Dictionary

infantile hip dislocation See congenital hip dislocation.

infantile genetic agranulocytosis See agranulocytosis, infantile genetic.

infant mortality rate The number of children dying at less than 1 year of age, divided by the number of live births that year.

infant A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age.

induction therapy The first in a series of therapeutic measures taken to treat a disease, typically a cancer. The induction therapy, for example, in acute leukemia is the initial chemotherapy designed to bring about a remission.

induced menopause See menopause, induced.

indigestion See dyspepsia.

indifferent gonad See gonad, indifferent.

index case A person who first draws attention to his or her family because of having a medical condition. For example, if an eye doctor discovers a person has glaucoma, and subsequently other cases of glaucoma are found in the person’s family, that person is the index case. Also known as propositus (if male) or…

incontinentia pigmenti One of the genetic diseases known as neurocutaneous disorders, which cause characteristic patterns of discolored skin and also involve the brain, eyes, nails, and hair. The disease is caused by the genomic rearrangement of the gene for NEMO, or nuclear factor kappa B essential modulator (IKBKG-IKK gamma). Symptoms include discolored skin that appears…

incontinent Unable to control excretions, to hold urine in the bladder, or to keep feces in the rectum.

incontinence, urinary See enuresis.