Dictionary

vomiting in pregnancy, excess See hyperemesis gravidarum.

vomiting of pregnancy, pernicious See hyperemesis gravidarum.

vomitus See vomit.

von Hippel-Lindau syndrome A genetic disease that is characterized by hemangioblastomas (benign blood vessel tumors) in the brain, spinal cord, and retina; kidney cysts, and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma); pheochromocytomas (benign tumors of adrenal-like tissue); and endolymphatic sac tumors (benign tumors of the labyrinth in the inner ear). Abbreviated VHL syndrome. The brain hemangioblastomas…

von Recklinghausen disease See neurofibromatosis.

von Willebrand disease The most common inherited bleeding disorder, in which a clotting protein called von Willebrand factor is deficient or defective. Von Willebrand factor is made by cells lining the wall of blood vessels. Several types of von Willebrand disease have been described. All types affect both males and females. Symptoms can include easy…

Vrolik disease See osteogenesis imperfecta type II.

viral Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash was caused by a virus.

viral hepatitis See hepatitis, viral.

viral infection An infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on the virus and the person’s state of health, various viruses can infect almost any type of body tissue, from the brain to the skin. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics; in fact, in some cases the use of…

viremia The presence of a virus in the blood. Viremia is analogous to bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the blood) and parasitemia (the presence of a parasite in the blood). Viremia, bacteremia, and parasitemia are all forms of sepsis (bloodstream infection).

virion A virus particle.