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Common Respiratory Problems
Terminology
65
Medical
Professional
10/11/2010

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Term
abscess
Definition
A localized collection of pus buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces.
Term
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Definition
Chronic respiratory failure associated with various acute pulmonary injuries. It is characterized by pulmonary edema, respiratory distress, and hypoxemia. It is sometimes a complication of major surgery and is accompanied by infection.
Term
apnea
Definition
Cessation of breathing.
Term
asphyxia
Definition
Suffocation. This can be deliberate and traumatic, occur as a result of some obstruction of the airway, or due to some other cause.
Term
asthma
Definition
This is a condition that is marked by recurrent attacks of paroxysmal dyspnea and it is manifested by wheezing. It can be due to an allergic reaction, strenuous exercise, irritant particles in the air, psychological stresses, or other factors.
Term
paroxysmal
Definition
A paroxysm is a sudden recurrence or intensification of symptoms.
Term
atelectasis
Definition
Incomplete expansion of a lung, a shrunken or airless lung. This can be either acute or chronic and can be complete or partial. This is determined via a chest x-ray.
Term
bronchiectasis
Definition
An irreversible chronic dilation of the bronchi that is usually accompanied by infection. It is manifested by fetid breath and paroxysmal coughing with the expectoration of mucopurulent matter.
Term
fetid
Definition
Having a rank or disagreeable smell.
Term
expectoration
Definition
The act of coughing up and spitting out materials from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.
Term
bronchitis
Definition
Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the bronchial tubes. Significant contributing factors to this condition are cigarette smoking, pollution, and allergies.
Term
bronchopneumonia
Definition
An inflammation of the lungs which usually begins in the terminal bronchioles.
Term
bronchiolitis
Definition
Another name for bronchopneumonia.
Term
bronchoalveolitis
Definition
Another name for bronchopneumonia.
Term
bronchopneumonitis
Definition
Another name for bronchopneumonia.
Term
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Definition
A generalized term related to persistent airways obstructions. COPD is associated with various combinations of chronic bronchitis, respiratory bronchiolitis, asthma, and/or emphysema. The term "airways obstruction" refers to an increased resistance to airflow during forced expiration.
Term
coccidioidomycosis
Definition
A fungal disease that infects the respiratory system as a result of the inhalation of spores. Manifested primarily by cold symptoms. Also called "valley fever."
Term
emphysema
Definition
A pathological accumulation of air in tissues or organs, especially the lungs. In pulmonary emphysema, there is dilatation of the alveoli and destruction of their walls. It is a common cause of disability and eventual death for cigarette smokers.
Term
empyema
Definition
Accumulation of pus in a cavity of the body. Although there are different types, when the term is used without a qualifier, it refers to thoracic empyema, which is in the pleural space.
Term
epiglottitis
Definition
Inflammation of the epiglottis.
Term
epistaxis
Definition
Nosebleed (hemorrhage from the nose).
Term
hemothorax
Definition
A collection of blood in the pleural cavity. This often results from a blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest wall.
Term
hyaline membrane disease
Definition
This is a disorder usually affecting premature newborns in which the alveoli are lined by a hyaline material. It usually results in extensive atelectasis and is often fatal.
Term
hyperventilation
Definition
A state in which there is an increase in the amount of air entering the pulmonary alveoli, which results in a decrease in carbon dioxide tension.
Term
infiltrate
Definition
Material deposited in organs or cells which are not normal to it, or in excessive quantities. It is also a sign of acute inflammation.
Term
interstitial lung disease
Definition
Interstitial is a term that means pertaining to or situated between parts or in the interspaces of a tissue. There are several types of interstitial lung disease in which there is an abnormal accumulation of many different cell types in the alveoli and bronchioles, which ultimately leads to progressive destruction of the lung.
Term
laryngitis
Definition
Inflammation of the larynx. Usually associated with dryness and soreness of the throat, hoarseness, cough, and dysphagia.
Term
papilloma
Definition
A papilloma is a benign tumor. In the respiratory system, these are common in children, starting at age one, and can grow exuberantly in the larynx. They are viral in origin and cause hoarseness. They can be removed surgically but tend to recur.
Term
pertussis
Definition
An acute, highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract, most frequently seen in young children and characterized by paroxysmal coughing. Also called "whooping cough."
Term
pleural effusion
Definition
Excess fluid in the pleural space. The presence of fluid in the pleural space is usually determined by x-ray and almost always requires a thoracentesis.
Term
serous
Definition
Fluid that is clear and yellow.
Term
sanguineous
Definition
Bloody or blood-tinged fluid.
Term
serosanguineous
Definition
Fluid containing both serum and blood.
Term
pleurisy
Definition
Inflammation of the pleura. It is usually characterized by pain that is worse with breathing and coughing. The onset is usually sudden.
