anisocytosis
presence of red blood cells of unequal size
bacteremia
transient presence of bacteria (or other microorganisms) in the blood
erythropenia
an abnormally reduced number of red blood cells
hemolysis
Destruction of red blood cells
hemorrhage
the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time
leukopenia
an abnormal lowering of the white blood cell count
macrocytosis
presence of large red blood cells
poikilocytosis
presence of large, irregularly shaped red blood cells
polycythemia
an abnormal increase in the number of red cells in the blood
splenomegaly
an abnormal enlargement of the spleen
thrombopenia
abnormally reduced number of platelets
toxemia
The presence of toxins in the bloodstream
AIDS
a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
allergy
hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen
anaphylasis
acute, immediate, and severe allergic reaction. It can be relieved by antihistamines.
anemia
Reduced number or size of the red blood cells; a symptom of any of many different diseases, including some nutrient deficiencies
anthrax
disease is caused by a bacteria and can be sent in a powdery form for bio terrorism and leads to difficulty breathing and even death
autoimmune disease
A disease in which the immune system attacks the organism's own cells
botulism
food poisoning characterized by paralysis and often death; caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum
communicable disease
A disease that is spread from one host to another
diphtheria
an acute bacterial infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract
dyscrasia
any abnormal condition of the blood
edema
Swelling caused by excess fluid in the body tissues
fungemia
fungal infection that spreads throughout the body by way of the bloodstream
gas gangrene
infection of a wound caused by various anaerobic bacteria; produces a fermentation gas, necrosis, and septicemia
hematoma
the collection of blood under the skin as the result of blood escaping into the tissue from damaged blood vessels. bruise
hemoglobinopathy
a blood disease characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobins in the blood
hemophilia
sex-linked recessive disorder defined by the absence of one or more proteins required for blood clotting
hemorrhagic fever
An infectious disease that causes internal bleeding
Hodgkin's disease
Malignant tumor of lymph nodes
latrogenic disease
Disease that is caused by medical intervention or treatment
idiopathic disease
disease that develops without a known or apparent cause
immunodeficiency
Failure of the immune system
immunosuppression
lowering the body's normal immune response to invasion by foreign substances
incompatibility
the degree to which the body's immune system will try to reject foreign material (as transfused blood or transplanted tissue)
infection
the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
inflammation
a response of body tissues to injury or irritation
influenza
viral infection of the respiratory system characterized by chills, fever, body aches, and fatigue.
leukemia
cancer characterized by an increase in abnormal white blood cells
lymphadenitis
inflammation of lymph nodes
lymphoma
malignant tumor of lymph nodes and lymph tissue
malaria
an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito
measles
an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash
mononucleosis
a condition caused by the Epstein-Barr virus characterized by an increase in mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the blood, along with enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), fatigue, and sore throat (pharyngitis)
necrosis
abnormal condition of death (cells and tissue die because of disease)
nosocomial infection
an infection acquired during hospitalization
plague
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
rabies
an acute viral infection that is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite or saliva of an infected animal
septicemia
a systemic disease caused by the infection of microorganisms and their toxins in the circulating blood
smallpox
a highly contagious viral disease caused by variola virus, characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars
staphylococcemia
The presence of the Staphylococcus bacterium in the blood
streptococcemia
the presence of the bacterium streptococcus (strep) in the blood
tetanus
an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds that causes spasms and paralysis
thymoma
tumor of the thymus gland
antibiotic therapy
a therapeutic treatment involving the use of a substance with known toxicity to bacteria
anticoagulant
medicine that prevents or retards the clotting of blood
antiretroviral therapy
application of drugs to battle against a class of viruses that tends to mutate quickly, known as retroviruses, of which HIV is a member
attenuation
dilution or weakening of virulence of a pathogen, reducing or abolishing pathogenicity
autologous transfusion
Removal and then reinfusion of a patient's own blood or blood components.
blood chemistry
a test of the fluid portion of blood to measure the presence of a chemical constituent (pH, cholesterol, albumin etc.)
blood culture
test to determine infection in the blood by placing a blood sample on a nutritive media in an effort to grow populations of bacteria for analysis
blood transfusion
the introduction of blood or blood plasma into a vein or artery
bone marrow transplant
transplantation of healthy bone marrow from a compatible donor to a diseased recipient to stimulate blood cell production
coagulation time
blood test to determine the time it takes for blood to form a clot
complete blood count
Determination of the number of red and white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell indices (MCH, MCV, MCHC) in a sample of blood.
differential count
a determination of the number of each type of white blood cell (leukocyte) seen on stained blood spear
hematocrit
percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of blood
hemoglobin
iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen for delivery to cells
hemostasis
surgical procedure of stopping the flow of blood (as with a hemostat)
homologous transfusion
Transfusion of blood that is voluntarily donated by another person
immunization
process by which resistance to an infectious disease is induced
immunology
the branch of medical science that studies the body's immune system
immunotherapy
use of immune cells, antibodies, or vaccines to treat or prevent disease
lymphadenectomy
surgical removal of a lymph node
platelet count
number of platelets per cubic millimeter or microliter of blood
prophylaxis
the prevention of disease
red blood count
measures the number of red blood cells per cubic centimeter
splenectomy
surgical removal of the spleen
thrombolysis
the process of breaking up and dissolving blood clots
vaccination
inoculating someone so as to create an immunity to something
vaccine
substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity