Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

other autoimmune disorders) may be

suppressed by corticosteroid drugsor by

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

inflammatory bowel diseaseA collec-

tive term for chronic disorders affecting

the small and/or large intestine that

cause abdominal pain, bleeding, and

diarrhoea. Crohn’s diseaseand ulcera-

tive colitisare the most common types

of inflammatory bowel disease.

influenzaA viral infection of the respira-

tory tract (air passages), typically causing

fever, headache, muscle ache, and weak-

ness. Popularly known as “flu”, it is

spread by infected droplets from coughs

or sneezes. Influenza usually occurs in

small outbreaks or every few years in

epidemics. There are 3 main types of

influenza virus: A, B, and C. A person who

has had an attack caused by the type C

virus acquires antibodiesthat provide

immunity against type C for life. Infec-

tion with a strain of type A or B virus

produces immunity to that particular

strain. However, type A and B viruses

are capable of altering to produce new

strains: type A has been the cause of

pandemicsin the last century.

Types A and B produce classic flu

symptoms; type C causes a mild illness

that is indistinguishable from a common

cold. The illness usually clears up com-

pletely within 7–10 days. Rarely, flu takes

a severe form, causing acute pneumonia

that may be fatal within a day or 2 even

in healthy young adults. Type B infec-

tions in children sometimes mimic

appendicitis, and they have been impli-

cated in Reye’s syndrome. In the elderly

and those with lung or heart disease,

influenza may be followed by a bacterial

infection such as bronchitisor pneumonia.

Analgesic drugs(painkillers) help to

relieve aches and pains and reduce fever.

The antiviral drug amantadine may be

given if the person is elderly or has

another lung condition. Antibiotic drugs

may be used to combat secondary bac-

terial infection.

Flu vaccines, containing killed strains

of the types A and B virus currently in

circulation, are available, but have only

a 60–70 per cent success rate. Immunity

is short-lived, and vaccination (recom-

mended for older people and anyone

suffering from respiratory or circulatory

disease) must be repeated annually.

infra-redA term denoting the part of the

electromagnetic spectrum immediately

beyond the red end of the visible light

spectrum. Directed onto the skin, infra-red

radiation heats the skin and the tissues

immediately below it. An infra-red lamp

is one means of giving heat treatment.

infusion, intravenousSee intravenous

infusion.

ingestionThe act of taking any sub-

stance (for example, food, drink, or

medications) into the body through the

mouth. The term also refers to the pro-

cess by which certain cells (for example,

some white blood cells) surround and

then engulf small particles.

ingrowing toenailSee toenail, ingrow-

ing.

inguinalRelating to the groin (the area

between the abdomen and thigh), as in

inguinal hernia.

inguinal herniaA type of herniain

which part of the intestine protrudes

through the abdominal wall in the

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE INGUINAL HERNIA

I

Foreign

organism

Released

chemicals

White blood cell

White cell

engulfing

organism

White blood

cell leaving

blood vessel

INFLAMMATION

Injured skin

Inflamed

tissue

INJURED TISSUE

RESULTING INFLAMMATION