| cold, common | A viral upper respiratory tract infection. A contagious illness caused by a number of different types of viruses. Because of the great number of viruses that can cause a cold, the body never builds up resistance (immune) against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, preschool children average 9 colds a year; those in kindergarten, 12 colds a year; and adolescents and adults, 7 colds per year. Going out into the cold weather has no effect on the spread of a cold. Antibiotics do not help the common cold. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| cold compress | <orthopaedics> This may be ice packs wrapped in cloth to deliver a cold compress to an acutely injured muscle, joint or bone. Cold compresses are commonly indicated for most injuries in the first 24-48 hours. They should be applied only intermittently, with periods of time without the compress applied. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cold compresses | <orthopaedics> This may be ice packs wrapped in cloth to deliver a cold compress to an acutely injured muscle, joint or bone. Cold compresses are commonly indicated for most injuries in the first 24-48 hours. They should be applied only intermittently, with periods of time without the compress applied. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cold cone biopsy | <gynaecology, procedure> A procedure which excises a cone of tissue (mucous membrane) off the cervix for purpose of diagnostics and therapeutics (removes precancerous cells). See: cervical dysplasia. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cold cream | A water-in-oil emulsion of various oils, waxes, and water; the standard formula, rose water ointment, contains expressed almond oil, rose water, spermaceti, white paraffin wax, and sodium borate; used as a cleansing or lubricating cream. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold cure resin | Autopolymerizing resin, any resin that can be polymerised by chemical catalysis rather than by the application of heat; used in dentistry for dental restoration, denture repair, and impression trays. Synonym: activated resin, cold cure resin, cold-curing resin, quick cure resin, self-curing resin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold erythema | Rash characterised by redness and itching, brought on by exposure to cold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold gangrene | A form of gangrene in which the involved part is dry and shriveled. Synonym: cold gangrene, mummification necrosis, mummification. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold haemagglutinin disease | A condition associated with the presence of haemagglutinating autoantibody active in vivo but in vitro particularly or solely active in the cold; when the concentration of IgM antibody is high there may be increased serum viscosity, but clinical manifestations (due to haemagglutination) usually appear following exposure to cold; haemolysis usually is mild but may be severe, resulting in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, cold antibody type. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold haemolysin | An autoantibody of the IgG class responsible for paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria; it is adsorbed to red cells only at temperatures of 20캜 or lower, causing the red cells to lyse in the presence of complement at higher temperatures; it has only slight agglutinating properties in spite of its marked lytic activity, and has a specificity within the blood group P; it is also occasionally present for short periods of time following measles and other infections, and formerly was frequently associated with syphilis. Synonym: cold haemolysin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold injury | Cold injuries include chilblains, trench foot, and frostbite. Cold injuries occur with and without freezing of body tissues. The young and the elderly are especially prone to cold injury. Alcohol increases the risk of cold injury which can lead to loss of body parts and even to death. It is important not to thaw an extremity if there is a risk of it re-freezing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cold insoluble globulin | <haematology> Name, now obsolete, originally given to fibronectin prepared from cryoprecipitate. (18 Nov 1997) |
| cold in the head | 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) |
| cold light | Fluorescent light as opposed to incandescent light. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold liver lesion | <radiology> Size for detection = 1-2 cm (3-cm deep lesions), primary tumour (haemangioma hot by Tc-RBCs), metastasis, inflammatory lesion (e.g., amebic abscess), degenerative disease, trauma, congenital lesion (solitary cyst or polycystic disease) see: liver-spleen scan (12 Dec 1998) |