Thursday, May 1, 2008

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF): An acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognized in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. Anyone frequenting tick-infested areas is at risk for RMSF. The onset of symptoms is abrupt with headache, high fever, chills, muscle pain. and then a rash. The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread. Early recognition of RMSF and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality. The first person to describe the disease was an ear, nose and throat specialist, Edward Ernest Maxey. Maxey reported the disease in 1899. Seven years later, a pathologist named Howard Taylor Ricketts showed that it was transmitted by a tick bite. The agent that causes the disease was named for him -- Rickettsia rickettsii. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also called spotted fever, tick fever, and tick typhus.Common Misspellings: rocky mountain spotted feaver (rmsf)

Syndrome, Aarskog

Syndrome, Aarskog: See: Aarskog-Scott syndrome.

Cancer, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin

Cancer, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin: A lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is a painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are diagnosed with a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node. Follow-up examinations are important after lymphoma treatment. Most relapses occur in the first 2 years after therapy.

Licensed clinical social worker

Licensed clinical social worker: A social worker trained in psychotherapy who helps individuals deal with a variety of mental health and daily living problems to improve overall functioning. A social worker usually has a master's degree in social work and has studied sociology, growth and development, mental health theory and practice, human behavior/social environment, psychology, research methods. Abbreviated L.C.S.W.Common Misspellings: licensed clinincal social worker

Labial sounds

Labial sounds: The lips are not only anatomic features of note, they are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. A sound requiring the participation of one or both lips is a labial (labium in Latin means lip) sound or, simply, a labial. All labials are consonants. There are bilabial sounds such as "p" which involve both lips and labiodental sounds such as "v" which involve the upper teeth and lower lip.

Pedodontics

Pedodontics: Children's dentistry.

Shock, septic

Shock, septic: Shock caused by infection. See also septicemia.