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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Legionnaire disease
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Legionnaire disease An acute, sometimes fatal, pneumonia-like bacterial infection characterized by high fever, malaise, muscle aches, respiratory disorders and headache. It is named for an outbreak at the 1976 Philadelphia convention of the American Legion
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Acute
1. Of short course. 2. Severe, but of a short duration. Not chronic.
Bacterial
Of or pertaining to bacteria. For example, a bacterial lung infection.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Fever
When body temperature rises above its normal level - defined as 98.6 degrees F, though it varies by individual and time of day. A fever is the sign of an immune system at work and usually indicates an infection.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Headache
Primary - includes tension (muscular contraction), vascular (migraine), and cluster headaches not caused by other underlying medical conditions. Secondary - includes headaches that result from other medical conditions. These may also be referred to as traction headaches or inflammatory headaches.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Legionella
See Legionellosis.
Legionellosis
Legionellosis is an infection caused by species of the bacterium Legionella, most notably L. pneumophila. At least 46 species and 70 serogroups have been identified. L. pneumophila, an ubiquitous aquatic organism that thrives in warm environments (32 - 45 C) causes over 90% of Legionnaires Disease in the United States.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
LASIK
LASIK (Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis) combines the precision of the excimer laser delivery system with the benefits of Lamellar Keratoplasty (LK) which has been proven to treat a wide range of refractive errors. Using the accuracy and precision of the excimer laser, LASIK changes the shape of the cornea to improve the way light is focused or "refracted" by the eye. First, a thin corneal flap is created, as an instrument called a microkeratome glides across the cornea. Then, in just seconds, ultraviolet light and high energy pulses from the excimer laser reshape the internal cornea with accuracy up to 0.25 microns. By adjusting the pattern of the laser beam, it is possible to treat high levels of nearsightedness and moderate amounts of farsightedness and astigmatism.
Lazy eye
A term often used instead of amblyopia. A loss of visual function, usually measured by visual acuity, in one or both eyes that cannot be explained by identifiable causes(s) such as a cataract or retinal disease. An eye that turns in (esotropia) or out (exotropia) may have a certain degree of central visual loss (amblyopia). A lazy eye is often treated by placing a patch over the stronger eye and forcing use of the lazy eye. The earlier the detection of the lazy eye the better for recovery of central vision with patching. If left untreated, after the age of about 8 or 9 years, patching therapy is no longer effective and the child will have a permanent loss of vision and loss of binocular vision and depth perception.
Lens
The lens of the eye is like an adjustable lens of a camera and focuses light rays on to the retina for sharp images. A condition called presbyopia occurs when the lens is no longer able to adjust for objects at different distances.
Lens capsule
The lens capsule is a membrane that surrounds the lens of the eye. In cataract surgery, the lens is usually replaced with an intraocular lens but the lens capsule remains in the eye.
Levomepromazine
An antipsychotic drug.
Legionnaire disease
Leber's disease
Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. A severe form of rod-cone degeneration present at birth. Infant’s have very poor visual acuity, photophobia and nystagmus. Infant’s with Leber’s will often constantly rub their eyes with their fists and poke their eyes with their fingers and thumb. No treatment is available.
Light chain
The light chain of immunoglobulin is a structural feature that occurs in two forms: kappa and lambda.
L chain
The light chain of immunoglobulin is a structural feature that occurs in two forms: kappa and lambda.
Linkage disequilibrium
The frequency, in a population of linked genes, which is governed by factors other than change.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Acute
1. Of short course. 2. Severe, but of a short duration. Not chronic.
Bacterial
Of or pertaining to bacteria. For example, a bacterial lung infection.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Fever
When body temperature rises above its normal level - defined as 98.6 degrees F, though it varies by individual and time of day. A fever is the sign of an immune system at work and usually indicates an infection.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Headache
Primary - includes tension (muscular contraction), vascular (migraine), and cluster headaches not caused by other underlying medical conditions. Secondary - includes headaches that result from other medical conditions. These may also be referred to as traction headaches or inflammatory headaches.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Legionella
See Legionellosis.
Legionellosis
Legionellosis is an infection caused by species of the bacterium Legionella, most notably L. pneumophila. At least 46 species and 70 serogroups have been identified. L. pneumophila, an ubiquitous aquatic organism that thrives in warm environments (32 - 45 C) causes over 90% of Legionnaires Disease in the United States.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
LASIK
LASIK (Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis) combines the precision of the excimer laser delivery system with the benefits of Lamellar Keratoplasty (LK) which has been proven to treat a wide range of refractive errors. Using the accuracy and precision of the excimer laser, LASIK changes the shape of the cornea to improve the way light is focused or "refracted" by the eye. First, a thin corneal flap is created, as an instrument called a microkeratome glides across the cornea. Then, in just seconds, ultraviolet light and high energy pulses from the excimer laser reshape the internal cornea with accuracy up to 0.25 microns. By adjusting the pattern of the laser beam, it is possible to treat high levels of nearsightedness and moderate amounts of farsightedness and astigmatism.
Lazy eye
A term often used instead of amblyopia. A loss of visual function, usually measured by visual acuity, in one or both eyes that cannot be explained by identifiable causes(s) such as a cataract or retinal disease. An eye that turns in (esotropia) or out (exotropia) may have a certain degree of central visual loss (amblyopia). A lazy eye is often treated by placing a patch over the stronger eye and forcing use of the lazy eye. The earlier the detection of the lazy eye the better for recovery of central vision with patching. If left untreated, after the age of about 8 or 9 years, patching therapy is no longer effective and the child will have a permanent loss of vision and loss of binocular vision and depth perception.
Lens
The lens of the eye is like an adjustable lens of a camera and focuses light rays on to the retina for sharp images. A condition called presbyopia occurs when the lens is no longer able to adjust for objects at different distances.
Lens capsule
The lens capsule is a membrane that surrounds the lens of the eye. In cataract surgery, the lens is usually replaced with an intraocular lens but the lens capsule remains in the eye.
Levomepromazine
An antipsychotic drug.
Legionnaire disease
Leber's disease
Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. A severe form of rod-cone degeneration present at birth. Infant’s have very poor visual acuity, photophobia and nystagmus. Infant’s with Leber’s will often constantly rub their eyes with their fists and poke their eyes with their fingers and thumb. No treatment is available.
Light chain
The light chain of immunoglobulin is a structural feature that occurs in two forms: kappa and lambda.
L chain
The light chain of immunoglobulin is a structural feature that occurs in two forms: kappa and lambda.
Linkage disequilibrium
The frequency, in a population of linked genes, which is governed by factors other than change.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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