Veterinary nursing terminology – Flashcards
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Microbiology
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The study of microorganisms
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Microorganisms
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Organisms which are too small to be seen with the naked eye, usually smaller than a single cell
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Pathogen
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Microorganism that can cause disease
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Saprophyte
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Feeds on dead organic matter
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Aerobic
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Requires oxygen to multiply and grow
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Anaerobic
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Does not require oxygen to multiply and grow
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Direct contact
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Transmission of a disease by the mutual contact of two individuals i.e. skin to skin
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Indirect contact
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Transmission of a disease through a medium i.e. a host or contaminated object
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Colonisation
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Development of an infectious agent on an individual within an area
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Contamination
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The presence of an infectious agent on a body surface or inanimate object which does not naturally occur
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Zoonotic
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A disease that is transmittable between animals and humans
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Infectious disease
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A disease caused by microorganisms
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Non-infectious disease
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A disease not caused by microorganisms
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Contagious disease
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A disease that can be transmitted to others
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Covalescent
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Recovering from a illness or medical treatment
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Incubation period
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The time that elapses between initial infection of a microorganism and the appearence of symptoms
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Disease reservoir
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The place in which a microorganism resides
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Symptomatic
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Exhibiting medical symptoms
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Asymptomatic
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Exhibiting no medical symptoms
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Fomite
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A in-animate object which microorganisms can live on
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Vector
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A animate object which microorganisms can live on or in
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Biological vector
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Acts as an intermediate host in the life cycle of microorganisms or parasites
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Mechanical vector
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Transmits the disease without playing a role, simply transmits infection from the affected animal to the susceptible
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Transport vector/host
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The parasite does not affect the vector but it can shed the parasite at any time
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Vertical transmission
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Transmitted directly from the mother to an embryo, foetus or offspring during pregnancy or childbirth
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Horizontal transmission
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Transmitted among individuals by either direct or indirect contact
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Disease vector
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Usually an insect, tick, or mite that transmits a microorganism from animal to animal or animal to human
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Final definitive host
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A host where a parasite undergoes its final adult reproductive stage
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Paratenic host
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A host which eats the parasite in order for it to undergo its next life stage
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Intermediate host
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A host in which allows the parasite to undergo its next life stage, without the host the parasite cannot mature
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Carrier
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Organism carrying an infection and shows symptoms
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Healthy carrier
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Organism carrying an infection but does not show any symptoms
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Closed carrier
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Organism carrying an infection but does not shed it into the environment
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Open carrier
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Organism carrying an infection and does shed it into the environment
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Insects
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The adult has three pairs of legs and it is divided into three segments; the head, the thorax, and the abdomen
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Arachnids
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The adult has four pairs of legs and it is divided into two segments; the cephalothorax, and the abdomen
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Crustaceans
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Aquatic arthropods
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Microscopic
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Seen with a microscope
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Macroscopic
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Seen with the naked eye
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Barrier nursing
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The precautions and methods used in nursing patients that reduce the risk of transference of infection
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Quarantine
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Segregation of animals of unknown disease status for a period of time prior to entry to a new premises or country
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Antiseptic
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A chemical that destroys or inhibits growth of disease causing microorganisms on living tissue
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Antisepsis
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The prevention of sepsis by using a agent that is safe to use on living tissue
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Disinfectant
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A chemical agent that removes microorganisms on inanimate objects
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Surfectant
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A solution that contains degreasing properties
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Sterilisation
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Process by which all types of microorganisms are destroyed, including spores, by means of heat, radiation and chemicals
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Sepsis
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Presence of microorganisms or their products in the blood or tissue
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Asepsis
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Absence of microorganisms or their products in the blood or tissue
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Isolation
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Separating a patient with a suspected or diagnosed contagious disease from healthy patients
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Passive ventilation
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Using human intervention to control airflow such as opening doors or windows
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Active ventilation
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Using mechanical means to control airflow such as air conditioning
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Nosocomial
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Hospital acquired infection
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MRSA
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Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
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Bacteriostatic
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Inhibits bacterial growth
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Bacteriocidal
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Kills bacterial growth
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Virustatic
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Inhibits viral growth
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Virucidal
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Kills viral growth
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Fungicidal
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Kills fungal growth
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Cestode
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Name for a tapeworm
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Nematode
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Name for a roundworm
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Hazard
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Something that can cause harm
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Risk
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The likelihood of a hazard causing harm
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Tachycardia
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Fast heart rate
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Brachycardia
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Slow heart rate
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Arythmia
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Abnormal heart rhythm
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Tachypnoea
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Fast respiration rate
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Bradypnoea
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Slow respiration rate
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Dyspnoea
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Difficulty breathing
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Pyrexia
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Fever
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Recumbency
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The state in which a animal is lying down and unable to get up
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Ambulatory
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Able to walk
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Paralysis
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Loss of impairment of motor function
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Paresis
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Slight or incomplete paralysis
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Hemiplegia
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Paralysis of one side of the body
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Quadriplegia
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Paralysis of all four limbs
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Decubitus ulcers
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Bed sores and ulcers caused by lying down on bony prominences
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Anorexia
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Lack or loss of appetite for food
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Dysphagia
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Difficulty swallowing
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Pica
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Craving for unnatural food
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Copraphagia
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Preoccupation with faeces; eating faeces
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Polyphagia
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Increased hunger
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Exudate
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A fluid with high content of protein and cellular debris that has escaped from blood vessels and been deposited in tissue or on tissue surfaces
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Erythema
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Redness of the skin caused by congestion of the capillaries in the lowest layers
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Oedema
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Ab or al accumulation of fluid in the cavities and intercellular spaces of the body
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Anuria
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Inability to pass urine
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Dysuria
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Difficulty in passing urine
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Polyuria
