SPLENIC FEVER Meaning and
Definition
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Splenic fever, also known as anthrax, is a highly infectious and often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It primarily affects herbivorous animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, but can also infect humans. The term "splenic fever" comes from the fact that the disease typically causes enlargement of the spleen.
The bacterium Bacillus anthracis produces toxins that are harmful, leading to severe symptoms and potentially fatal outcomes. In animals, it is most commonly contracted through ingestion or inhalation of spores present in soil or the carcasses of infected animals. For humans, transmission is mainly through contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products, or exposure to spores in environments such as laboratories or bioterrorism incidents.
Symptoms of splenic fever depend on the route of infection and can manifest as cutaneous, gastrointestinal, or pulmonary anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax presents as painless ulcers or lesions on the skin, gastrointestinal anthrax affects the digestive system causing severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, while pulmonary anthrax affects the respiratory system causing high fever, difficulty breathing, and chest discomfort.
Diagnosis of splenic fever involves isolating the bacteria in a laboratory from samples taken from infected tissues, blood, or other bodily fluids. Treatment usually involves antimicrobial drugs such as antibiotics, and sometimes supportive care for symptom management. Vaccines are available for prevention, primarily intended for livestock.
Due to its potential for emerging as a bioweapon, splenic fever is considered a significant public health concern and is closely monitored and controlled by health authorities worldwide.
Common Misspellings for SPLENIC FEVER
- aplenic fever
- zplenic fever
- xplenic fever
- dplenic fever
- eplenic fever
- wplenic fever
- solenic fever
- sllenic fever
- s-lenic fever
- s0lenic fever
- spkenic fever
- sppenic fever
- spoenic fever
- splwnic fever
- splsnic fever
- spldnic fever
- splrnic fever
- spl4nic fever
- spl3nic fever
Etymology of SPLENIC FEVER
The term "splenic fever" is derived from the combination of two words: "splenic" and "fever".
1. "Splenic" refers to the spleen, which is an organ located on the upper left side of the abdomen. The word "splenic" originates from the Latin term "splen" meaning "spleen".
2. "Fever" refers to an elevated body temperature often accompanied by other symptoms. The word "fever" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages, derived from words like "fēfor" and "fēfer".
When combined, "splenic fever" specifically refers to a medical condition known as "splenic fever" or "anthrax". This infectious disease primarily affects animals, particularly herbivores, and is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
Similar spelling words for SPLENIC FEVER
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