Medical Terminology Type Shit

Acute

sudden onset illness

Subacute

onset between acute and chronic

Chronic

lasting months or longer

Progressive

getting worse over time

Self-limiting

improves on its own

Intermittent

comes and goes

Persistent

constant

Episodic

occurs in separate episodes

Exacerbation

flare of chronic condition

Relapse

condition returns after improvement

Stable

unchanged

Worsening

getting worse

Improving

getting better

Refractory

not responding to treatment

Benign

not harmful

Malignant

harmful / cancerous

Idiopathic

cause unknown

Mild

minor, not limiting

Moderate

noticeable impact on life

Severe

intense, limiting function

Debilitating

prevents normal activity

Excruciating

extreme pain

Well-appearing

looks generally healthy

Ill-appearing

looks visibly sick

Acutely ill appearing

suddenly very sick

Non-toxic

sick but stable, not in danger

Toxic appearing

looks dangerously ill

No acute distress

comfortable, not struggling

Fatigued

visibly tired

Lethargic

sleepy, low energy

Diaphoretic

sweaty

Alert and oriented x3

knows person, place, and time

Erythematous

red from inflammation

Injected

bloodshot/red due to dilated vessels (eyes)

Cyanotic

bluish from low oxygen

Pallor

pale skin

Jaundiced

yellowing skin/eyes

Edematous

swollen with fluid

Inflamed

red, warm, swollen, irritated

Distended

enlarged or swollen (often abdomen)

Warm to touch

inflammation present

Tender

hurts when touched

Non-tender

no pain when pressed

Febrile

has fever

Afebrile

no fever

Low-grade fever

mild fever

High fever

significant fever

Chills

cold sensation with shaking

Rigors

extreme shaking chills

Night sweats

sweating during sleep

Malaise

general feeling of being unwell

Dyspnea

shortness of breath

Tachypnea

fast breathing

Hypoxia

low oxygen

Wheezing

whistling airway sound

Rales/Crackles

wet bubbling sounds (fluid)

Rhonchi

coarse rattling sounds (mucus)

Stridor

harsh, high-pitched airway sound

Productive cough

cough with mucus

Dry cough

cough without mucus

Chest tightness

squeezing chest sensation

Tympanic membrane

eardrum

Erythematous TM

red eardrum (infection)

Bulging TM

fluid pushing outward

Retracted TM

pulled inward

Perforated TM

hole/tear present

Effusion

fluid behind eardrum

Loss of light reflex

infection finding

Tragus tenderness

classic for swimmer’s ear

Ear canal erythematous

red ear canal

Ear canal swollen

inflamed canal

Purulent discharge

pus draining

Nasal mucosa

inner lining of nose

Erythematous nasal mucosa

red lining

Boggy turbinates

swollen allergic tissue

Congested

swollen/blocked

Maxillary sinus tenderness

cheek pain on press

Frontal sinus tenderness

forehead sinus pain

Purulent nasal discharge

thick yellow/green mucus

Oropharynx

back of throat

Tonsillar hypertrophy

enlarged tonsils

Tonsillar exudates

white pus patches

Posterior pharynx erythematous

red throat

Uvular deviation

uvula pulled to one side

Moist mucous membranes

hydrated

Dry mucous membranes

dehydrated

Conjunctiva

lining of eye

Injected conjunctiva

red eye

Purulent discharge

thick puslike drainage

Watery discharge

viral/allergic

Crusting

dried discharge

Eyelid edema

swollen eyelid

Lymphadenopathy

swollen lymph nodes

Tender nodes

painful → usually infection

Non-tender nodes

could be chronic/inflammatory

Cervical lymphadenopathy

swollen neck nodes

Tachycardia

fast heart rate

Bradycardia

slow heart rate

Palpitations

awareness of heart beating

Murmur

abnormal heart sound