Viral Pneumonia Glossary of Terms

1. Take the Pneumonia Quiz
2. The Common Cold Slideshow Pictures
3. Bronchitis Slideshow Pictures

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

Acyclovir: (Brand name: Zovirax) One of a group of antiviral drugs that acts against the...

Adenovirus: One of a group of viruses that can cause infections of the lung, stomach, inte...

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

Atypical: Unusual, or not fitting a single diagnostic
category.

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

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

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

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

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency charged with tracking and invest...

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...

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

Chlamydia: The agent of a sexually transmitted disease, a type of bacteria found in the ce...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Common cold: A contagious viral upper respiratory tract infection. The common cold can be ...

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

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

Coronavirus: One of a group of RNA viruses, so named because they look like a corona or ha...

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

Coughing up blood: see hemoptysis.

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 ...

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

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

Flu: Short for influenza. The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract w...

Flu shot: The flu (influenza) vaccine is recommended annually (each year) for persons at ...

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

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. ...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

Hyperbaric: Pertaining to gas pressures greater than 1 atmosphere* of pressure. Also perta...

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

Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system. For example, poison ivy can cause an i...

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...

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

Influenza: The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract which are divide...

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

Legionella: The bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease.

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

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

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

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Mycoplasma: A large group of bacteria, with more than 100 types identified. Mycoplasma are...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

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...

Parainfluenza: A disease due to an acute respiratory infection caused by a parainfluenza v...

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...

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...

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

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory syncytial virus: A virus that causes mild respiratory infections, colds, and c...

RSV: Although several standard medical dictionaries indicate only that RSV stands for Rous...

Runny nose: The production of extra mucus by the nose. Rhinorrhea is the medical term for ...

SARS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome. A severe form of pneumonia which appeared in outb...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: A severe form of pneumonia. Abbreviated SARS. A term ap...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Sneeze: 1. As a verb, to suddenly expel air through the nose and mouth by an involu...

Swine flu: A respiratory illness of pigs caused by infection with swine influenza A virus ...

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

Tiredness: See: Tired.

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...

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

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

Zovirax: Brand name of Acyclovir.