ACTINOMYCOSES Meaning and
Definition
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Actinomycoses is a medical condition that refers to a group of chronic and progressive infections caused by bacteria from the Actinomyces family. These bacteria are normally present in the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract of humans, and they generally do not cause any harm. However, under certain conditions, they can penetrate deep into the tissues and cause infections. Actinomycoses commonly occur in the head and neck region, but they can also affect other body parts.
The infection is characterized by the formation of abscesses or pockets of pus, which may have multiple sinuses connecting to the skin surface. Actinomycoses is considered an opportunistic infection, meaning it occurs when the immune system weakens or when there is a breach in the protective barriers of the body. Common risk factors for actinomycoses include dental problems, such as tooth decay or periodontal disease, poor oral hygiene, facial trauma, immunodeficiency disorders, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
Symptoms of actinomycoses can vary depending on the site of infection, but they often include swelling, pain, and the presence of pus. Diagnosis is typically made through clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and laboratory tests to identify the causative bacteria. Treatment usually involves a long-term course of antibiotics, often in combination, to target the Actinomyces bacteria. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to drain abscesses or remove affected tissues.
Overall, actinomycoses is a chronic bacterial infection that requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment to prevent further complications and restore the affected tissues to a healthy state.
Common Misspellings for ACTINOMYCOSES
- zctinomycoses
- sctinomycoses
- wctinomycoses
- qctinomycoses
- axtinomycoses
- avtinomycoses
- aftinomycoses
- adtinomycoses
- acrinomycoses
- acfinomycoses
- acginomycoses
- acyinomycoses
- ac6inomycoses
- ac5inomycoses
- actunomycoses
- actjnomycoses
- actknomycoses
- actonomycoses
- act9nomycoses
- act8nomycoses
Etymology of ACTINOMYCOSES
The word "Actinomycoses" has its etymology rooted in Greek and Latin.
The term "actinomyces" is derived from the Greek words "actino" meaning "ray" or "radiation" and "mykes" meaning "fungus". It was coined by the German physician Otto Bollinger in 1877 to describe a specific type of infection caused by filamentous bacteria that resemble fungi under a microscope.
The suffix "-oses" is derived from the Latin word "osis", which indicates a medical condition or disease. Therefore, the term "Actinomycoses" refers to the group of diseases caused by the Actinomyces bacteria, characterized by the formation of abscesses or lesions in various tissues of the body.
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