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Increase in volume of urine
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Oliguria
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Decrease in volume of urine
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Cystitis
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Inflammation of the bladder
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Pollakiuria
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Urinating frequently during daytime only
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Haematuria
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Blood in the urine
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Biliuria
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Bile in the urine
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Constipation
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Inability to pass faeces
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Dyschezia
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Difficulty passing faeces
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Diarrhoea
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Frequent evacuation of watery faeces
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Tenesmus
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Straining
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Acholic
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Pale grey or clay type faeces
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Melaena
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Black tar-like faeces
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Haematochezia
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Blood in the faeces
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Steatorrhoea
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Fat in the faeces
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Emesis
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Emission of gastric contents through the mouth (active process)
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Regurgitation
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Return of undigested food from the oesophagus (passive process)
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Projectile vomit
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Forceful ejection of the stomach contents
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Retching
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Ineffectual attempts to vomit
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Stercoraceous vomit
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Vomit containing faeces
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Haematemesis
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Vomit containing blood
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Bilious/Cholemesis
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Vomit containing bile
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Polydipsia
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Excessive thirst manifested by excessive water intake
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Urates
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A salt of uric acid
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Intravenous
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Into the vein
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Intramuscular
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Into a muscle
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Suncutaneous
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Under the skin
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Intraosseous
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Into a bone cavity
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Epidural
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Into the epidural space in the spinal column
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Intrathecal
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Into the spinal column, into the cerebrospinal fluid
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Intra-articular
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Into the joint cavity
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Intraperitoneal
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Into the peritoneum
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Intra-arterial
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Into an artery
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Subconjunctival
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Into the conjunctiva of the eye
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Intracardiac
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Into the heart
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Topical
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Directly onto body surfaces
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Intradermal
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Into the dermal layer of the skin
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S.I.D
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Once a day
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Dies
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Daily
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O.D
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One to be taken each day
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B.I.D
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Twice a day
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T.I.D
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Three times a day
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Q.I.D
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Four times a day
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q
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Every
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h
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Hour
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Q4h
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Every four hours
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Qd
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Every day
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Q2d
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Every two days
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Altern.d
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Alternate days
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Prn
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As required
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m.d.u
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Use as directed
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Stat
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Immediately
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o.m
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Every morning
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o.n
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Every night
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a.c
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Before meals
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p.c
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After meals
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Ad lib
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At pleasure
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q.s
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A sufficient quantity
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Rep.
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Repeat
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Amp.
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Ampoule
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Cap.
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Capsule
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Disp.
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Dispense
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et
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And
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PO
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Per os (by mouth)
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Incision
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A clean surgical or non surgical wound
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Laceration
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Wound with jagged edges
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Puncture
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A sharp, small and deep wound
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Abrasion
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A superficial graze on the surface of the skin
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Contusion
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A bruise
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Avulsed
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A wound in which the skin and tissue has separated
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Degloving
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When the skin is pulled cleanly away
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Fistulae
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Tracts, or holes, where they are not supposed to be
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Abcesses
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A collection of white blood cells due to infection which are capsulated in a fibrous layer
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Clean wound
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A surgical wound made under aseptic conditions not entering the respiratory, alimentary or urogenital tract
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Clean contaminated wound
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A surgical wound made under aseptic conditions but with mild contamination; entering the respiratory, alimentary or urogenital tract
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Contaminated wound
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A fresh traumatic or surgical wound with a break in aseptic technique
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Dirty infected wound
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A traumatic wound over six hours old or any surgical wound where ongoing infection is present
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Necrosis
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Cell death and the tissue sloughs off due to severe inflammation
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Gangrene
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Cell death due to loss of local blood supply and purification of the tissue by anaerobic bacteria
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Debridement
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The removal of all dead tissue which is devitalised, contaminated or infected
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Haemorrhage
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Bleeding
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Wound dehiscence
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Wound breakdown
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Mastitis
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Inflammation of the mammary glands
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Parturition
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The process of giving birth
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Distichiasis
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Abnormal growth of hairs on the eyelid margin
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Balanoposthitis
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Inflammation of the penis and prepuce
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Ecdysis
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Shedding of the skin
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Petechiation
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Red spots to the mucous membranes; pinpoint haemorrhage
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Diphasic
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Fluctuations in body temperature
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Phagocytosis
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Ingestion of bacteria by phagocytes
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Miosis
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Constriction of the pupil
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Mydriasis
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Dilation of the pupil
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Coniosis
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Disease or condition caused by dust
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Atelectasis
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Collapsing of the lung
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Nystagmus
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Repetitive involuntary to and fro oscillation of the eye
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Anisocoria
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Unequal sizes of the pupils
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Blepherospasm
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Uncontrollable contractions of the eye muscles
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Epistaxis
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Bleeding from the nose
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Orthopnoea
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Difficulty breathing when sitting or lying down
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Hyperpnoea
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Increased depth and rate of breathing
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Paradoxial
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Not normal or usual
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Hypovolemia
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Decreased volume of blood
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Hyperkalaemia
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Increased potassium levels in the blood
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Metritis
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Inflammation of the uterus
