PHTHISIOTHERAPY Meaning and
Definition
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Phthisiotherapy is a medical term that refers to the treatment or therapy specifically designed for individuals suffering from phthisis or pulmonary tuberculosis. Phthisis is a chronic and often contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs. It is characterized by symptoms such as persistent cough, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, and in severe cases, coughing up blood.
The purpose of phthisiotherapy is to alleviate the symptoms, slow down the progression of the disease, and facilitate the recovery of patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. This comprehensive treatment approach usually involves a combination of different interventions, including pharmacological treatments with specific anti-tuberculosis medications. Proper drug regimens are essential to enhance the effectiveness of phthisiotherapy and minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.
In addition to medication, phthisiotherapy may also include various non-pharmacological interventions such as respiratory physiotherapy techniques, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle modifications aimed at improving the patient's overall health and wellbeing. The treatment may also include addressing underlying issues like malnutrition or immune system deficiencies to strengthen the patient's ability to fight off the infection.
Phthisiotherapy typically requires close monitoring of patients through regular clinical assessments, including chest X-rays and sputum tests, to evaluate the progress of the treatment and make necessary adjustments. The duration of phthisiotherapy can vary depending on the severity of the disease, but it commonly spans several months to a year to ensure effective eradication of the tuberculosis bacteria.
Overall, phthisiotherapy encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to manage and treat pulmonary tuberculosis, with the primary goal of improving patient outcomes, preventing transmission, and ultimately eradicating the disease.
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The treatment of phthisis, phthisiotherapeutics.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PHTHISIOTHERAPY
- ohthisiotherapy
- lhthisiotherapy
- -hthisiotherapy
- 0hthisiotherapy
- pgthisiotherapy
- pbthisiotherapy
- pnthisiotherapy
- pjthisiotherapy
- puthisiotherapy
- pythisiotherapy
- phrhisiotherapy
- phfhisiotherapy
- phghisiotherapy
- phyhisiotherapy
- ph6hisiotherapy
- ph5hisiotherapy
- phtgisiotherapy
- phtbisiotherapy
- phtnisiotherapy
- phtjisiotherapy
Etymology of PHTHISIOTHERAPY
The word "phthisiotherapy" is derived from two Greek roots: "phthisis" and "therapeia".
1. "Phthisis" comes from the Ancient Greek word "phthísis" (φθίσις), which means "consumption" or "wasting away". In medical terms, it refers to a condition characterized by the progressive degeneration and wasting of the body, usually associated with the disease tuberculosis.
2. "Therapeia" is derived from the Greek word "therapía" (θεραπεία), which means "healing" or "therapy".
When these two roots are combined, "phthisiotherapy" literally means "healing/treatment of phthisis" or "therapy for consumption". It refers to the methods and practices aimed at treating or managing the symptoms of phthisis or tuberculosis.
