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Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

  • A

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    • Airway

      Any part of the respiratory tract through which air passes during breathing. The mouth and nose are the normal entry and exit ports.

    • Allergy

      Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen) resulting in a marked increase in reactivity to that antigen upon subsequent exposure, sometimes resulting in harmful immunologic consequences.

    • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

      The AAP is committed to the well-being of children. The AAP and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

    • Antibiotic

      A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.

    • Antibody

      An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introduction of an antigen into the body. The antibody possesses the ability to react specifically with the antigen in some demonstrable way, often to combine with the very antigen that triggered its production.

    • Antigen

      A substance (such as a toxin or an enzyme) that, as a result of coming in contact with appropriate cells, is capable of stimulating an immune response within the human body.

    • Antigenic drift

      A variation by viruses that involves the accumulation of mutations within the antibody-binding sites so that the resulting viruses cannot be inhibited well by antibodies against previous strains, making it easier for them to spread throughout a partially immune population. Variations may be due to recombination, deletion, or insertion of genes, point mutations, or combinations of these events. Common in both influenza A and influenza B viruses.

    • Antiviral

      An agent that kills a virus or that interferes with its ability to replicate. Weakens a virus’s ability to multiply and reproduce.

    • Asthma

      An inflammatory disease of the lungs in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs (alveoli) or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the lung) itself.

  • B

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    • Breathing

      The process by which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.

    • Bronchiectasis

      A disease of the lungs in which the structure of the bronchi, the tubes lining the lungs, is distorted and bronchial secretions cannot easily be expelled. This leads to infection and is very difficult to treat.

    • Bronchiolitis

      Inflammation of the bronchioles, the small airways that extend beyond the bronchial tubes and terminate in the alveoli. Bronchiolitis is due to viral infections such as parainfluenza, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.

    • Bronchitis

      Inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic.

    • Bronchodilator

      A class of drugs that relax the smooth muscle in the airway walls and therefore widen or dilate the airways.

  • C

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    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

      The CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people in the United States.

    • Chest

      The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains the lungs, heart, and part of the aorta.

    • Chest X-ray

      An X-ray of the structures inside the chest. An X-ray is a type of high-energy radiation that can go through the body and onto film, making pictures of areas inside the chest, such as the lungs and lower respiratory tract. A chest X-ray may be used for diagnosis and therapy.

    • Chronic lung disease

      A long-term condition that reduces the air capacity of the lungs. Changes in the lungs can occur due to long-term mechanical ventilation of the premature or ill infant.

    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

      A progressive lung disease that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow and is characterized by breathing difficulty, wheezing, and chronic cough. Complications include bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Also known as COPD.

    • Circulation

      The movement of fluid in a regular or circular course that leads back to the same point. For practical purposes, usually refers to blood circulation, unless otherwise specified.

    • Common cold

      A mild viral upper respiratory tract infection. Colds can be caused by many different types of viruses, and the body can never build up resistance to all of them.

    • Congenital heart disease

      A disorder resulting from incomplete development of the heart in the womb. The defect results in an abnormal flow of blood through the heart or lungs after birth.

    • Conjunctivitis

      Inflammation of the eye or eyelid. Characterized by a discharge, grittiness, redness, and swelling. Usually viral in origin, but may be bacterial or allergic; may be contagious. Also known as pink eye.

    • COPD

      See chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

    • Corticosteroid

      A class of agents that are used to clinically suppress inflammation of the tissues and to suppress the immune response.

    • Cough

      A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs in order to clear the lung airways of fluids, mucus, or material.

  • F

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    • Febrile seizure

      A brief seizure, lasting less than 15 minutes, seen in neurologically normal infants or young children, usually associated with a high fever.

    • Fever

      A complex physiologic response to disease mediated by a rise in core temperature above the normal of 98.6° F. (37° C). Generally, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4° F (38° C).

    • Flu

      Short for influenza. See influenza.

    • Fluarix®

      An inactivated influenza vaccine that is administered intramuscularly.

    • FluLavalTM

      An inactivated influenza vaccine that is administered intramuscularly.

    • FluMist®

      A live attenuated influenza vaccine that is administered intranasally.

    • Flu shot

      The flu (influenza) vaccine is recommended annually (each year) for persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza virus infection.

    • Fluvirin®

      An inactivated influenza vaccine that is administered intramuscularly.

    • FluZone®

      An inactivated influenza vaccine that is administered intramuscularly.

  • H

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    • Herd immunity

      Resistance of a population to the spread of an infectious organism due to the immunity of a high proportion of the population. Also known as universal vaccination.

    • Humanized monoclonal antibody

      A humanized monoclonal antibody is a genetically-engineered chimeric molecule that grafts an antigen recognition site derived from a mouse monoclonal antibody onto a human immunoglobulin backbone.

  • I

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    • Immune

      Pertains to the mechanism of sensitization in which the reactivity is so altered by previous contact with an antigen that the responsive tissues respond quickly upon subsequent contact, providing protection against a given infectious disease.

    • Immunity

      The condition of being immune to an infectious disease, due to a previous infection or immunization.

