Plain Language Thesaurus for Health
Transcript of Plain Language Thesaurus for Health
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February 2009
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Plain Language Thesaurus
For Health Communications
This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Our aim is to help make health
information clear and easy to understand.
This thesaurus offers plain language equivalents to medical terms, phrases, and referencesthat we often use. The technical terms found in health information can be confusing. This
thesaurus is a tool to help you find words that people may understand better.
While the plain language choices given here may not have the specific nuances of
meaning that technical terms have, they offer the possibility for better understanding by
your audience. With plain language equivalents, it is more important to be understoodthan to be medically precise.
Precise medical terminology is vital when communicating to those with a technical
background. But the public often stumbles over such terms and misunderstands their meaning. This is especially a concern for people who do not speak English as their first
language and those without strong reading skills. Reaching your audience–on their terms–is the main goal of plain language.
This is a living document. It is intended to be refined and to grow as more health
communicators and experts add words, topics, health conditions, and synonyms. We have
started the process of building this tool by defining the scope, format, and broadcategories of terms to be included. Excellent existing resources and glossaries from CDC,
HHS, universities were reviewed for terms and subject areas. Key sources included
• www.pandemicflu.gov glossary
• CDC Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation glossary• National Immunization Program Glossary
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm
• Simple Words and Phrases thesaurus at plainlanguage.gov
• Clear Language and Design (CLAD) thesaurus
http://www.eastendliteracy.on.ca/ClearLanguageAndDesign/thesaurus/
• Harvard’s three Plain Language Glossaries (one for asthma, lupus, and arthritis).
The foundation for the terms in this initial edition was formed when preparing
information for the public health threats of an influenza pandemic. We have also includedother categories of disease and health conditions to provide a tool that can be referenced
to make any health topic more easily understandable.
We invite you to suggest additional terms, plain language synonyms, and topics to be
added in future editions. For more information, please contact Sarah Gregory at CDC by
email at [email protected].
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A
abscesssore, wound, infection
abdomenstomach, stomach area, belly, tummy, abdominal
abilityskill, are able, can
abolishend, do away with, get rid of
abrasioncut, scratch, scrape
absenteeismmissing work or school, how often you miss work or school
absorptiontake in, soak up
acceleratehurry, speed up, make worse, make more severe
accessibleavailable, on hand, understandable, usable (handicapped)
accommodatehouse, let stay with, give shelter, adjust, adapt
accompanygo with, take with (medicine)
accomplishdo, finish
accumulateadd up, gather, collect
accuratetrue, right, correct
acellular vaccinea vaccine that only contains part of the virus
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome-AIDSa disease that makes it hard for your body to fight diseases
active immunitybeing able to fight off a specific disease once you have had that disease
acute
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sudden start, short term, quick
additionalextra, added, more
adequateenough, the right amount
adherestick, follow
adjacentbeside, next to, near, touching
adjuvantsomething added to a vaccine to make it work better
administer give, manage, take care of
adverse eventsomething bad that happens, bad reaction, unexpected or unwanted effects
adverse health effectbad side effect, bad reaction
adversebad, dangerous, hurtful, harmful
advisetell, warn, say
advocacysupport, fighting on behalf of, arguing for support
advocatefight for, support, support person
aerobic exerciseexercise; slow and steady exercise like walking, running, biking, swimming, etc.;exercise that helps your heart stay healthy and work better; exercise that gets your heartpumping; exercise that makes you breath faster
aerobic
needs oxygen
aerosolspray, mist
agencyothers, other groups, partner
aggravatemake worse, harm, anger, hurt
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aggregatetaken together, looked at all together, total, sum, combined
aggressivepushy, dangerous, gets worse fast, fast growing
airwayswindpipe, breathing, tubes that take air in from the nose and mouth to the lungs,
pathway from nose and mouth to lungs, air tubes
alienatepush away, put by itself, turn away from, set apart
allergensomething like pollen that causes the body to react by sneezing or forming a rash;something that causes an allergic reaction
allergicthe body’s reaction to something, like pollen, resulting in sneezing, sniffling, a rash, etc.
allergic reactionbad reaction, possibly deadly reaction, allergy, problem
allergistallergy doctor
allergyreaction, itch, rash, hives, breathing problem
alleviatelessen, ease, soften, improve, make better
alopeciahair loss, balding, loss of hair
alterationchange, shift, adjustment
alternatetake turns, one and then the other, rotate
alternativeoption, another choice, other, different way, another option, different, another way
alveolitiny air sacs in the lungs
amalgam or amalgam fillingssilver-colored fillings, mixture of mercury, silver, tin, copper and sometimes other metalsused to fill cavities in teeth
amalgamateput together, join, combine, unite
ambulate
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walk, move around
ambulatorycan walk, mobile, able to move about, walking, able to walk
amelioratemake better, improve, lessen, ease
amendchange, change later on, adjust, fix
amnesiaforgetfulness, memory loss, not being able to remember
amniocentesistest for a baby’s health before it’s born
amniotic fluidwater, fluid surrounding unborn baby in womb
amyotrophic lateral sclerosisLou Gehrig's Disease, motor neuron disease
anaerobic exerciseexercise, fast-burst exercise, muscle-building exercise like weight lifting
anaerobicneeds lack of oxygen, without oxygen
analgesicpain reliever, aspirin, Advil, or Tylenol
anaphylaxisshock, a sudden and severe allergic reaction, stop breathing, poisoning, life threateningallergic reaction
anemiatired, low iron, a low blood count
anesthesianumbing drug, drug that puts you to sleep or puts you under
anginachest pain
annualyearly, every year, once every year, once a year, each year
annuallyyearly, every year, once every year, once a year, each year
anomalydefect, change, difference, unusual, exception
anorexia
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eating disorder, too thin, not hungry
anterior teethfront teeth
antibioticdrug, medicine, drug that fights bacteria, infection-fighting medicine, medicine that fightsinfection
