A Dictionary of Infections and Infectious Diseases

This is a comprehensive dictionary of infections and infectious diseases that includes definitive information about their causes and principal features. It is published specifically for health-care professionals, support personnel, and medical and nursing students, and provides far more detail than standard dictionaries. Here are typical examples of the succinct yet thorough entries in this unique resource:

Acute diffuse suppurative labyrinthitis: "Acute diffuse suppurative labyrinthitis can be a complication of otitis media, mastoiditis, subdural abscess, or meningitis. Clinical features are nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and ataxia. Complications can be meningitis, encephalitis, and facial paralysis."

Bacillus cereus food poisoning: "Food poisoning by Bacillus cereus is due to enterotoxins produced by the microorganisms. One enterotoxin has properties similar to those of the labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli and is likely to cause diarrhea and abdominal pain; the incubation period is 6-24 h, with bacterial multiplication occurring after the ingestion of food. Another enterotoxin is almost always associated with fried rice; the incubation period is up to 2 h, which indicates that a preformed toxin is present; clinical features are severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea."