Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «M»:
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Meningitis, benign recurrent aseptic
Meningitis, benign recurrent aseptic: Recurring meningitis without identifiable cause that leaves no residual damage to the nervous system. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is also called Mollaret meningitis.
The cause of benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is not known.
Benign recurrent aseptic ...
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Meningitis, cryptococcal
Meningitis, cryptococcal: Inflammation of the
meninges due to infection with the fungal organism
cryptococcus neoformans, which is found mainly in dirt and
bird droppings. Most people have been exposed to this
organism at some time, but normally it causes no problems.
Often associated with AIDS...
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Meningitis, infectious
Meningitis, infectious: Meningitis caused by
bacterial, viral, or protozoan infection. Most of the
agents known to cause meningitis are infectious, but very
few people exposed to them will get meningitis. Those at
greatest danger include people with AIDS, infants,
transplant patients, and other...
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Meningitis, Kernig sign of
Meningitis, Kernig sign of: This clinical hallmark of
meningitis, inflammation
of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, is tested for by having the
person lie supine (flat on the back), flex the thigh so
that it is at a right angle to the trunk, and completely extend the...
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Meningitis, meningococcal
Meningitis, meningococcal: Inflammation of the
meninges (the membranes covering of the brain and spinal cord) due to infection with the meningococcus bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
Meningococcal meningitis typically starts like the flu with the sudden onset of an intense headache, fever, sore t...
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Meningitis, Mollaret
Meningitis, Mollaret: Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis.
The cause of Mollaret meningitis is not known.
Mollaret meningitis is distinguished from viral meningitis by its recurrent character with symptom-free intervals between episodes. Symptoms include headache, neckache, fever, and neck stiffness...
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Meningitis, neoplastic
Meningitis, neoplastic: A condition due to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the meninges, the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
The term is a misnomer because the condition is not inflammatory. It is more properly called meningeal carcinoma or meningeal metastase...
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Meningitis, tuberculous
Meningitis, tuberculous: See: Tuberculous meningitis....
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Meningitis, viral
Meningitis, viral: Inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord) caused by a virus, usually one of the enteroviruses such as the
mumps virus or Coxsackievirus. Viral meningitis can be a complication the common childhood diseases, including chickenpox.
Symptoms inc...
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Meningocele (MM)
Meningocele (MM):Protrusion of the membranes that cover the spine and part of the spinal cord through a bone defect in the vertebral column. MM is due to failure of closure during
embryonic life of bottom end of the neural tube, the structure which gives rise to the
central nervous system (the brain...
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Meningococcal infection
Meningococcal infection: Infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. (Neisseria was formerly called Meningococcus and the term "meningococcal" is still entrenched.)
Persons with a meningococcal infection may have any of several acute illnesses, including:
meningitis and sepsis (blood infe...
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Meningococcal meningitis
Meningococcal meningitis: Inflammation of the
meninges (the membranes covering of the brain and spinal cord) due to infection with the meningococcus bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
Meningococcal meningitis typically starts like the flu with the sudden onset of an intense headache, fever, sore th...
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Meningococcal vaccine
Meningococcal vaccine: A vaccine to prevent meningococcal infection, including meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal infection is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and can be fatal.
A meningococcal vaccine was li...
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Meningococcus
Meningococcus: A type of bacteria now formally known as Neisseria meningitidis, which is responsible for a number of meningococcal diseases including epidemic bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord.
In technical terms, the meningococcus (Neisseria meningi...
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Meningoencephalitis
Meningoencephalitis: Meningitis + encephalitis, inflammation of the meninges and brain. Called also: Encephalomeningitis....
