measles, atypical An altered type of measles that may begin with a mild prodrome of fever, headache, cough, and abdominal pain. In other cases, a sudden onset of high fever, headache, and chest pain occur. The rash appears 1 or 2 days later, often beginning on the limbs. Some patients become severely ill. It occurs…
measles, mumps, rubella vaccine See MMR.
measles encephalitis Inflammation of the brain during recovery from measles infection. Measles encephalitis occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 cases of measles, starting up to 3 weeks after onset of the rash and causing high fever, convulsions, and coma. It carries a 10-20 percent mortality rate and may lead to permanent central nervous…
measles immunization A vaccine for measles only. Single-virus vaccines are sometimes used in children with known or suspected brain disorders or compromised immune systems, and they are generally given after 1 year of age. For other children, the measles vaccine is usually administered as a multivirus vaccine (MMR or MMRV) along with vaccines for mumps,…
measly tapeworm See Taenia solium.
meatus An opening or a passageway. For example, the meatus of the ear is the opening to the ear canal.
meatus, female urethral The meatus (opening) of the female urethra, the transport tube that leads from the bladder to discharge urine outside the body. The female urethral meatus is above the vaginal opening.
mask of pregnancy See melasma.
masochism The derivation of pleasure from one’s own pain. Masochism is considered a sexual disorder (paraphilia). Named after the 19th-century Austrian writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
MASS syndrome Mitral valve/myopia, aorta, skeleton, and skin syndrome, a heritable disorder of connective tissue that is characterized by involvement of all those structures. MASS syndrome is due to a mutation in the fibrillin 1 gene FBN1, the same gene that is mutated in Marfan syndrome and is considered by some to be a form…
massage The therapeutic practice of manipulating the muscles and limbs to ease tension and reduce pain. Massage can be a part of physical therapy or practiced on its own. It can be effective for reducing the symptoms of disorders of or pain in the muscles and nervous system, and it is often used to reduce…
massage therapist A person who practices therapeutic massage. In many US states, massage therapists can be licensed after completing a specified training program. Licensed therapists may practice independently or in medical settings.