Dictionary

enterostomal therapist A health care specialist who is trained to help patients care for and adjust to their colostomies.

enterospasm A painful, intense contraction of the intestine.

enteropathy, protein-losing A condition in which an excessive amount of plasma protein is lost into the intestine. Protein-losing enteropathy can be due to diverse causes, including celiac sprue, extensive ulceration of the intestine, intestinal lymphatic blockage, and infiltration of leukemic cells into the intestinal wall.

enteropathy, gluten See celiac sprue.

enteropathy A disease of the intestine.

enterogenous Carried within the intestine. For example, an enterogenous bacterial infection is a bacterial infection within the intestine.

enterocolitis, Crohn’s See Crohn’s enterocolitis.

enterococcus Bacteria normally found in the feces. Two types, Enterococcus fecalis and Enterococcus fecium, cause human disease, most commonly in the form of urinary tract and wound infections. Other infections, including those of the blood stream (bacteremia), heart valves (endocarditis), and the brain (meningitis) can occur in severely ill patients in hospitals. Enterococci also often…

enterocentesis The use of a hollow needle inserted through the wall of the stomach or intestine to relieve pressure from gas or fluid buildup.

enterocele A vaginal hernia. Protrusion of the small intestine into the upper wall of the vagina.

enterobiasis See pinworm infestation.

entero- Prefix referring to the intestine, as in enteropathy (a disease of the intestine) and enterospasm (a painful, intense contraction of the intestine).