Inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord; It is usually caused by a virus or bacterium.

The general type of illness a patient is experiencing.

The buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that can result from a primary illness.

The collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs.

A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide. in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

The buildup of excess base (lack of acids) in the body fluids.

A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible.

A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation. A device that straps onto the face and forces air to open the alveolar space.

Otherwise known as a heart attack. Death of heart muscle following ostruction of blood flow.

Transient (short lived) chest discomfort caused by partial or temporary blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.

One of the two upper chambers of the heart.

A slow heart rate - less than 60 beats/min

A disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs.

Death of a body tissue, usually caused by interruption of its blood supply.

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.

A swelling or enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting in weakening of the arterial wall.

A sensation experienced before a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to happen.

The inability to understand and/or produce speech.

A disorder in which abnormal electrical discharges occur in the brain, causing seizures and possible loss of consciousness.

Seizures that result from sudden high fevers, most often seen in children.

A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain.

A seizure characterized by severe twitching of all the body's muscles that may last several minutes or more; formerly known as a grand-mal seizure.

An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. Another term for stroke.

Weakness on one side of the body.

A condition of sudden onset of pain within the abdomen, usually indicating peritonitis.

Black, foul smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood.

Another term for vomiting.

Paralysis of the bowel arising from many possible causes.

Severe kidney failure resulting in the buildup of waste products within the blood.

A form of hyperglycemia in uncontrolled diabetes in which certain acids accumulate when insulin is not available.

One of the basic sugars. The primary fuel for cells in the body.

A hormone produced by the islets of Langerhans (in the pancreas) that enables glucose in the blood to enter cells.

Excessive thirst that persists for long periods despite reasonable fluid intake; often the result of excessive urination (polyuria).

A hereditary condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood's normal clotting factors.

A hereditary disease that causes normal, round red blood cells to become oblong or _______ shaped.

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Localized areas of swelling beneath the skin, often around the eyes and lips, but can also involve other body areas as well.

Small areas of generalized itching and/or burning that appear as multiple raised areas on the skin. Also known as hives.

A raised, swollen, well-defined area on the skin resulting from an insect bite or allergic reaction.

A state of overwhelming obsession or physical need to continue the use of a substance.

A drug that produces sleep or altered mental consciousness.

The need for increasing amounts of a drug to obtain the same effect.

How a person functions or acts in response to his or her environment.

A persistent mood of sadness, despair, and discouragement. May be a symptom of many different mental and physical disorders, or may be a disorder on its own.

A serious behavioral condition in which a person exhibits agitated behavior combined with disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions. May also be called mania.

A mental disorder characterized by the loss of contact with reality.

A complex, difficult-to-identify mental disorder whose onset usually occurs in early adulthood. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations (auditory and visual), a lack of interest in pleasure, and erratic speech.