| obliterating pericarditis | Complete obliteration by postinflammatory adhesions of the pericardial cavity. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| bronchiolitis | <chest medicine, paediatrics> This refers to inflammation of the bronchioles, usually secondary to viral infection (RSV). (13 Nov 1997) |
| bronchiolitis fibrosa obliterans | Obstruction of bronchioles and alveolar ducts by fibrous granulation tissue induced by mucosal ulceration; the condition may follow inhalation of irritant gases (see silo-filler's lung) or may complicate pneumonia (see BOOP); associated with obstructive findings (see unilateral hyperlucent lung, Swyer-James syndrome). Synonym: bronchiolitis obliterans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchiolitis obliterans | Inflammation of the bronchioles with obstruction by fibrous granulation tissue or bronchial exudate. It may follow inhalation of irritating gases or foreign bodies and it complicates pneumonia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia | A disease formerly considered a form of interstitial pneumonia. Its aetiology is obscure but it may be associated with toxic fumes, infection, and connective tissue disease. Clinical symptoms include cough, dyspnea and influenza-like symptoms with the development of the usual interstitial pneumonia in many cases. Obstructive symptoms are limited to smokers. There are patchy polypoid masses of intra-alveolar granulation tissue in small airway lumina and alveolar ducts. "organizing" refers to unresolved pneumonia (in which the alveolar exudate persists and eventually undergoes fibrosis) in which fibrous tissue forms in the alveoli. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia | Bronchiolitis fibrosa obliterans complicated by pneumonia with organization. Acronym: BOOP (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchiolitis, viral | An acute inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract, caused by paramyxoviruses, occurring primarily in infants and young children; the viruses most commonly implicated are parainfluenza type 3 and respiratory syncytial virus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| constrictive bronchiolitis | Obliteration of bronchioles by scarring following bronchiolitis obliterans. Compare: proliferative bronchiolitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| proliferative bronchiolitis | Bronchiolitis with obliteration of bronchiolar lumen and alveoli by epithelial proliferation, which may follow influenza and giant-cell pneumonia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| exudative bronchiolitis | Inflammation of the bronchioles, with fibrinous exudation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdomen, acute | Clinical syndrome characterised by abdominal pain of great severity associated with other symptoms and signs, usually those of acute peritonitis, which might well be the result of a ruptured abdominal viscus or a similar abdominal catastrophe requiring urgent surgical operation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute | 1. Sharp, poignant. 2. Having a short and relatively severe course. Origin: L. Acutus = sharp (18 Nov 1997) |
| acute abdomen | Any serious acute intra-abdominal condition (such as appendicitis) attended by pain, tenderness, and muscular rigidity, and for which emergency surgery must be considered. Synonym: surgical abdomen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute adrenal crisis | <endocrinology> An abrupt life-threatening state which is caused by insufficient production of cortisol by the adrenal gland. A typical finding in Addison's disease. Individuals who have been taking corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) for a prolonged period of time (weeks to months) are at risk for acute adrenal crisis if the medication is stopped abruptly. For this reason, corticosteroid medication are withdrawn slowly on a diminishing dosing schedule. Symptoms include low blood pressure (shock), weakness, headache, vomiting, fever chills, tachycardia and sweating. Treatment includes blood pressure support and intravenous hydrocortisone. (27 Sep 1997) |