CONFLUENT SMALLPOX Meaning and
Definition
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Confluent smallpox is a severe and highly contagious infectious disease caused by the variola virus. It is characterized by an acute viral infection that primarily affects the skin and mucous membranes. The term "confluent" refers to the specific form of smallpox characterized by the merging and coalescence of numerous skin lesions.
In confluent smallpox, the variola virus invades the body through the respiratory system and then spreads throughout the bloodstream. The virus replicates in various organs, particularly the skin, causing a systemic infection. The initial symptoms of confluent smallpox include high fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain.
As the infection progresses, small red spots known as macules appear on the face, arms, and legs. Within a few days, these spots develop into raised bumps called papules, which then transform into fluid-filled blisters known as vesicles. In confluent smallpox, these lesions are abundant and densely distributed, covering a significant portion of the body. This characteristic distinguishes confluent smallpox from other less severe forms of the disease.
The vesicles eventually become pustules, filled with a thick yellowish fluid. The pustules are deeply embedded in the skin and merge together, resulting in large, irregularly shaped areas of raised and discolored skin. The highly contagious nature of the variola virus contributes to rapid disease spread, especially in densely populated areas.
Confluent smallpox is associated with a higher mortality rate compared to milder forms of the disease. Complications can arise, including secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Timely vaccination and isolation measures are crucial in controlling outbreaks of confluent smallpox.
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A severe form in which the lesions run into each other, forming large suppurating areas.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CONFLUENT SMALLPOX
- xonfluent smallpox
- vonfluent smallpox
- fonfluent smallpox
- donfluent smallpox
- cinfluent smallpox
- cknfluent smallpox
- clnfluent smallpox
- cpnfluent smallpox
- c0nfluent smallpox
- c9nfluent smallpox
- cobfluent smallpox
- comfluent smallpox
- cojfluent smallpox
- cohfluent smallpox
- condluent smallpox
- concluent smallpox
- convluent smallpox
- congluent smallpox
- contluent smallpox
- conrluent smallpox
Etymology of CONFLUENT SMALLPOX
The word "confluent" comes from the Latin word "confluens", which means "flowing together" or "uniting". It is derived from the verb "confluere", which means "to flow together".
"Smallpox" is believed to have originated from the Old English word "poc", which means "pustule" or "blister". The combination of "small" and "pox" refers to the size and appearance of the characteristic skin eruptions associated with the disease.
Therefore, "confluent smallpox" refers to a severe form of smallpox where the skin eruptions or pustules are closely clustered together, flowing and merging into each other.
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