PSEUDODYSENTERY Meaning and
Definition
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Pseudodysentery is a medical condition characterized by symptoms similar to dysentery but arising from non-infectious causes. Dysentery typically refers to an inflammation of the colon and rectum due to bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, leading to symptoms such as severe diarrhea, bloody or mucus-filled stools, abdominal pain, and fever. However, pseudodysentery presents similar symptoms without the presence of an infectious agent.
The term "pseudo" is derived from the Greek word meaning "false" or "deceptive." In the context of pseudodysentery, it implies that the symptoms mimic those of dysentery but are caused by factors other than infection, such as certain medications, chemical irritants, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, or gastrointestinal diseases.
The exact causes of pseudodysentery can vary significantly depending on the underlying condition. For instance, some commonly associated conditions include ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, ischemic colitis, diverticulitis, radiation enteritis, or even side effects of certain medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Diagnosis of pseudodysentery involves evaluating the patient's medical history, conducting physical examinations, stool tests to rule out infectious causes, and potentially performing imaging studies or endoscopic procedures to identify an underlying cause.
Treatment for pseudodysentery focuses on managing the underlying condition to alleviate symptoms rather than targeting an infectious agent. This may involve the use of medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, antibiotics (if infection is present), or making dietary modifications. In severe cases, surgical intervention might be necessary to address any structural abnormalities or complications associated with the underlying condition.
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The occurrence of symptoms indistinguishable from those of bacillary dysentery, caused by dietetic errors, a chill, intestinal worms, or other causes other than the presence of the specific microorganisms.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PSEUDODYSENTERY
- oseudodysentery
- lseudodysentery
- -seudodysentery
- 0seudodysentery
- paeudodysentery
- pzeudodysentery
- pxeudodysentery
- pdeudodysentery
- peeudodysentery
- pweudodysentery
- pswudodysentery
- pssudodysentery
- psdudodysentery
- psrudodysentery
- ps4udodysentery
- ps3udodysentery
- pseydodysentery
- psehdodysentery
- psejdodysentery
- pseidodysentery
Etymology of PSEUDODYSENTERY
The word "pseudodysentery" is formed by combining two parts: "pseudo-" and "dysentery".
The prefix "pseudo-" derives from the Greek word "pseudes" meaning "false" or "untrue". It is often used in English to indicate something that is deceptive or misleading. For example, "pseudoscience" refers to a field of study or beliefs that are presented as science but lack scientific evidence.
The term "dysentery" has its roots in Late Latin, coming from the Greek words "dus-" meaning "bad" and "enteron" meaning "intestine". Dysentery is an infectious disease that affects the colon and causes severe diarrhea with blood or mucus.
When combined, "pseudo-" in "pseudodysentery" suggests something resembling or falsely imitating dysentery but not being true dysentery itself.
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