Rotavirus
A virus that is a leading cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration in young children. Abbreviated RV. Almost everyone catches RV before entering school, but, with rehydration and good nutrition, nearly all recover fully. Aside from causing acute infantile gastroenteritis and diarrhea in young children, RV is typically accompanied by low-grade fever. Immunization of infants with a vaccine against RV was halted in 1999 because of reports of deaths due to bowel obstruction (from intussusception of the bowel) following vaccination, but a newer vaccine was made available in 2006.
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- Roth's spot
A hemorrhage in the retina with a white center. Originally associated with bacterial endocarditis, Roth’s spots may be seen in leukemia, diabetes, collagen-vascular diseases, and other conditions that predispose to hemorrhage in the retina.
- Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
A hereditary disease that is characterized by progressive effects on multiple areas of the body, including the skin, hair, eyelashes, teeth, musculoskeletal system, blood, and eyes. Patients have an increased risk for developing cancer, especially osteosarcoma and skin cancer. Abbreviated RTS. RTS is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is caused by mutations in […]
- Round
To go around and see a patient in a hospital or other in-patient setting.
- Round window
A membrane on the cochlea separating the inner ear and middle ear. The tympanum (eardrum) separates the middle ear and outer ear, also known as the ear canal.
- Rounds
The act of seeing patients in the hospital or another in-patient setting.