Term
pneumoconiosis
Definition
A condition characterized by the permanent deposition of substantial amounts of particulate matter into the lungs. It is also called occupational pneumonia.
Term
anthracosis
Definition
A common type of pneumoconiosis, also called “black lung.”
Term
asbestosis
Definition
A common type of pneumoconiosis due to the inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Term
berylliosis
Definition
A common type of pneumoconiosis due to beryllium dust.
Term
silicosis
Definition
A common type of pneumoconiosis due to sand particles.
Term
pneumonia
Definition
Also called pneumonitis, this is inflammation of the lung resulting in consolidation, which is defined as a pathologic process where normally aerated lung tissue is converted into a dense, airless mass. There are many kinds of pneumonia caused by a variety of factors, the most common being a type of bacteria. It often results in hospitalization.
Term
pneumonitis
Definition
Another name for pneumonia.
Term
consolidation
Definition
A pathologic process where normally aerated lung tissue is converted into a dense, airless mass.
Term
Hemophilus influenzae
Definition
This is the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. The most serious strain of this is type b, which is usually called Hib pneumonia.
Term
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Definition
This is the most frequent of the gram-negative bacilli and it normally affects already compromised lungs, such as with the very young or the very old, hospital or nursing home patients, immuno-compromised hosts, or alcoholics.
Term
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Definition
A gram-negative pathogen.
Term
Acinetobacter
Definition
A gram-negative pathogen.
Term
Legionella pneumophila
Definition
Also known as Legionnaires' disease, this only accounts for 1% to 8% of pneumonias. It can occur at any age, and early phase symptoms include headache, malaise, fever, myalgia, and a cough which eventually produces mucoid sputum.
Term
Legionnaires' disease
Definition
Another name for Legionella pneumophila.
Term
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Definition
This is the most common pathogen for children and young adults (age 5 to 35 years), but is otherwise quite rare. It has a long incubation period (10–14 days), which accounts for its steady spread. Early symptoms also mimic the flu, malaise, dry cough, and sore throat.
Term
Pneumococcus pneumoniae
Definition
Pneumococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause for bacterial pneumonia. It usually begins with an upper respiratory infection, including congestion. The onset is often a single shaking chill followed by fever, pain with breathing, cough, dyspnea, and sputum production.
Term
Staphylococcus aureus
Definition
Staphylococcus aureus accounts for approximately 2% of community-acquired pneumonias. Patients at particular risk are infants, the elderly, hospitalized patients, surgical patients, and patients with immunosuppression. Its symptoms closely mimic those of pneumococcal pneumoniae, although the mortality rate is as high as 30% to 40%.
Term
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Definition
This has become relatively rare since World War I and is usually a complication of influenza, measles, chickenpox, or pertussis.
Term
pneumothorax
Definition
Free air in the pleural cavity between the visceral and parietal pleurae. It may occur either spontaneously or because of trauma or pathological process.
Term
rhinitis
Definition
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. Often accompanied by rhinorrhea (a runny nose).
Term
rhinorrhea
Definition
Runny nose.
Term
sarcoidosis
Definition
Also called Boeck sarcoid, this is a systemic disease of unknown etiology with the most severe manifestation being granulomatous pneumonitis.
Term
Boeck sarcoid
Definition
Another name for sarcoidosis.
Term
granulomatous
Definition
Pertaining to any small nodular aggregation of a certain kind of cells.
Term
sinusitis
Definition
Inflammation of a sinus. It is usually designated by the name of the sinus that is inflamed (e.g., ethmoid sinusitis).
Term
tonsillitis
Definition
Inflammation of the tonsils, especially the palatine tonsils.
Term
tracheitis
Definition
Inflammation of the trachea.
Term
tuberculosis
Definition
A chronic, recurrent infection most common in the lungs, although any organ may be affected. Once infection is established (via a PPD skin test and sputum culture), symptoms may develop within months or may be dormant for many years. It specifically refers to a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Active pulmonary TB has a great potential to destroy lung and to kill, but is often asymptomatic except for "not feeling well." Cough, dyspnea, and pleural effusion usually progress over the course of the disease. The most famous symptom, hemoptysis, is usually not seen in the early stages. TB is potentially highly infectious
Term
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Definition
The gram-positive bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
Term
upper respiratory infection (URI)
Definition
The common cold. An acute, usually afebrile viral infection of the respiratory tract with inflammation in any or all of the airways, including the nose, paranasal sinuses, throat, larynx, and often the trachea and bronchi. You are probably familiar with the symptoms.
Term
Wegener's granulomatosis
Definition
An uncommon disease that usually begins as a localized granulomatous inflammation of the upper and/or lower respiratory tract mucosa.
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