About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 23, 2013


Whooping Cough Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Whooping Cough article.

American Academy of Pediatrics: AAP. Its member pediatricians "dedicate their efforts and ...

See the entire definition of American Academy of Pediatrics

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

See the entire definition of Antibiotic

Antimicrobial: A drug used to treat a microbial infection.

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

See the entire definition of Bacteria

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

Blood count: The calculated number of white or red blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic m...

See the entire definition of Blood count

Booster shot: An additional dose of a vaccine needed periodically to 'boost' the immune sy...

See the entire definition of Booster shot

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

See the entire definition of Brain

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

See the entire definition of Breathing

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

See the entire definition of Calcium

CBC: A commonly used abbreviation in medicine that stands for complete blood count, a set...

See the entire definition of CBC

CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking a...

See the entire definition of CDC

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

See the entire definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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

See the entire definition of Chin

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

See the entire definition of Chronic back to top

Cilia: The fine hairlike projections from certain cells such as those in the respiratory t...

See the entire definition of Cilia

Complete blood count: A set values of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These meas...

See the entire definition of Complete blood count

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

See the entire definition of Complication

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

See the entire definition of Congestion

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

See the entire definition of Cough

CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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

See the entire definition of Dehydration

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

See the entire definition of Diagnosis

Diphtheria: An acute infectious upper respiratory tract disease that affects the throat. I...

See the entire definition of Diphtheria

Dry skin: Abnormally dry skin. Can be caused by a dry climate, winter weather, deficiency...

See the entire definition of Dry skin

DTaP: Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis vaccine.

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

See the entire definition of Ear

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

See the entire definition of Emergency department

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

See the entire definition of Epidemic

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

See the entire definition of Erythromycin back to top

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

See the entire definition of Fever

Immunity: The condition of being immune. Immunity can be innate'for example, humans are in...

See the entire definition of Immunity

Immunization: Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natur...

See the entire definition of Immunization

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

See the entire definition of Infection

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

See the entire definition of Inflammation

Isolate: A group in which mating is always between members of the group. For example, the ...

See the entire definition of Isolate

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

See the entire definition of Laboratory

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

See the entire definition of Lips

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

See the entire definition of Mouth

Mucous: Pertaining to mucus, a thick fluid produced by the lining of some tissues of the b...

See the entire definition of Mucous

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

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

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

See the entire definition of Nose

Nosebleed: Bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose. The nose is rich in blood vessels ...

See the entire definition of Nosebleed

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

See the entire definition of Onset back to top

Otitis: Inflammation of the ear. Depending upon which part of the ear is inflammed, there ...

See the entire definition of Otitis

Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle ear characterized by the accumulation of infected...

See the entire definition of Otitis media

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

See the entire definition of Oxygen

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

See the entire definition of Pediatrics

Pertussis: Whooping cough, a communicable, potentially deadly illness characterized by fi...

See the entire definition of Pertussis

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

See the entire definition of Pharmacy

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

See the entire definition of Pneumonia

Postpartum: The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refe...

See the entire definition of Postpartum

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

See the entire definition of Pregnancy

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prevalence: The proportion of individuals in a population having a disease or characterist...

See the entire definition of Prevalence

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

See the entire definition of Prognosis

Reservoir: 1. A place where something such as water is kept in reserve.
2....

See the entire definition of Reservoir

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

back to top

Retinal: Pertaining to the retina, the extraordinary layer of neurons (nerve cells) that ...

See the entire definition of Retinal

Retinal detachment: A separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye....

See the entire definition of Retinal detachment

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

See the entire definition of Runny nose

Sinusitis: Inflammation of the lining membrane in any of the hollow areas (sinuses) of the...

See the entire definition of Sinusitis

Stage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spre...

See the entire definition of Stage

Tetanus: An often fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tet...

See the entire definition of Tetanus

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

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

See the entire definition of Throat

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

See the entire definition of Tongue

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

See the entire definition of Trigger

Trimester: In obstetrics, one of the three divisions of three months each during pregnancy...

See the entire definition of Trimester

Upper respiratory infection: An infection of the upper part of the respiratory system whic...

See the entire definition of Upper respiratory infection

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

See the entire definition of Urine

Vaccines: Microbial preparations of killed or modified microorganisms that can stimulate a...

See the entire definition of Vaccines

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

See the entire definition of Weight loss back to top

Whooping cough: Also known as pertussis, this is a feared infectious disease that can stri...

See the entire definition of Whooping cough

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

See the entire definition of World Health Organization back to top


Parenting and Pregnancy

Get tips for baby and you.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies