| desert | Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary; as, they landed on a desert island. "He . . . Went aside privately into a desert place." (Luke ix. 10) "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. <botany> " (Gray) Desert flora, an American mouse (Hesperomys eremicus), living in the Western deserts. Origin: Cf. L. Desertus, p. P. Of deserere, and F. Desert. See Desert. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| desert climate | A type of climate characterised by insufficient moisture to support appreciable plant life. It is a climate of extreme aridity, usually of extreme heat, and of negligible rainfall. (12 Dec 1998) |
| desert fever | A disease common in the San Joaquin Valley of California and certain additional areas in the southwestern U.S. As well as the Chaco region of Argentina, caused by inhalation of the arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis; acute onset of symptoms resemble pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis, productive of sputum usually containing spores of the fungus, and accompanied by aches, malaise, severe headache, and occasionally an early erythematous or papular eruption; erythema multiforme or erythema nodosum may appear; the coccidioidin test is positive. Synonym: desert fever, San Joaquin fever, San Joaquin Valley disease, San Joaquin Valley fever, valley fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| desert rheumatism | A fungal infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis. Exists in two forms: primary disease, which is a self-limited respiratory infection (requires no treatment) and a progressive form (diffuse and granulomatous), that can involve almost any part of the body. Approximately 60% of infections cause no symptoms and are identified only by skin testing. Immunocompromised patients (AIDS) are at greatest risk for disseminated disease. Symptoms include cough, anorexia, fever, weight loss and joint pains. Complications include pleural effusion and dissemination. There is a poor prognosis for disseminated disease. Treatment includes amphotericin B for lung infection. Itraconazole and fluconazole are also useful agents. (27 Sep 1997) |
| desert sore | Any of a variety of chronic non-specific cutaneous ulcers, most commonly on the shins, knees, hands, and forearms, and probably a variant of ecthyma, that occur in tropical and desert areas. Synonym: Barcoo rot, veldt sore. (05 Mar 2000) |