    • Immunization

      See vaccination.

    • Immunodeficiency

      Inability to mount a normal immune response.

    • IMpact-RSV

      The IMpact study determined the safety and efficacy of treatment with palivizumab in reducing the incidence of hospitalization due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in high-risk infants.

    • Infant

      A child younger than one year of age.

    • Infection

      Invasion of the body with organisms that have the potential to cause disease, such as a bacteria or virus.

    • Influenza

      Influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract and are divided into three subtypes: A, B, and C. Influenza is characterized by sudden onset, chills, fever of short duration (3–4 days), severe exhaustion, headache, muscle aches, and a cough. Its effects are much more severe and last longer than those of the common cold, and recovery often takes about 1 to 2 weeks. It can be deadly, especially for the weak, old, or chronically ill. Much of the illness and death caused by influenza can be prevented by annual influenza vaccination. Also known as the flu.

  • L

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    • LAIV

      See live attenuated influenza vaccine.

    • Live attenuated influenza vaccine

      A type of FDA-approved influenza vaccine. Also known as LAIV.

  • M

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    • M2 inhibitor*

      These inhibitors interfere with the viral protein M2. M2 is normally used in the uncoating of the virus’s protein shell. When M2 inhibitors are present, RNA cannot be released, which stops viral replication. Only effective against influenza type A. * During the 2006–2007 season, both the CDC and ACIP recommended that neither amantadine nor rimantadine be used for the treatment or prevention of influenza, due to influenza A virus resistance.

    • Mechanical ventilation

      Use of a machine, called a ventilator or respirator, to improve the exchange of air between the lungs and the air. It may be used to augment the efforts of a patient who has spontaneous, but weak, breaths, or for individuals who cannot breathe on their own.

  • N

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    • Nebulizer

      A machine that changes liquid medicine into fine droplets (in aerosol or mist form) that are inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask. Administers medication by spraying a fine mist into the nose.

    • Neuraminidase inhibitors

      These inhibitors halt the spread of virus to new cells, because they bind to the virus’s neuraminidase surface proteins while they are in the host cell. This disables the neuraminidase, making the virus unable to escape from the cell and find a new host cell, therefore preventing the virus from causing further disease. They are effective against influenza types A and B.

  • O

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    • Otitis media

      An inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid related to a viral or bacterial infection. This condition usually occurs along with an upper respiratory infection.

  • P

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    • Palivizumab (Synagis®)

      An injectible medication that is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease.

    • Pediatric

      Pertaining to children.

    • Pink eye

      See conjunctivitis.

    • Pneumonia

      An inflammation usually caused by an infection involving the alveoli of the lungs. It occurs in patients of all age groups, but young children and the elderly, as well as immunocompromised and immune deficient patients, are especially at risk. Typical therapy is with antibiotics.

    • Premature

      Any baby born prior to 37 weeks gestation.

    • Pulmonary

      Relating to the lungs.

  • R

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    • Respiratory

      Relating to respiration or the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

    • Respiratory syncytial virus

      A virus that causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages. It causes mild respiratory infections, colds, and coughs in adults, but can produce severe lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia in young children. Persons with compromised immune, cardiac, or pulmonary systems are at high risk. Also known as RSV.

    • Respiratory system

      The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

    • Ribavirin

      The only FDA-approved treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection in hospitalized infants.

    • RSV

      See respiratory syncytial virus.

  • S

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    • Sinusitis

      Inflammation of the mucous membrane of any sinus, especially the paranasal sinuses.

  • T

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    • Throat

      The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of the mouth, consisting anatomically of the pharynx and larynx. The throat contains the trachea and a portion of the esophagus.

    • TIV

      See trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine.

    • Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine

      A type of FDA-approved influenza vaccine. Also known as TIV.

  • U

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    • Universal vaccination

      See herd immunity.

    • Upper respiratory infection

      An infection often caused by a virus of the upper part of the breathing system including the nose, throat, and upper portion of the breathing tubes of the lungs. Can be due to any number of viral or bacterial infections. Also known as URI.

    • URI

      See upper respiratory infection.

  • V

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    • Vaccination

      The administration of a killed or weakened infectious organism in order to prevent the disease. If the same types of microorganisms enter the body again, they will be destroyed by the antibodies. Also known as immunization.

    • Vaccine

      A suspension of attenuated live or killed microorganisms that are administered, usually as a shot, to induce immunity and thereby prevent infectious disease.

    • Ventilation

      The exchange of air between the lungs and the atmosphere so that oxygen can be exchanged for carbon dioxide in the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs).

    • Virus

      A microorganism that is incapable of growth or reproduction apart from living cells. A virus invades living cells and uses their chemical machinery to keep itself alive and to replicate itself. Infection with a virus can cause a person to develop symptoms. The disease and symptoms that are caused depend on the type of virus and the type of cells that are infected. The virus’s ability to mutate is responsible for the subtle changes in each infected person, making treatment more difficult.

  • W

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    • Wheezing

      A whistling noise that is heard in the chest during breathing when the airways are narrowed or compressed.