antibodyyour body’s way to fight off infections, infection-fighting cells, cells that fight infection
antifungal agentdrug to treat fungus infections
antigengerm, bacteria, virus, poison, something in your body that your body tries to fight off,something that helps your body fight disease
anti-inflammatory
a drug to reduce swelling, something that reduces swelling and pain, aspirin, cortisone, adrug that brings down the swelling; drug that prevents swelling
antiphospholipidantibody test a test to see if you’re at risk for blood clots
antiviralmedicine, drug that fights viruses
anti-virus medicinemedicine, drug that fight viruses like the flu
anxietyfear, worry
appellantname, name of the person, you, person making an appeal
aphasicnot able to talk or understand words
applicantyour name, name of the person, person who is applying
applyuse, put on, rub onto, sign up for
appreciatethank, be grateful
appropriatetake, take over, a good fit, proper, right
approximate
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about, guess, around, near, close, estimate, bring together
aptitudeability, skill, gift, talent
aqueouswatery
arguablymaybe, perhaps, possibly, could be
arrhythmiairregular heartbeat, skipped heartbeat, heart problem
arthralgiapain, pain in your joints
arthritispain in joints; disease of the joints that causes swelling, pain, heat, and a sense of stiffness
ascertainfind, find out, learn, make certain
asphyxiatechoke, smother, suffocate
aspirationchoke, breathe in a fluid, take out fluid or tissue to test
assessreview, sum up, evaluate, to determine value, find
assisthelp, aid
associationgroup, relation, organization
asthmadisease, breathing disease; long term disease of swelling of the airways of the lungs;lung disease where you have trouble breathing; disease of lungs or respiratory system
asymptomatic infectionwhen you’re sick, but you don’t feel bad, no symptoms
asymptomaticsomeone who is sick but does not feel or look sick
at the present timenow, right now
ataxicnot able to coordinate movement
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atherosclerosishardening of the arteries, clogged blood vessels
attackviolent start, suddenly overcome by a disease, begin to harm
attempt
try, effortattenuated vaccinevaccine, vaccine that has a weakened form of the virus in it
attireclothes, clothing, to dress, wear
authenticoriginal, real, true, actual
authoritytrusted source, trusted person, official, power
authorizeallow, approve, give the power to, let
autismbrain disorder, illness that makes it hard for someone to talk to other people
autoimmune diseasedisease that makes your body attack itself
autoimmunitybody fighting itself, rejecting problem with your immune system
autonomousfree, by itself, independent
availhelp, aid
availableon hand, at hand, ready, nearby, handy, ready
avian flubird flu
avoiddo not, shun
axillaarmpit
B
bacteria
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germ
become more familiar learn more about...
benignharmless
bereavementgrief after death, loss, sadness, mourning
beveragedrink, fluids, liquids
biannualtwice a year, two times every year
bienniallasting two years, happening every other year, every two years
bilateralwith both sides considered, two-sided, when both sides get a say, even, balanced; onboth sides
biological agentdisease, poison, germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi
biofilms (plaque)sticky film with germs on teeth
biopsytake tissue (usually for testing)
bioterrorismspreading virus or disease to cause fear or hurt
biotaplants and animals
BMIbody mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight, a measure of bodyfat
bona fide
real, true
bone density testbone strength test, a test of how solid and how strong your bones are; test for osteoporosis, xray test for brittle bones
bone marrowarea (or the space) inside your bones where blood cells are made
booster shotshot you get months or years after your vaccine shot, shot to keep you safe from
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disease
brachial neuritisswelling of the nerves in your arms
bradycardiaslow heartbeat
breakthrough infectiongetting a disease even though you’ve been protected against it
breastfeedingnursing/feeding a baby with milk from the breast
breech birthbaby born feet or rear-end first
bronchial tubesthe tubes letting air in and out of the lungs
bronchodilator medicine, drug that helps you breathe easier
bruxismclinching and/or grinding teeth
buccalside of mouth, inside cheek
bursitisswollen, painful joints, disease that causes joint pain
by means of by, using, with
by which timeby then; when
C
calculushard crusty deposit on teeth
capacitysize, amount something holds, ability, space, number open
carcinogencancer-causing
carcinomacancer starting in the skin or organ lining
cardiologist
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heart doctor
cardiologymedical department that treats heart problems
cardiovascular having to do with the heart and blood vessels
caries (dental)cavities, tooth decay, holes in teeth
carrier someone who is sick and can get other people sick; animal that is sick and can makeother animals sick
cartilagethe smooth covering on the end of bones
case fatality ratiohow many people die from a disease
CAT scan (CT scan)test that shows inside body parts, scan, special x-ray, test
cataractsa clouding of the eye that makes it hard for people to see, cloudy eyesight, cloudy vision,eye disease
catheter tube
catastrophedisaster, tragedy
causal associationcauses, leads to, can cause causes your body to react
cauterizeburn the skin, burn tissue (to stop bleeding)
ceaseend, stop, quit
censureblame, punish, limit
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC
central nervous systembrain and spinal cord
cerebral hemorrhagestroke, bleeding in the brain
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cerebrovascular diseasestroke
cerumenearwax
cervix
lower part of the womb
Cesarean deliveryC-section, baby born through surgery, cut abdomen area to get baby out
cessationstopping, quitting, ending
characteristicmark, trait, feature
characterize
tell about, describe, define
chemotherapycancer drug, cancer medicine, cancer treatment
chronicconstant, never ending, does not go away, long term, lasting a long time, long-lasting
chronic diseaselong-lasting disease, disease that lasts for years
chronic health conditionconstant health problem, something that effects your health for a long period of time
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaselung disease, such as asthma or emphysema
circulationblood flow, flow of blood through the body
circumstanceevent, situation, facts
cladegroup of animals that can all get the same disease
claviclecollar bone
cleft lip and/or palateharelip, birth defect(s) that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth
clientyou, name of person, customer
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clinicalwork, studies, a medical setting that involves patients
clinicalmedical, work or studies in a medical setting that involve patients
clinical trial
clinical research study, medical research study
clinically illsick, diseased
close proximitynear, near by, close, close to
