Chapter 7: Symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, communication qualifiers

atrophy

a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage

edema

effusion of serous fluid into the interstices of cells in tissue spaces or into body cavities

hypertrophy

excessive growth or accumulation of any kind

pulse

excessive growth or accumulation of any kind

respiration

the action of breathing

temperature

the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object

acute

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset

central

At or near the center

chronic

A disease or condition that usually lasts for 3 months or longer and may get worse over time

generalized

spread or extended throughout the body

localized

limited to a certain part of the body

paroxysmal

  a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease)

peripheral

away from the center

anti

against

chlor/o

green

erythr/o

red

melan/o

black

pyret/o

fever

xanth/o

yellow

anorexia

an eating disorder characterized by restriction of food intake leading to low body weight, typically accompanied by intense fear of gaining weight and disturbed perception of body weight and image

dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

malaise

a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify

nausea

a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit

tinnitus

ringing or buzzing in the ears

vertigo

a sensation of whirling and loss of balance

active treatment

an ongoing, organized effort to help each resident attain or maintain his or her developmental capacity through the residents regular participation in the treatment plan

palliative treatment

medical care that relieves pain, symptoms and stress caused by serious illnesses

prophylactic treatment

a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from occurring

systemic treatment

Treatment using substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body

prodrome

early signs or symptoms of an illness or health problem that appear before the major signs or symptoms start

prognosis

The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence

syndrome

A set of symptoms or conditions that occur together and suggest the presence of a certain disease or an increased chance of developing the disease