RETROINFECTION Meaning and
Definition
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Retroinfection is a term used in the field of medicine and parasitology to describe a unique process of reinfection. It refers to the phenomenon where a parasite, particularly a helminth or a protozoan, residing within the host's body, undergoes migration or developmental changes that allow it to infect the host again. This means that the parasite reverses its normal life cycle by infecting the same host that it originally entered.
In retroinfection, the initial infection occurs when the host is exposed to the parasite in its environment. Once inside the host's body, the parasite establishes itself and may undergo various developmental changes or migrate to different organs or tissues. Under certain conditions, such as changes in the host's immune response or the presence of specific hormones or environmental cues, some parasites have the ability to reverse their migration or development, ultimately returning to a site in the host where they can reinfect the host.
Retroinfection can have significant implications for the host's health and the course of the infection. It may lead to prolonged or chronic infections, recurrent symptoms, or increased disease severity. Additionally, retroinfection can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of the infection, as the reinfected parasites may have different characteristics or resistance patterns compared to the original infection.
Understanding the dynamics of retroinfection is important for developing effective strategies to control and treat parasitic infections. Research efforts focus on elucidating the factors that trigger retroinfection, exploring the molecular mechanisms involved, and developing interventions to prevent or mitigate this phenomenon.
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Infection of the mother by the fetus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for RETROINFECTION
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Etymology of RETROINFECTION
The word "retroinfection" is derived from two roots:
1. "Retro-": This prefix comes from the Latin word "retro", meaning backward or behind. In English, it is commonly used to indicate something that is backward, retrospective, or refers to the past.
2. "Infection": This word comes from the Latin word "infectio", meaning the act of infecting or being infected. It refers to the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the body, leading to a disease or illness.
By combining these two roots, "retroinfection" is formed. It refers to the process in which a person or organism becomes infected with a pathogen again, usually after having been previously infected and subsequently cured.
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