coagulateclot, set, clump together
coerce
force, make, press
cognizantaware, know about, think of, have learned
colicstomach pain, sick, fussy or upset baby
collaboratework together, team up, help each other
colonoscopycheck your colon, check your intestines, look inside your intestine, check for coloncancer
comatosein a coma
combinationmix, mixture
combination vaccinea vaccine that helps stop more than one type of disease
commencestart, begin
communicablecatching, can be spread, can be passed to other people, can make other people sick
communicatetell, say, call, write, talk to
community immunity
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group protection from a disease
comparablelike, similar, almost the same as, equal to
compensatemake up, pay, reward
competentskillful, able, well trained
completefinish, fill out, end
completionend, finish, no more
complimentaryfree
complydo, follow, give in, obey, go along with
componentpart, section
composite or composite fillingtooth-colored filling
comprehensivecomplete, covers everything important, thorough, all
compresssqueeze, press down on
comprisebe made up of, include,
compromisedweakened
compulsionwant, urge, desire, drive
conceiveimagine, think up, become pregnant, create
concentrationstrength, focus
concerningabout, for, on
conclude
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end, finish, judge, deem,
conclusivedefinite, final, last,
concur agree, feel the same way
conditiona medical problem, a disease, an illness
conditioningphysical training, training your body, fitness
conductdo, carry on, run, lead
congenitalborn with, inborn, there at birth
conjugate vaccinea specific type of vaccine
conjunctivitiseye infection, pink eye, swelling and redness around your eyes
conscientiouscareful, thoughtful, alert,
consequentlyso, which means that, as a result
consistentstays the same
conspicuousplain to see, obvious, easy to see
constitutemade of, form, make up
constructmake, build
consulttalk with, ask, talk to, see, meet, opinion, discuss
consumeeat, drink, use up
contacttalk to, call, write, talk with, get in touch with, touch
contagious disease
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illness that spreads to others, disease that you can give to other people, disease thatcan make other people sick
contagiouscatching, spreading, able to make others sick, spreadable, a disease that can be spreadfrom one person to another; someone who is sick and might make you sick too, sick
contain
have, keep together, hold
contaminantpollutant, poison, harmful ingredient, harmful chemical
contaminatespoil, infect, dirty, poison, pollute, taint, get dirty
contemplatethink about, consider, ponder
continue to
keep on, still, remain
contraceptivebirth control
contractarrange, agree, make smaller and shorter
contraindicationdangerous to give, not good for, when a drug or procedure may be harmful, wrong,opposite
contributehelp, give, volunteer
controlmanage, have power over, take care of
contusionbruise
convenienteasy to use, on hand, handy, useful
convulsionseizure, spasm, shaking
co-operatehelp, work together, assist
COPDChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, emphysema, a lung disease that makesbreathing hard
coronary heart disease
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heart disease
coronary thrombosisheart attack, blood clot in a blood vessel in the heart
correspondagree with, match, write, email, go with
corroborateconfirm, agree with,
corticosteroidsasthma drug, asthma medicine
cot deathSIDS, sudden infant death syndrome
cough etiquettehow to cough or sneeze
countermeasuresdrugs to help fight sickness; flu shots; vaccines
crib deathSIDS, sudden infant death syndrome
criterionsign, standard
Crohn’s Diseasedigestion disease, problem with bowels
crossbiteupper teeth are biting inside the lower teeth
crown (gold, porcelain or stainless steel)cap that covers tooth (stainless steel most often used on "baby teeth")
cureheal, fix, make better; make completely better
currentlynow, at this moment, right now
cushingoidsigns of high doses of medicine, drug
cutaneousskin related, about the skin, on the surface, skin
cystpus under your skin, boil, cancer cells, lump
cystitisbladder infection, pain when you pee
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D
dander flakes of skin, cradle cap
deceaseddead, passed away, died
deciduous toothbaby tooth
decomposedecay, rot, break down
decontaminate
clean, kill germs, disinfect, purify, sterilize
decreasetake less, cut back, drop, lower, fall, lessen, make less
deficiencylack, not enough
deficientlacking, not enough, poor
deformity
a change from the normal shape, not normal, not a normal shape, oddly shaped
degenerativeweaken, worsen, decline, decay, droop
dehydrateneed water, water loss, remove water, remove water
deltoidarm muscle, muscle in upper arm
dementia
memory loss that gets worse over time, Alzheimer’s
demonstrateprove, show
demyelinating disorder nerve disease
dental cariescavities, tooth decay, holes in teeth
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dental implantfake tooth drilled into jaw bone
dental sealant (pit and fissure sealant)thin layer of plastic painted onto teeth to prevent decay
dentinmain bone-like part of a tooth
deoxygenatedno oxygen, without oxygen
depleteempty, take all of, reduce, sap, lessen
dermalrelated to the skin, skin related
dermatologistskin doctor
dermatologyskin doctor’s office, study of the skin
designatecall, label, name
detectfind, discover
deteriorateget worse, fall apart, become unusable,
determinefigure out, decide, find out, test
detrimentalbad, harmful, dangerous
developcreate, change, grow
developmental disabilityphysical or mental disability, challenged, learning problem
deviatestray, change, take a different path
diabetesdiabetes, disease with too much sugar in the blood, problem with making food intoenergy
diabeticperson with diabetes
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diagnosetest, find out, figure out, learn cause, name
diagnosisfinding out the cause of an illness, condition, disease, medical answer
diarrhea diseasesdiarrhea
difficultiesproblems, trouble
dilatebecome wider, become larger, become bigger, open
dilator something used to make something become larger, wider, or bigger
dilute
weaken, make weaker, add liquid,make less strong
dimensionsize, width, height or length
diminishmake smaller, become less, take less, ebb
diminutivesmall, tiny, very little, petite
diplopia
double vision
directed totold
dischargegoing home, leaving
discloseshow, tell, uncover
discoid
shaped like a disk, round and flat
discolorationchange in color, not the color it normally is, odd color
discontinuestop, end, quit
discusstalk about, talk with, talk over
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diseaseillness, sickness
disguisehide
disorder condition, illness, medical problem
displayshow
dissemination (disseminate)spread, distribute, send out, make available
distalback of
distinguishtell apart, set apart
distributehand out, give, spread, mail
DNAgenes
domicilehome, house
donateto give
donationgift, present
don't be alarmeddon't worry
