Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Fango

    Mud obtained from thermal springs in Battaglia, Italy, used to treat rheumatism and gout.  

  • Readiness for enhanced family processes

    A pattern of family functioning that is sufficient to support the well-being of family members and can be strengthened.  

  • Interrupted family processes

    A change in family relationships and/or functioning.  

  • Symptothermal family planning

    A fertility awareness method by which a woman plots her daily basal body temperature, cervical mucus characteristics, and common subjective complaints associated with ovulation (e.g., mittelschmerz) on a graph to identify the days of the menstrual cycle during which there is the highest potential for conception. The validity of this method is controversial.  

  • Family care leave

    Permission to be absent from work to care for a family member who is pregnant, ill, disabled, or incapacitated.  

  • Family and medical leave act

    A federal law, enacted in 1993, that requires large employers to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to long-standing employees for compelling medical or family reasons. Reasons include care of spouse, child, or parent of employee who has a serious health problem; birth of child of employee and care…

  • Blended family

    A common contemporary family group including children from previous and current relationships. A family that consists of a biological parent, a stepparent, and the children of one or both parents. Family formed when one or both parents bring children from a previous union. In the domain of familial dynamics, a new family unit emerges through…

  • Familial periodic paralysis

    A rare familial disease marked by attacks of flaccid paralysis, often at awakening. This condition is usually associated with hypokalemia but is sometimes present when the blood potassium level is normal or elevated. In affected individuals the condition may be precipitated by administration of glucose in patients with hypokalemia, and by administation of potassium chloride…

  • Familial hibernian fever

    A rare, autosomal dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by intermittent elevations of body temperature, muscle pains, abdominal pain, inguinal hernias, and rash. The disease is also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor periodic syndrome or TRAPS.  

  • Familial disease

    A disease that occurs in several members of the same family.