Health / Disease Glossary

Health Statistics Review: The analysis of existing health information (i.e., from death certificates, birth defects registries, and cancer registries) to determine if there is excess disease in a specific population, . . . View Full Definition

Hectic Fever: A daily recurring fever with profound sweating, chills, and flushed appearance-- often associated with pulmonary tuberculosis or septic poisoning.

Hemagglutinin: One of the enzymes found on the surface of the Influenza virus. It is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected.

Hemorrhagic Fever: The viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a diverse group of animal and human illnesses that are caused by four distinct families of RNA viruses. All types of VHF are characterized by fever an . . . View Full Definition

Herd Immunity: A type of community protection from disease that occurs when the vaccination of a portion of the population (or herd) provides protection to unvaccinated individuals by making it less likely . . . View Full Definition

Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART): A treatment to combat AIDS using several different antiretroviral drugs at the same time.

Hives: A skin eruption of smooth, slightly elevated areas on the skin which is redder or paler than the surrounding skin. Often attended by severe itching. Also called cynanche trachealis. In the m . . . View Full Definition

Horizontal Transmission: Transmission of an infection between members of the same species that are not in a parent-child relationship. (cf. vertical transmission)

Hospital Acquired Infection: Nosocomial infections are infections which are a result of treatment in a hospital or a healthcare service unit, but secondary to the patient's original condition.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): The causative agent of AIDS. There are two main strains known as HIV-1 and HIV-2, and a large number of strains within these two types.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV): A diverse group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals. Over 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been identified. Some HPV ty . . . View Full Definition

Iatrogenic: Disease (often infection) caused as a result of medical procedures such as surgery, catheterization etc.

Immunity: Having sufficient biological defenses to avoid a specific disease.

Immunization: The process of rendering an individual protected (immune) against a certain disease. Vaccination is a way to produce immunization.

Immunocompromised: Individuals whose immune system is weakened by any of a number of factors including disease (eg AIDS), disease treatment (eg chemotherapy or immune suppressant drugs given to transplant pati . . . View Full Definition

In Vitro: In an artificial environment outside a living organism or body. For example, some toxicity testing is done on cell cultures or slices of tissue grown in the laboratory, rather than on a livi . . . View Full Definition

In Vivo: Within a living organism or body. For example, some toxicity testing is done on whole animals, such as rats or mice [compare with in vitro].

Inanition: Exhaustion from lack of nourishment; starvation.

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