doseamount of medicine, chemical, or radiation; amount, size
drowsysleepy
due to the fact that...because, due to
dustfine, dry earth, powdery dirt
dwellinghome, house
dysarthria
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slurred speech
dyspepsiaindigestion, heartburn
dysphagiaswallowing disorder, swallowing problem
E
early childhood caries (ECC)baby bottle tooth decay, tooth decay in infants
economicalcheap, low cost, low priced
edema
swelling
edentulousno teetheffectresult, cause
effectiveworks well, good, strong
efficacy ratehow well something works
EHR (Electronic Health Record)synonymous with EMR (Electronic Medical Record) which is a digitally formatted medicalrecord
EKGheart test, test of your heart
electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)heart test, EKG
electrolytes
blood salts, a type of necessary salt found in blood
elevateraise, lift, make higher
eliminatestop, end, drop, get rid of
emaciatedvery thin, starving
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embolismblood clot
embryounborn baby (up to 12 weeks)
emergencyemergency, urgent, threat, disaster, crisis
emphasizestress, point out, highlight
emphysemaa lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
EMR (Electronic Medical Record)chart, medical records, computer medical record; medical record in a digital format
enamelhard covering on outside of tooth
encephalitisswollen brain, brain swelling, swelling of the brain
encephalopathybrain dysfunction
encourageurge
endeavor try, attempt
endocrinehormone system
endodontictreatment of root canal for diseased nerve in tooth
enhanceadd to, improve
environmentall the things around you in your daily life, at home and at work, world around you, your
home
environmental controlremoving harmful things from your home and work; doing something to improve thespace you live in and the air you breathe
epidemicdisease that most people get, widespread sickness
epidemiologydisease study
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epidermisskin
episodeevent, set amount of time, attack, brief time
epizootic
widespread disease in animals
equilibriumbalance
equivalent of equal to
erosionssmall pits, small holes in teeth or bones
erythematosus
red rash on the face
escalateworsen, make worse, get worse, increase, grow, rise
ESRa blood test
estrogenfemale hormone, woman’s hormone
etiology
the cause of
evidentplain to see, visible, seen
exacerbateworsen, make worse
excess ratehow many people become seriously sick during a pandemic
excessive
too much, more than needed
excisecut out, cut off
exertwork hard, push, struggle, exercise
exertioneffort, work
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exhalebreathe out
exhibitshow, display
expectorate
spit, cough, spit out
experiencefeel, have, go through
expertiseknowledge, skill, know-how, training
exposurearound, been around, contact, come in contact with
expressive language
speaking, saying words or sentences
extendmake longer
extremelyvery
F
facilitatemake easier, help
factor cause, reason
failed todid not
family historyhealth information about your close relatives
fallacyerror, myth, not true
fastgo without any food or drink, not eat or drink anything
fatiguetired, weak feeling of the whole body, feeling tired all over
feasible
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possible, doable, workable, can be done, can do
febrilecaused by a fever, feverish
fertilityability to have a baby
fetusunborn baby (12 weeks to birth)
finalizecomplete, end, finish, settle
flarea period of time when symptoms of a disease are worse, when your disease hurts morethan normal
flexiblemoving easily, stretch easily, bend and stretch without hurting; bendable, able to bend
fluctuatechange, rise and fall, go back and forth from high to low, not steady
followingafter
fracturebreak
frequentlyoften, commonly, normally, regularly, many times
fundamentalbasic, real
G
gametesex cell, egg or sperm
general anesthesiaput to "sleep"
generation timetime needed for disease to spread from one person to another
geneticsfamily traits, science or study of family traits, study of blood relatives
genital area
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genital area, privates, [name specific reproductive body parts]
Genital Herpes SimplexHerpes (sores) in the genital area
gestationpregnancy
gingivagums
gingivectomygum surgery, remove or reshape gums to remove space between teeth and gums
gingivitisinflammation of the gums
glaucomaeye disease, increased eye pressure; an eye disease that can lead to blindness
glucosesugar, energy, blood sugar
graduallyslowly, over time
gravidpregnant
Guillain-Barre SyndromeGBS; a disease that makes it hard to move
H
H5N1bird flu virus
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)a lung disease
hallucinate
see things that are not there
hand hygienehand washing
hazardhazard, harmful, danger
hazardousharmful, bad, dangerous, risky
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hazardous wasteharmful trash like used needles, bloody tissues, etc.
hematocrit (hct)amount of red blood cells in the blood
hematocrit testblood test, a test that counts your red blood cells
hematologicalrelated to blood, related to the blood and blood forming organs
hematuriablood in the urine
hemodialysisuse of a machine to clean your blood
hemoglobin A1Ca test to show your blood sugar levels over the last 3 months
hepaticrelated to the liver
hepatitis Adisease that you get from drinking bad water or eating bad food, impaired liver
hepatitis Bdisease that you get from someone else’s blood or from unsafe sex, impaired liver
hepatitis Cliver disease that you get from someone else’s blood or unsafe sex, impaired liver
hepatitis Dvirus that can only be found in your blood if you also have hepatitis B, impaired liver
hepatitis Edisease that you get from drinking bad water or from eating bad food, a disease notfound in the United States, impaired liver
herd immunitygroup protection from disease, community immunity
herpes simplex
cold sores, virus
herpes zoster shingles, a disease that causes painful sores on your skin
high riskdangerous, good chance something will happen
highlyvery probably, most likely, will probably happen
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hivesrash; red, itchy swellings on your skin
Hodgkin’s diseaselymph node cancer
homologoussimilar, like, alike
hormonechemical, natural or manmade chemical that effects your growth, chemicals that helpdifferent parts of your body know how they should work
hostperson; animal
HPAIa dangerous bird flu
HPV
a virus that may cause cervical and/or oral cancer
humidifyto moisten air
hyperglycemiahigh blood sugar
hyperlipidemiahigh cholesterol
hypertensive heart disease
high blood pressure
hypersensitivitystrong reaction
hypertensionhigh blood pressure
hypoglycemialow blood sugar
hyposensitivityweak reaction
hypotensionlow blood pressure
hysterectomysurgery to remove the womb
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I
identicalsame, exactly the same, similar, alike
illness rate or clinical attack ratenumber of sick people; (Use a ratio like “3 in every 10 New Yorkers are sick” or apercentage like “30 percent of all Floridians are sick.”)
