacterium...

Tuberculous meningitis: Meningitis due to tuberculosis. Tuberculous meningitis is the most...

Vaccination: Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against...

Wasting: 1. Gradual loss (for example, of weight), deterioration, emaciation. As in...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

World Health Organization: The subagency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with...

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