| cough reflex | <chest medicine, neurology, physiology> The reflex which mediates coughing in response to irritation of the larynx or tracheobronchial tree. Synonym: laryngeal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cough suppressant | <pharmacology> A medication which acts to suppress the cough reflex. Examples include codeine and dextromethorphan. (27 Sep 1997) |
| privet cough | An allergic cough, occurring in China during May and June, supposed to be caused by inhalation of the pollen of a species of privet (Lingustrum); it is analogous to the laurel fever seen in New England. (05 Mar 2000) |
| suppressant, cough | A drug used to control coughing, particularly with a dry, nagging, unproductive cough. (12 Dec 1998) |
| kennel cough | An imprecise term which has been used for a number of diseases in dogs which are characterised by bronchitis and caused by a variety of infectious agents. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bayley Scales of Infant Development | A psychological test used to measure the developmental progress of infants over the first two and one-half years of life; consists of three scales: mental, motor, and behaviour record. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rate, infant mortality | The number of children dying under a year of age divided by the number of live births that year. The infant mortality rate in the united states, which was 12.5 per 1,000 live births in 1980, fell to 9.2 per 1,000 live births in 1990. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Cattell Infant Intelligence Scale | A standardised scale for assessment of the cognitive development of infants between the ages of 3 and 30 months. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mortality rate, infant | The number of children dying under a year of age divided by the number of live births that year. The infant mortality rate in the united states, which was 12.5 per 1,000 live births in 1980, fell to 9.2 per 1,000 live births in 1990. (12 Dec 1998) |
| postmature infant | A baby born 1 week (7 days) or more after the usual 9 months (280 days) of gestation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| post-term infant | A baby born 2 weeks (14 days) or more after the usual 9 months (280 days) of gestation, as calculated from the last menstrual period (lmp). This is an important calculation, since, if delivery is delayed 3 weeks beyond term, the infant mortality rate skyrockets to 3 times normal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| preterm infant | An infant with gestational age of less than 37 completed weeks (259 completed days). (05 Mar 2000) |
| stillborn infant | An infant who shows no evidence of life after birth. Compare: liveborn infant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sudden infant death | The abrupt and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age, remaining unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. (expert panel of the national institute of child health and human development in paediatric pathology, v.11, no.5, sept-oct 1991, p681) (12 Dec 1998) |
| sudden infant death syndrome | <syndrome> May affect infants of any age, but some risk factors have been identified: term infants who have had a life-threatening period of apnoea (not breathing), premature infants of low birth weight, siblings of infants who have succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome and infants of substance abusing mothers. Peak age is at 2.5 months and 4 months, but can range from 1 month to 1 year. High risk infants should have home monitoring done. It is recommended that the less than 4 month old infant should sleep on their back. Synonym: cot death syndrome. Incidence: 2 per 1,000 live births. Acronym: SIDS (27 Sep 1997) |