illustrateshow, draw, picture
immediatelyat once, right away, now
immerseput completely in, completely cover
immune globulinsomething in your blood that helps fight disease
immuneprotected from, resistant to
immunityprotection from disease, ability to fight off an illness
immunizationgetting a vaccine (shot); vaccine, vaccination
immunizeto protect again disease, usually by a shot
immunologicalrelated to the immune system
immunosuppressionwhen your body can’t fight disease
immunotherapymedical treatment that helps your body fight off diseases
impactionteeth pressing together, teeth not visible above sum line
impairednot normal/something is wrong
impedeget in the way, slow
imperativeimportant, pressing, urgent
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imperceptiblehard to see, hidden; can't be seen
implementstart, begin, put into action; carry out;
inabilitynot able to
in excess of more than
inevitablelikely, will happen
insertput, put into
institutestart
instructedtold, taught
in the absence of without
in the course of during, in
in the event of if
in uteroin the womb, in the uterus
in vitroout of the body, outside the body, laboratory grown, in a test tube
in vivowithin the body, inside the body grown inside animal
inaccuracy
error, mistake, chance that there is a mistake
inactive vaccinea vaccine that uses germs that have been killed
inadvertentlywithout meaning to
inadvisablerisky, not smart, may be dangerous
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inapparent infectionwhen you are sick but you don’t feel bad
incidencehow many people get sick, number of sick people
incident of national significancenational emergency
incipientbeginning, starting
incisecut
incisioncut
incisorsfront teeth, front “biting” teeth, fangs
inclementharsh, extreme, dangerous
incorrectwrong, not true, false
increaseadd to, raise
incubation periodthe length of time a disease is in someone’s body before they feel or look sick
indicatesuggest, point to, show
indicationsign, signal, symptom
indigenouslocal to, comes from, native
individualperson, you, man, woman, one
inexpensivecheap, low cost, low priced
infantbaby
infectdisease spread by germ or virus, to get sick, to make someone sick, to spread a disease
infection
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disease, illness, sickness, virus, bug, illness caused by germs, a sickness you get fromgerms, control how to stop sickness
infectious agentvirus, germs, something that makes you sick, disease, flu, parasite
infectioussomething that can spread disease
infertilesterile, unable to have a baby, unable to become pregnant
inflamemake hot, red, or swollen; swollen
inflammationswelling, injury, sore
inflammatory bowel diseasedigestive system disease, intestinal problems
influenzaflu, a virus
informtell
informationinformation, to learn more
infusionput fluids or drugs directly into your blood
ingestioneating, drinking, swallowing
inhalationbreathing, breathing in
inhalebreathe in, take a breath
inhaler breathing medicine/drug, asthma medicine, device that helps give medicine into the
breathing tubes
inherentnatural, built in, native
inheritacquire, get, obtain, be left
inheritancefrom parents, passing from parent to child
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inhibitcheck, bar, forbid, stop, slow
initialfirst, earliest, basic
inject/injectionshot
injectionshot, to give medicine by needle, booster, dose
innocuoussafe
inquireask
instrumenttool, device
insufficientnot enough, too little, failing, poor
insulinblood sugar
integratecombine with, make part of, mix
intentiongoal, aim, desire, end, plan, purpose
internal organsinside parts of your body (heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, etc.)
interruptstop, break
interventioncare
intrauterine device
IUD, birth control
intravenous (IV)into your vein; into your blood stream, putting drugs or fluids directly into your blood
investigational vaccinevaccine still being tested
irrefutablecertain, final, obvious, proven
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irritablesensitive, complaining, grouchy, testy
irritantbother; pain, pest, problem
isolatea specific type of virus; a specific type of flu
isolation of ill peoplestaying away from people who are sick; keeping sick people at home
J
jaundiceskin and eyes turn yellow
jointwhere bones come together, bone connection
K
kidneyorgan that filters blood
L
lacerateragged cut, tear
lacerationragged cut, tear
lesioncut, injury, wound, sore
ligamentbone connector, joint tissue
lingualon the tongue
live vaccinea vaccine that has a weakened form of the virus in it
local anesthesiadrug that causes numbing only in the area of the body where the drug is put by
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spreading it or with a shot
localizedin a small area, only in one place
locatefind, place, settle, turn up
locationplace, spot
long-termfor a long time, over a long period of time
lower respiratory infectionpneumonia
lung functionmeasure of how strong your lungs are
lungsbreathing organs
lymphaticrelated to the lymph system
lymphocyteswhite blood cells, lymph cells
lymphomacancer of lymphatic system
M
macrophagedisease-fighting cell
macular a spot on your cornea; eye disease, blindness
magnitudeextent, size, how serious
maintaintake care of, keep, keep up
mammogrambreast health test, breast check
malignantcancer
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malignant tumor cancer, tumor, mass
malocclusioncrowded teeth, misaligned teeth, crossbite, overbite, underbite, open bite
manage
control, direct, be in charge of, take care of, watch
mandiblelower jaw
manifestclear, plain, evident, show
maskhide
mastectomy
breast cancer surgery; surgery to remove your breast
maxillaupper jaw
maximumthe largest possible, the most
medicationdrug, pill, medicine
medicine
drug, medication
melanomaskin cancer
memory cella cell that helps your body quickly fight diseases that you’ve gotten before
menopausewomen’s “change of life”, the change, time in a woman's life when her periods stops, nolonger have periods
menstruationperiod
mental health conditionmental disorder, mental illness
mentalityframe of mind, mind, outlook, feeling
mesialfront of
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metabolismprocess of getting energy from food, converting food into energy
mgmilligram
microbes
very tiny fungi, sometimes viruses, that are too small too see; bacteria, protozoa
might qualifymight get
migratemove, travel
migrationmoving, transfer, traveling
mild
gentle, not severe, slight, small
mildewfungus that grow in damp warm areas
minimalleast, small, smallest
minimizemake smaller, make less, lessen, reduce
miniscule
very small, tiny
miscarriagelose the baby, miscarry
mitesvery tiny, spider-like, animals that cause allergies and skin rashes
mitigatemake less harmful, soften, lessen, reduce
mobility
ability to move
moderatemedium, mild, controllable
modifychange
molarsback teeth, back “grinding” teeth
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moldgrowth on food and damp surfaces
monitor watch, check on, watch for changes, device that measures changes
morbiditydiseased, sick, ill
mortalitydeath
mortality ratenumber of deaths
motor vehicle accidentcar crash
MRSAbacteria that resists antibiotics
mucosal (mucus) membranessoft, moist areas just inside the openings to your body
mucusphlegm, nose fluid, mouth fluid, throat coating
multiple sclerosiscentral nervous system disease, MS
muscle contractionmuscle twitch, movement
mutagencause
mutationchange over time, change, difference, different
myocardial infarctionheart attack
N
narcoticaddictive pain medicine, drug
nebulizer asthma medicine mister
necessaryneeded
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negligentcareless, lax, not careful
neonatal deathinfant death, death in the first month of life
neonatal
newborn, baby for first month of life
neonatologistbaby doctor, baby doctor for preemies
nephrologystudy of kidney problems
neuraminidaseenzyme on the surface of the virus
neuritisswelling of a nerve
neurologicrelating to the nervous system, brain or spinal cord
neurologicalrelated to the brain and nervous system
neurologystudy of the nervous system
neuropathydisease of the nervous system
neutralizecancel, stop, offset
nominalsmall, not important, token, cheap, not costly
nonpharmaceutical interventionways to stop the spread of illness without drugs, such as hand washing, coveringsneezes, closing schools, etc.
