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Common cold
Common cold A viral upper respiratory tract infection. This contagious illness can be caused by many different types of viruses, and the body can never build up resistance to all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact kindergarten children average 12 colds per year, while adolescents and adults have around seven colds per year.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Contagious
Easily transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
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Commensal
1. Living in a relationship in which one organism derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it. Commensal bacteria are part of the normal flora in the mouth. 2. An intimate relationship. The Norway rat, roof rat, and house mouse are considered commensal rodents because of their intimate relationships with humans.
Comminuted fracture
A fracture in which bone is broken, splintered or crushed into a number of pieces.
Commissurotomy
The heart valves are made up of leaflets. The leaflets touch each other and the edge of the area where they come in contact is known as the commissures. In some patients, specifically those with rheumatic heart disease, the commissures can become scarred and fail to open and allow blood to flow through easily. In situations like this, the commissures can be released or reopened with a procedure known as commissurotomy.
Commit
Commit is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): nicotine polacrilex.
Common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen
(CALLA) A cell surface enzyme with neutral metalloendopeptidase activity that serves as a marker for the common form of ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) as well as for Burkitt lymphoma and follicular germinal center lymphoma. CALLA is normally present on the surface of early lymphoid cells as well as on a number of other types of normal cells, such as especially cells in the kidney.
Common bile duct
The tube that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.
Common bile duct obstruction
A blockage of the common bile duct, often caused by gallstones.
Common hepatic duct
The duct formed by the junction of the right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right half of the liver) and the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left half of the liver). The common hepatic duct then joins the cystic duct coming from the gallbladder to form the common bile duct.
Common migraine
Migraine without aura. The most frequent type, accounting for about 80-85% of migraine.
Commotio cordis
"Sudden cardiac arrest from a blunt, nonpenetrating blow to the chest. The basis of the cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation (a chaotically abnormal heart rhythm) triggered by chest wall impact immediately over the anatomic position of the heart. This can happen, for example, in sports such with baseballs, softballs, lacrosse balls, hockey pucks and a blow in boxing. The only effective treatment is cardiopulmonary resuscitation with defibrillation to reverse ventricular fibrillation. Commotio cordis ia also known as a ""concussion of the heart."""
Communicable Disease
An illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal or inanimate reservoir to a susceptible host; either directly or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector or the inanimate environment (synonym: infectious disease).
Communicable disease
A disease spread through direct contact with an infected person or substance.
Communication Diseases Centre
The Communication Diseases Centre is a hospital in Singapore.
Community General Hospital
The Community General Hospital is a hospital in Fort Fairfield, Maine, United States.
Community General Osteopathic
The Community General Osteopathic is a hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Health Center of Branch County
Community Health Center of Branch County is a hospital in Coldwater, Michigan (USA).
Community Health Network
Community Health Network is a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA).
Community Health-Selinsgrove
The Community Health-Selinsgrove is a hospital in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Healthcare System
Community Healthcare System is a hospital in Munster, Indiana (USA).
Community Hospital
Community Hospital is a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado (USA).
Community Hospital Anderson
Community Hospital Anderson is a hospital in Anderson, Indiana (USA).
Community Hospital Healthcare System
Community Hospital Healthcare System is a hospital in Naples, Florida (USA).
Community Hospital Of Gardena
The Community Hospital Of Gardena is a hospital in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Community Hospital of Huntington Park
Community Hospital of Huntington Park is a hospital in Huntington Park, California (USA).
Community Hospital Of Kane
The Community Hospital Of Kane is a hospital in Sheffield, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Hospital of Lancaster
Community Hospital of Lancaster is a hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (USA).
Community Hospital of Long Beach
Community Hospital of Long Beach is a hospital in Long Beach, California (USA).
Community Hospital of Los Gatos
Community Hospital of Los Gatos is a hospital in Los Gatos, California (USA).
Community Hospital of Ottawa
Community Hospital of Ottawa is a hospital in Ottawa, Illinois (USA).
Community Hospital of Springfield
The Community Hospital of Springfield is a hospital in Springfield, Ohio, United States.
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is a hospital in Monterey, California, United States.
Community Hospital of the Monterey Penisula
Community Hospital of the Monterey Penisula is a hospital in Monterey, California (USA).
Community Hospital Watervliet
Community Hospital Watervliet is a hospital in Watervliet, Michigan (USA).
Community Hospital-Lancaster
The Community Hospital-Lancaster is a hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers
The Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers is a hospital in Bryan, Ohio, United States.
Community Medical Center
Community Medical Center is a hospital in Missoula, Montana (USA).
Community Medical Center-Transitional Care Unit
The Community Medical Center-Transitional Care Unit is a hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Medical Centers
Community Medical Centers is a hospital in Fresno, California (USA).
Community Memorial Healthcenter
The Community Memorial Healthcenter is a hospital in Virginia, United States.
Community Memorial Hospital
Community Memorial Hospital is a hospital in Ventura, California (USA).
Community Mental Health Center
The Community Mental Health Center is a hospital in Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States.
Community Methodist Hospital
Community Methodist Hospital is a hospital in Rushville, Illinois (USA).
Community-acquired infection
An infection acquired in the community. In contrast to a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Combined oral contraceptive
"Commonly called ""the pill,"" combined oral contraceptives are the most commonly used form of reversible birth control in the United States. This form of birth control suppresses ovulation (the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries) by the combined actions of the hormones estrogen and progestin."
Comedones
The plural of comedo, the primary sign of acne, consisting of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil). Comedones may be closed or open.
Commensal
1. Living in a relationship in which one organism derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it. Commensal bacteria are part of the normal flora in the mouth. 2. An intimate relationship. The Norway rat, roof rat, and house mouse are considered commensal rodents because of their intimate relationships with humans.
Comminuted fracture
A fracture in which bone is broken, splintered or crushed into a number of pieces.
Common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen
(CALLA) A cell surface enzyme with neutral metalloendopeptidase activity that serves as a marker for the common form of ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) as well as for Burkitt lymphoma and follicular germinal center lymphoma. CALLA is normally present on the surface of early lymphoid cells as well as on a number of other types of normal cells, such as especially cells in the kidney.
Common cold
Common hepatic duct
The duct formed by the junction of the right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right half of the liver) and the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left half of the liver). The common hepatic duct then joins the cystic duct coming from the gallbladder to form the common bile duct.
Common migraine
Migraine without aura. The most frequent type, accounting for about 80-85% of migraine.
Commotio cordis
"Sudden cardiac arrest from a blunt, nonpenetrating blow to the chest. The basis of the cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation (a chaotically abnormal heart rhythm) triggered by chest wall impact immediately over the anatomic position of the heart. This can happen, for example, in sports such with baseballs, softballs, lacrosse balls, hockey pucks and a blow in boxing. The only effective treatment is cardiopulmonary resuscitation with defibrillation to reverse ventricular fibrillation. Commotio cordis ia also known as a ""concussion of the heart."""
Community-acquired infection
An infection acquired in the community. In contrast to a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection.
Compartment syndrome
A condition in which there is swelling and an increase in pressure within a limited space (a compartment) that presses on and compromises blood vessels, nerves, and/or tendons that run through that compartment. Hence, the function of tissue within that compartment is compromised. Compartment syndromes usually involve the leg but can also occur in the forearm, arm, thigh, shoulder, and buttock. Some of the causes of increased pressure in compartment syndromes are trauma (for example, a fracture), too-tight wound dressings or casts, hemorrhage (bleeding) into the compartment, or inflammation (carpal tunnel syndrome, for example).
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