| acute renal failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| acute respiratory failure | Loss of pulmonary function either acute or chronic that results in hypoxaemia or hypercarbia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute rheumatic arthritis | Arthritis due to rheumatic fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute rhinitis | An acute catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, marked by sneezing, lacrimation, and a profuse secretion of watery mucus; usually associated with infection by one of the common cold viruses. Synonym: cold in the head, coryza. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute rickets | Bone changes seen in infantile scurvy, consisting of subperiosteal haemorrhage and deficient osteoid tissue formation; often used to indicate simultaneous occurrence of rickets and scurvy. Synonym: acute rickets. Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, with hypercalciuria, an inherited disorder in which there is a defect in renal tubular reabsorption. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute schizophrenia | A disorder in which the symptoms of schizophrenia occur abruptly; they may subside or become chronic over time. Synonym: acute schizophrenic episode. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute schizophrenic episode | A disorder in which the symptoms of schizophrenia occur abruptly; they may subside or become chronic over time. Synonym: acute schizophrenic episode. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute situational reaction | An acute emotional reaction related to extreme environmental stress. Synonym: acute situational reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute spinal cord compression | <radiology> Signs and symptoms of cord compression show progression within 24 hours or less: pain, weakness, autonomic dysfunction, sensory loss, ataxia Diagnostic considerations: Primary or secondary malignancy of epidural space or vertebrae, Trauma, Inflammatory process, Osteoarthritis REF: MacNeil BJ, Abrams HL. Brigham and Women's Hospital Handbook of Diagnostic Imaging. Chapter 35. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute splenic tumour | Acute splenitis, enlargement, and softening of the spleen, usually due to bacteraemia or severe bacterial toxaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute stress reaction | A sudden bout of anxiety that is often accompanied by the features of hyperventilation (tingling around mouth and in fingertips, rapid breathing, faintness or fainting). (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute testicular pain | <radiology> Diagnostic considerations: Testicular torsion, Torsion of testicular appendix, Epididymo-orchitis, Scrotal abscess (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute toxicity | <pharmacology> Illness resulting from a single dose or exposure to a toxic substance. Compare: chronic toxicity. (06 May 1997) |
| acute transverse myelitis | Acute inflammation and softening of the spinal cord; involves the entire thickness of the spinal cord but of limited longitudinal extent; multiple aetiologies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute trypanosomiasis | A disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in eastern Africa from Ethiopia and Uganda south to Zimbabwe; it is clinically similar to Gambian trypanosomiasis but of shorter duration and more acute in form; patients suffer repeated episodes of pyrexia, become anaemic, and die commonly from cardiac failure. Synonym: acute African sleeping sickness, acute trypanosomiasis, East African sleeping sickness, East African trypanosomiasis. (05 Mar 2000) |