nosocomialan infection you catch in the hospital
notificationnotice
noxiousdangerous, poisonous
nutrition
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food, meal, diet, healthy food
nutritiouswholesome, food that is good for you, healthy eating, healthy food
O
obesitydangerously overweight, too heavy
objectivegoal, end
obscurehidden, unclear, blur, confuse
observationclose look, remark, watching, sighting
observelook closely, watch, see, detect, find, notice, see
obstetricianpregnancy doctor
obstructblock, stop
obstructionbarrier, block, hurdle
obtainget
obviousclear, plain, easy to see
occasionallysometimes, not often, once in a while
occlusalchewing or grinding surface of back teeth
occupation job, work
occupational therapistsomeone who helps people who are sick or injured learn or relearn activities of daily life
occupational therapytherapy that helps you relearn everyday activities
occur
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happen, take place, result
occurrenceevent
on an empty stomachdo not eat or drink
open biteupper and lower front teeth do not touch even when mouth is closed and/or back teethare touching
opportunistic infectioninfection you get because you’re already weak
optic neuritiseye disease, disease of the eyes
optimal/optimum
best, best way
optionchoice, way
oralmouth and jaw
oral consentyou say it is OK for the doctor to do a test or procedure
oral medication
medication you swallow
oral surgerymouth operation, mouth surgery, teeth operation
orchitisside effect of mumps
originatestart, begin, create
orthodontic
braces, teeth straightening
orthopedic surgeonbone and joint doctor
orthopedic'sbone and joint doctor’s office
orthoticsupport or brace
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ossificationbone formation, hard, stiff
osteonecrosisbone death
osteoporosisbrittle bones
otitis mediamiddle ear infection
outbreakbeginning, start, onset
outermostfarthest, top
ova/ovumegg/eggs, a woman’s egg/eggs
overabundancetoo much, excess
overbitefront upper teeth overlap lower teeth, "bucktoothed"
P
palatablepleasing, tasty, good
palateroof of mouth
pandemic fludeadly flu, fast and wide-spread flu
pandemic vaccinepandemic flu vaccine
panzootica flu pandemic in animals, a deadly flu pandemic in animals, fast and wide-spread flu inanimals
papulesmall red dot on your skin, skin rash
paralysiscan’t move
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parameter limit, factor, value
paramountmost important
parasiteanimal or plant living off another animal or plant
participatetake part, join, share
passive immunitytemporary disease protection from mother, disease protection from vaccine
pathogengerm, virus, disease-causing agent
pathogenicdisease causing
peak flow meter small tool used to measure how fast you can blow out air
peak flowthe fastest you can blow out air
pediatricianbaby doctor; children’s doctor
pedodontic (pediatric dentistry)children's dentistry
pendingcoming, until, waiting on something or someone
perforationhole
performdo, carry out, act
pericarditisheart inflammation, swelling of the tissue covering the heart
perinatalnear the time of birth
perinatal deathdeath around birth, stillborn
perinatologisthigh-risk pregnancy doctor, doctor for pregnancy at risk
periodontal disease (periodontitis)
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gum disease
periodontictreatment of gum disease and related bone loss
peripheryedge, boundary, outside
peritoneumlining of your stomach, belly, tummy
permanentlasting, long term, forever
permitallow, let
permutationchange
perseverehold on, keep at, last, keep trying, not give up
persistentthere all the time, constant, doesn’t go away, not giving up
personal protective equipment (PPE)gowns, face shields, gloves, face masks, and respirators, hearing protection, protectiveclothing
personnel
people, staff
perspiresweat
persuadeconvince, talk into, win over, urge
pertinentfitting, important
petechiae
tiny red or purple spot on your skin,
pharmacistdruggist, drug dispenser
photosensitivesun-sensitive, sensitive to the sun
physical/physicallybody, bodily, real
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physical activityof the body, exercise, movement
physical examinationcheck-up, doctor’s appointment
physical therapist
someone who treats pain and weakness by exercise
physical therapytreatment of pain and weakness through exercise
physiciandoctor
picacraving, dirt or clay eating, unusual appetite; eating materials that are not food
pictographs
symbols (examples below)
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PIDPelvic inflammatory disease
pigmentationcolor
pit and fissure sealant (dental sealant)thin layer of plastic painted onto teeth to prevent decay
placebosugar pill, drug with no active ingredient and will cause no effect
placedput
placentaorgan that attaches umbilical cord to the inside of the womb
plaquesticky film with germs on teeth
plateletblood clotting cell
pleurisylung inflammation
pneumonialung infection
POtaken by mouth, eat or drink
podiatrytreating feet problems, medical care for feet, foot doctor
poliomyelitispolio; a disease that can make you unable to move
pollutedirty, poison, taint, spoil
polysaccharide vaccinessugar vaccines
polyurethaneplastic
portionpiece, amount, part, serving
position job, rank, class, grade
possess
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have, own
possibilitychance
posterior teethback teeth
post-exposure prophylaxisdrug given to someone who has been near someone sick, prevention drug, drugs toprevent the spread of disease
post-partum depressionbaby blues, overwhelmed, depressed, unexplained sadness after having baby
postponeput off, wait, delay
potencystrength, force, power, level, dose
precautionsafeguard, caution, guard, care
predicamentproblem, bad situation, plight, difficulty
pregnancypregnant, expecting a baby
preliminaryearly, not final, initial
pre-pandemic vaccinepandemic flu or deadly flu vaccine; shot
preparednessreadiness, alertness, to be ready, to prepare, be prepared, planned
prepuceforeskin
prerogativeright, choice
prescriber doctor, nurse, any medical person who is licensed to write prescriptions
prescriptiondoctors orders, medicine, drug order,
presentgive, send, now, show, here
prevalence
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number of sick people, spread, disease spread, number, figure
