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< prev - next > Where There Is No Doctor - A village health care handbook (Printable PDF)
419
Vocabulary
This vocabulary is listed in the order of the alphabet:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Words marked with a star (*) are usually not used in this book but are
often used by doctors or found on package information of medicines.
Most names of sicknesses are not included in this vocabulary. See the
Index (yellow pages) and read about the sickness in the book.
A
Abdomen The part of the body that contains the
stomach, liver, and guts. The belly.
Abnormal Different from what is usual, natural, or
average. Not normal.
Abscess A sac of pus caused by bacterial or other
infection. For example, a boil.
Acne (pimples) A skin problem causing bumps
on the face, chest, or back that form small white
‘heads’ of pus or sometimes ‘blackheads’ of dirt. Most
common in young people (adolescents).
Acute Sudden and short-lived. An acute illness is
one that starts suddenly and lasts a short time. The
opposite of ‘chronic’.
Acute abdomen An emergency condition of the
abdomen that often requires a surgical operation.
Severe pain in the belly with vomiting and no diarrhea
may mean an acute abdomen.
Adolescent The years in which a child becomes an
adult. The teens: 13 to 19 years old.
Afterbirth See Placenta.
Alcoholism A continual need a person cannot
control to overuse alcoholic drinks such as beer, rum,
wine, etc.
Allergy, allergic reaction A problem such as an
itching rash, hives, sneezing, and sometimes difficult
breathing or shock that affects certain people when
specific things are breathed in, eaten, injected, or
touched.
Amebas (also amoebas) Tiny animals that live
in water or in the gut and can only be seen with a
microscope. They can cause diarrhea, dysentery,
and liver abscess.
Amputation Loss of a body part.
Analgesic Medicine to calm pain.
Anemia A disease in which the blood gets thin
for lack of red blood cells. Signs include tiredness,
pale skin, and lack of energy. See also Pernicious
anemia.
Antacid Medicine used to control too much
stomach acid and to calm stomach upset.
Antibiotic Medicine that fights infections caused by
bacteria.
*Antiemetic Vomit-control medicine. A medicine
that helps keep people from vomiting or feeling
nauseated.
Antihistamine Medicine used to treat allergies such
as hay fever and itching. Also helps control vomiting
and causes sleepiness.
Antiseptic A soap or cleaning liquid that prevents
growth of bacteria.
Antispasmodic Medicine used to relieve cramps or
spasms of the gut.
Antitoxin Medicine that acts against or neutralizes
a poison or toxin. Often made from the blood serum
of horses.
Antivenom (anti-venin) An antitoxin used to treat
poisoning from a venom, such as snake poison.
Anus The opening at the end of the gut between the
legs; asshole.
Aorta The main artery or vessel that carries blood
out of the heart to the body.
Apoplexy An old word for stroke. See Stroke.
Appendix A finger-like sac attached to the large
intestine (gut).
Appropriate Something that is easiest, safest,
and most likely to work in a particular situation or
condition.
Artery A vessel carrying blood from the heart
through the body. Arteries have a pulse. Veins, which
return blood to the heart, have no pulse.