Category: W

Infections acquired by contact with or ingestion of contaminated water. Waterborne infections include salmonella, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, E. coli, and shigellosis. Illness that is acquired by contact with or ingestion of water contaminated with disease-causing organisms and microorganisms. Waterborne infections may be contracted when people drink or swim in water containing agents, such as bacteria, that…

Assistive devices, such as walkers, crutches, canes, and prostheses, that can help people whose walking ability is impaired. Walking aids can help people who have muscle weakness, poor flexibility, poor balance, degenerative diseases, or injuries that make it difficult to get around. To determine whether an individual can benefit from a walking aid, a doctor…

To flush an area of the body with a stream of liquid for the purpose of cleansing or medicating the area. Wound irrigation may be accomplished with clean, warm water, or with a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide. To prevent infection, skin wounds should not be touched with the hands, particularly if the wounds are…

A culture done on a sample of wound drainage to determine the presence of disease-causing organisms.  

A count of the white blood cells in a specimen of whole blood.  

A group of symptoms that may develop in an HIV-infected person with AIDS-related complex before developing full-blown AIDS. Symptoms may include weight loss of 15% or more of body weight, fever, night sweats, diarrhea, and thrush. The phenomenon of weight reduction and alterations in the composition of body tissues, commonly observed in individuals with HIV/AIDS.…

To cut a hole in a cast or other material to relieve pressure on the skin or a bony prominence. Cutting a hole in a structure, such as a plaster cast or the pericardium, to relieve pressure, permit drainage, or allow access to an underlying structure.  

Ischemia and necrosis of tissue with bacterial infection causing cellulitis in adjacent tissues.  

Assessment of bone conduction of sound by placing a vibrating tuning fork at the midpoint of the forehead to determine if sound is heard equally in both ears.  

Fragmentation of stones using ultrasound short waves so that the pulverized pieces can pass naturally.