Dictionary

Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease See CreutzfeldtJakob disease.

jail fever See typhus, epidemic.

Jadassohn-Lewandowski syndrome See pachyonychia congenita.

Jacksonian seizure See seizure, partial.

IUGR Intrauterine growth retardation.

IUD Intrauterine device.

ITP Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A condition characterized by the sudden, abnormal lowering of the platelet count. The cause is unknown, but the immune system seems to play a major role in the process by eliminating the platelets. ITP can lead to dangerously low platelet counts that can be associated with spontaneous bleeding. Purpura are purplish…

-itis Suffix meaning inflammation. For example, colitis is inflammation of the colon.

itching An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on the skin and makes the person want to scratch the affected area. Itching is medically known as pruritis; something that is itchy is pruritic.

isotope A form of a chemical element that has a different-from-normal atomic mass. Isotopes are used in a number of medical tests because they can produce images of tissues that can be used to detect diseases or conditions.

isotonic solution A solution that has the same salt concentration as cells and blood. Isotonic solutions are commonly used as intravenously infused fluids in hospitalized patients.

isolate 1 In genetics, a group (for example, the Amish) in which mating is always between members of the group. 2 A single microbe or cell that has been separated from the whole, or a pure culture produced from an isolate. 3 A particular strain of virus, bacteria, or organism taken from a patient.