SERUM DISEASE Meaning and
Definition
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Serum disease, also known as serum sickness, is a type of immune response disorder that occurs due to exposure to certain foreign proteins such as those found in medications, antitoxins, or biological agents. It is characterized by a cluster of symptoms that arise when the immune system recognizes the foreign proteins as harmful and launches an immune response against them.
This condition typically manifests within 7 to 14 days after exposure to the foreign protein and presents with a wide range of symptoms. Common indicators of serum disease include fever, rash, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and general malaise. In some cases, individuals may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The underlying mechanism of serum disease involves the production of immune complexes, which are formed by antibodies binding to the foreign proteins. These immune complexes are then deposited in various tissues throughout the body, triggering an inflammatory response and resulting in the aforementioned symptoms.
Diagnosis of serum disease is primarily based on the patient's clinical presentation and a thorough medical history, including recent exposure to potential triggers. Blood tests may be performed to assess the presence of specific antibodies or elevated levels of immune complexes.
Treatment of serum disease mainly involves symptomatic management, such as the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. In severe cases, corticosteroids may be prescribed to suppress the immune response.
Overall, serum disease is a condition characterized by an immune response to foreign proteins, leading to the development of a range of symptoms. Timely recognition and appropriate management play a crucial role in helping individuals recover from this immune-mediated disorder.
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Local and general symptoms (urticaria, fever, general glandular enlargement, edema, pains in the joints, and occasionally albuminuria) appearing in from 8 to 12 days after an injection of foreign serum; the immediate occurrence of the symptoms is regarded as anaphylactic in character, denoting a previous injection of the same kind of serum; recovery takes place after a variable period, or in exceptional cases symptoms of collapse appear and sudden death may occur.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SERUM DISEASE
- aerum disease
- zerum disease
- xerum disease
- derum disease
- eerum disease
- werum disease
- swrum disease
- ssrum disease
- sdrum disease
- srrum disease
- s4rum disease
- s3rum disease
- seeum disease
- sedum disease
- sefum disease
- setum disease
- se5um disease
- se4um disease
- serym disease
Etymology of SERUM DISEASE
The term "serum disease" refers to a condition caused by the injection of serum, particularly serum from an animal, into a human. The term can be separated into two parts: "serum" and "disease".
The word "serum" originated from the Latin word "serus", meaning "whey" or "watery fluid". It entered into English in the late 17th century, referring to the clear and watery component of blood, which separates from the coagulated part when blood clots.
The term "disease" comes from the Old French word "de(s)aise", which eventually evolved into the Middle English word "disese". It derives from the Latin word "dis-" meaning "apart" or "away", and "aetas" meaning "age", having a sense of difficulty or discomfort.
Similar spelling word for SERUM DISEASE
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