preventstop, keep from happening, forbid, bar, keep
preventive(i.e.; preventive services) practices that help keep you well
preventionstop, bar, not permitted, not allowed, to avoid ill effects
primary teethbaby teeth, first teeth
principalmain, first, head, chief, most important
prior tobefore
probabilitychance, likelihood
proximalnear to, close, area closer to the center of the body
proceduresteps, method, course of action, how-to, way, test
proceedgo, move forward
prodromalsigns of disease or attack
proficientskilled, experienced, able, apt
progressionmove forward, go on, get worse, advance
prohibitban, forbid, prevent
projectileflying object, fast object, thrown object
proliferategrow, spread, reproduce
prophylacticpregnancy prevention drug, sickness prevention drug, birth control, condom
prophylaxisprevention, protection
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prophylaxis (dental, oral)basic teeth cleaning
prostategland in male body that makes semen
prostatitis
infection of the prostate
prosthodontictreatment using crowns, bridges, partials and/or dentures
protocolway of doing things, method, standard, step-by-step process, rules, code
providegive, offer, send, supply
provider
professional, insurer
provokemake worse, cause, anger, annoy
proximalnear to, close, area closer to the center of the body
psoriasisa dry, scaly, skin rash
psoriatic arthritis
joint swelling disease with skin rash
psychiatristmental health doctor, shrink
psychiatrystudy of mental health
PSAprostate test, prostate check
PTSD
problem with fear after seeing or having a fearful event, flashbacks of negativeexperience
public healtheveryone’s health, our health, health of the community as a whole
puff a short, gentle burst; a small breath
pulmonary
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related to the lungs
pulmonary cancer cancer of lung, trachea, bronchus
pulmonary care unitlung disease treatment area of hospital
pulmonary fibrosislung disease, scarring of lung tissue, shortness of breath
pulmonologistlung doctor
pulmonologystudy of lung disease
pulptooth nerve
pulpectomyremove nerve from tooth
pulpitisinfection of nerve inside tooth
pulpotomytake out the nerve from a tooth
purchasebuy
purulentpus
pyrexiafever
Q
qualifiedsuited, capable; has the education to perform, license to perform
quarantineisolate, staying away from other people, staying home by yourself
R
RArheumatoid arthritis, disease of joints
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radiationenergy, rays, waves, heat
radioisotopemedicine, special medicine, drug or radioactive tracer
radiologist
a doctor who studies x-rays and other images, x-ray specialist, x-ray doctor
radiologyx-ray department
radionuclidemedicine, special medicine or drug
rampantunchecked, raging, uncontrolled
rapid diagnostic test
fast result test, quickly check if someone is sick
rationalereason, thinking, intent, purpose
Raynaud’s syndromecirculatory disease
reactiona response
reassortment
change, new type of virus
receiveget, admit, welcome
receptive languageunderstanding
recipientperson who gets something
recognizeaccept, know, see, find
recombinantnew gene combination
recommendadvise, suggest, urge, says
recover get better, feel better, heal
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recrudescencerelapse, to get sick again
recuperateget better, feel better, get well, recover
recur
come back, get again, happen again
reducelower, cut, trim, dilute
redundantextra, not needed, excess, surplus, spare
refillsnumber of times one can get more medicine from the drugstore without going back tothe doctor
refluxspit up, backward flow of body fluid
regardingabout
regimendiet, plan, program
register sign up, sign inregular
usual, normal, everyday, common
regulatecontrol, restrict, watch over, govern
regulationrule, law
rehabilitateget better, restore
reimbursepay back, refund
reinforcemake stronger, brace, support
reiteraterepeat, say again
relief feel better, ease, not as bad, less painful, more comfortable
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relieveease, make better, soothe, rest
remissionwhen a disease is not active
renal
related to the kidney
requestask for, beg
requireneed, ask for
requirementsneeds, regulations
rescind
cancel, take away
resemblelook like, take after, match
residebe in, live in
residencehome, apartment, house
Residual Seizure Disorder
seizures, sudden attack, brain problem
respirationbreathing, taking in oxygen
respiratory therapistbreathing therapist
respiterest, relief, quiet time
respondanswer, react to
restorationfilling, fix a tooth, tooth replacement
restrainhold back, stop
restrictlimit,stop
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restrictionslimitations, changes
retainkeep
retrieve
get, bring back, get back
returngo back
revealshow, tell
reviewgo over, check;
Reye’s Syndrome
brain disease in children
rheumatoid arthritisdisease of joints, joint swelling
rheumatologist joint, bone, and immune system doctor
rheumatologystudy of the immune system, joints, and bones
rigorous
hard
risk reductionlowering the chances, making less likely
riskchance
root canalremove the nerve from inside the root of a permanent tooth
root planing and scaling
deep tooth cleaning
Rotavirusgerm causing stomach flu
RubellaGerman measles
Rubeolameasles
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rupturebreak, burst, break open
S
sanitaryclean, germ free, healthful
sanitizeclean, wash, clean up, make germ-free, disinfect
SCsubcutaneously, shot into fat, injection into fat
scaling and root planingremoval of hard and soft deposits from teeth above and below gums
Scarlatinascarlet fever
scheduleplan, planning a time to do something
sealant (pit and fissure, dental)thin layer of plastic painted onto teeth to prevent decay
seasonal influenzacommon flu; winter flu
second- and third-order effectsthings that happen as a result of your actions
sector group, community, neighborhood
sedentaryinactive, sitting a lot, couch potato
segmentpart, piece
seizurefit of uncontrolled movements
sensationfeeling
sensitiveeasily hurt, easy to damage, sore
seroconversion
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becoming immune, reacting against disease, fighting disease
serologystudy of blood strength
