Dictionary

acuity, auditory The clearness of hearing, a measure of how well a person hears.

acuity, visual The clearness of vision, a measure of how well one sees.

acuity test, visual The familiar eye chart test, which measures how well a person can see at various distances.

acupressure The application of pressure on specific points on the body to control symptoms such as pain or nausea. Similar in concept to acupuncture, but without needles. See also acupuncture.

acupuncture The practice of inserting needles into specific points on the body with a therapeutic aim, such as to reduce pain or to induce anesthesia without the use of drugs. Traditional Chinese acupuncturists say the practice unblocks the flow of a life force called ch’i; Western researchers believe acupuncture may affect production of endorphins, the…

acupuncturist A person skilled in the practice of acupuncture, who may or may not be credentialed by an accrediting body.

acute Of short duration, rapid, and abbreviated in onset. A condition is termed acute in comparison to a subacute condition, which lasts longer or changes less rapidly; or a chronic condition, which may last almost indefinitely, with virtually no change. Each disease has a unique time scale: An acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) may last…

acute abdomen Medical shorthand for the acute onset of abdominal pain. A potential medical emergency, an acute abdomen may reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen, such as appendicitis (inflamed appendix), cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder), a perforated ulcer in the intestine, or a ruptured spleen.

acute fatty liver of pregnancy Abbreviated AFLP, liver failure in late pregnancy, usually of unknown cause. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), frequent thirst (polydipsia), increased urination (polyuria), headache, and altered mental state. Laboratory features of AFLP include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), elevated liver enzymes, and low…

acute HIV infection See HIV infection, acute.

acute idiopathic polyneuritis See GuillainBarre syndrome.

acute illness A disease with an abrupt onset and, usually, a short course.