Periodic fever
Recurrences of fever that last from a few days to a few weeks and are separated by symptom-free intervals of varying duration. This pattern of fever can be caused by recurrent infection, malignancy or noninfectious inflammatory disorders.
Periodic fever that lasts for more than two years is rarely due to a malignancy or an infection. Attacks that follow a predictable course with a similar set of symptoms each time usually reflect a noninfectious cause such as, for example, Still’s disease (rheumatoid arthritis typically of juvenile onset but sometimes of adult onset), Crohn’s disease, and Beh�et syndrome.
A family history of periodic fever is suggestive of one of the hereditary periodic fever syndromes such as familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the hyper-IgD syndrome, and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated periodic syndrome.
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Having to do with the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
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The branch of dentistry that is concerned with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
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Gum disease. The word “periodontitis” literally means “inflammation around the tooth.” Periodontitis and all periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is a bacterial plaque, a sticky, […]
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An inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail due to infection. If caused by an infection, it may be bacterial (most commonly, staph or strep) or fungal in origin. The word is composed of “peri-” meaning around or surrounding + the Greek word “onyx” for nail = around the nail.