serosurveytest to see how likely you are to get a disease
severalmany
severestrong, serious, harmful, dangerous, very bad
severityhow bad
shiftchange
shortness of breathdifficulty catching breath, difficult breathing
side effectreaction, reaction to a medicine
significantbig, serious, important
similar like
situatedplaced, located
Sjogren’s syndromedry eyes and mouth
skullhead bones, bones that protect the brain
social distancingstay at home; keep away from people
socializemake friends, talk with people, meet people
solicitask for
sorenesshurt, pain, ache
spasm
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sudden, strong muscle tightening, jerk, painful twist
speciesgroup of plants or animals, same type, alike
spirometer breathing test, breath strength machine, breath strength indicator
spontaneousunplanned, sudden
sprainmuscle injury, muscle tear
stableokay, no change, constant, even, unchanging
staminastrength, endurance
state of readinessready, now ready, prepared
statesay, tell, condition
statusstate, condition
sterileunable to have children, clean
steroidmedicine, drug to lessen swelling, illegal sports drugs
stigmamark, spot, blemish, embarrassment
stimulateexcite, stir up, activate
straintype of germ, type of animal, type of plant
stressphysical strain, mental strain, pressure, worry
stringentstrict, tight, controlled
subclinical infectionminor illness
submit
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give, hand in, send
subsequentfollowing, next, later
subsequentlyafter that, later, afterward
substancechemical, material, matter, stuff
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)crib death; sudden, unexplained death of a baby
sufficebe enough
sufficientenough, plenty, ample
suffocatechoke, smother, not able to breathe
summoncall for, request
sun protection factor sunscreen, sun block
superficialnot important, not harmful, slight
supersedereplace, take the place of
supplementadd to, in addition to, additive, vitamins
supplygive, budget, fund, pool, source, kitty
suppresshold back, stop, slow down
surge capacitybeing able to offer more services in an emergency, ability to expand
surgeryoperation
surgical maskface mask, mask
surveillancekeep a close eye on, watch closely, monitor
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susceptiblemore open to, in danger of getting, likely to get
suturesstitches
symptom
sign (of disease or sickness), indicator, warning
syndromeillness, sickness, condition
synthesissummary, make, take up
synthesizecombine, form, summarize
systematic
planned out, orderly, regular
Systemic Lupus Erythematosusimmune system disease
systemicthroughout your body, in all parts of your body
T
tallusheel
taper reduce, slow, lower, shrink, decrease
tartar crust on teeth, plaque
teleworkwork from home
temperatureheat, fever
temporal associationwhen two things happen at the same time but aren’t actually related to each other
temporaryshort, brief
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teratogenicsomething that can hurt your baby before he is born
terminaldeadly, fatal
terminate
stop, end
testosteronemale hormone
tetanusdisease affecting muscles
therapeutichealing, improving, getting better
therapy
treatment
thereforeso
thimerosaldrug or vaccine preservative
third molarswisdom teeth, last teeth to come into mouth
thrombusclot
time periodtime
titer blood test
titrateto change the dose/level of a medicine
topicalon the surface, on the skin, on the body
toxicologystudy of harmful materials
toxinpoison, pollution
transformchange, alter
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transparentclear, see-through
transpirehappen, take place
transverse myelitis
of the spine, back disease
traumaticshocking, upsetting
treatgive care, take care of, cure, heal
treatmentaction, medicine, therapy
tremor
shaking, trembling
trigger cause, start, bring on, lead to
trimester three months, three month’s time
tuberculosisTB, lung disease
tumor
growth, lump
U
ulcer open sore, canker
ulterior secondary, hidden, alternate, further
ultimatefinal, last
umbilicusbelly button, navel
underbitelower teeth extend past upper front teeth
understand
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know, to get
unfavorablebad, harmful, damaging, unwanted
unnecessarynot needed, needless
upper respiratory systemnose, throat, and windpipe
urinatepee
urticariahives, itch, rash on your skin
until such timeuntil
use cautionbe careful
uteruswomb
utilizeuse, make use of
UVAUV light, sunlight
UVBUV light, sunlight
V
vaccinateto protect against disease, usually by a shot
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting SystemVAERS, a way for doctors to make sure that vaccines aren’t hurting anyone
Vaccine Safety Datalink ProjectVSD, a way for doctors to learn more about vaccines
vaccineshot, flu shot, medicine, immunization
vagueunclear, not for sure, not certain
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validateprove, test
validitytruth, proof
variant
version, slightly different
Varicellachicken pox, herpes zoster
variolasmallpox
varychange, shift
vehiclecar, truck, bus, automobile
verbatimexact, word for word
verifycheck, find out
vesicular blisters, small bumps on your skin
viableable to live, usable, can be used
vicinityarea, location
viral sheddingcoughing and sneezing
viremiaviruses in the blood
virulencestrength; harm; how harmful; how dangerous the disease is
virulentstrong, dangerous
virusgerm
vitalimportant, imperative, crucial
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voluminouslarge, bulky
voluntaryyour choice; on your own; without being forced
vomit
throw up, upchuck, emesis
W
waning immunitynot immune any more; more likel to get sick; lost your disease resistance
warning signsign of trouble; problem; alert
waterfowlwater birds; birds that live on water; ducks, geese, and swans
wheezebreathing problem, difficulty breathing; gasp; gag; pant
whereas
while, but
white spot lesionwhite spot on tooth, beginning decay
whooping coughdisease of the lungs that is very easily spread to others
withholddeny, keep from, hold back, refuse
withstandtake, bear, resist
witnesssee, note, observe
X
x-raypicture of your bones; picture of your insides
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Y
Z
zoonosesdiseases that people can get from animals; diseases that are passed between animalsand people