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Acquired passive immunity
Short-term immunity that comes from antibodies produced in a body other than your own.
Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Suppression of the immune response caused by the progression of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the body's infection-fighting T cells.
Allergy
A hypersensitive/exaggerated reaction by the body to an allergen (a harmless substance that is labeled by the immune system as dangerous).
anaphylaxis
A severe, potentially life-threating allergic reaction. This type of reaction comes on suddenly, usually within minutes of exposure to an allergen.
Autoimmune disease
Disease in which the immune system attacks the cells or tissues in one's own body.
Edema
Swelling.
Immunodeficiency disorder
Disorder in which one or more parts of the immune system are deficient or missing.
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
A malignant cancer that starts in the lymphocytes; includes any type of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Sepsis
Life-threatening condition in which infection-fighting chemicals released into the bloodstream trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Opportunistic
A pathogen that normally does not cause a disease unless the immune system is in a weakened state.
leukemia
Cancer of the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow; causes an excessive increase in WBCs.
lymphoma
Malignant cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue.
Mononucleosis (mono)
Acute, infectious illness, usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and marked by an increased number of atypical lymphocytes and monocytes.
Inflammatory
Marked by inflammation (redness, heat, fever, and swelling) or caused by inflammation.
Pandemic
A disease that spreads over most of the world.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Malignant cancer of the lymphatic tissue in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.
genetic
Inherited; passed on from one's biological parents. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder.
Idiopathic
Having an unknown etiology (cause).
Neoplastic
A new, abnormal growth that may be cancerous.
terminal
A disease for which there are treatments but no cure.
Splenomegaly
Enlargement of the spleen often associated with the destruction of blood cells; resulting in anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia.
iatrogenic
An infection or disease that arises as a complication of medical or surgical intervention. Radiation and chemotherapy commonly produce the iatrogenic effects of nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and anemia.
malignant
Used to describe cancers that tend to spread, get progressively worse, and become life threatening.
Nosocomial
An infection acquired in a hospital setting; not present upon admission.
biopsy
The removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination to determine the presence of disease.