The Nightmare Scenario (46 page)

Read The Nightmare Scenario Online

Authors: Gunnar Duvstig

Medical Terminology

A/Singapore/
4/2015/
(H1N1)
Official labeling of new influenza strains, describing in order of position the type (A being most common for humans), the lab where the virus was first isolated, an enumeration of isolates at the lab during the year, the year of discovery and the subtype of the virus
Adenovirus
Virus causing multitude of infections, e.g., conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, gastroenteritis
Alprazolam
Fast onset benzodiazepine. Most commonly sold under the brand name Xanax
Amantadine
Anti-viral drug to which the regular seasonal influenza has developed resistance
Amoxicillin
Moderate-spectrum antibiotic used to treat a bacterial infections
Analgesics
Painkiller
Arginine
Positively charged amino acid
Asphyxiation
Death through lack of oxygen
ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Babesiosis
Rare malaria-like parasitic disease with all documented cases in temperate zones north of the equator
Benzodiazepines
Psychoactive drug that has sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. Valium is the most common brand name
Beta-blockers
Class of drugs that reduce stress by binding to the receptors of adrenalin
Bronchi`
Passage of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs
BSL
Bio Safety Lab. Comes in four levels of security with 1 being the lowest and 4 the highest
CBC
Complete Blood Count. Test which gives information about the cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) in a patient’s blood
Cerebrospinal fluid
Clear fluid around and inside the brain and the spinal cord
Chromatogram
Laboratory technique for separation of mixtures in a sample
Clindamycin
Antibiotic used to treat infections with anaerobic bacteria
Congo-Crimean fever
Widespread tick-borne hemorrhagic fever with a 30% mortality rate
Conjunctivitis
An inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid
Coronavirus
A group of viruses affecting the respiratory tract encompassing, for instance, both SARS and the common cold
Cyanosis
The appearance of a blue or purple coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface being low on oxygen
Cytokine storms
A potentially fatal immune reaction consisting of a positive feedback loop between cytokines and immune cells, resulting in an uncontrolled activation of too many immune cells
Emphysema
A lung disease defined by persistently poor airflow as a result of breakdown of lung tissue, typically caused by smoking
Encephalitis
A potentially lethal inflammation of the brain which represents by fever, confusion or worse, seizures or convulsions
Encephalitis
Lethargica
A variant of encephalitis that leaves the victims speech and motionless
Hemagglutinin
A part of the Influenza genome (the ‘H’ part). Its purpose is to bind the virus to the cell being infected
Hypercytokinemia
A potentially fatal immune reaction consisting of a positive feedback loop between cytokines and immune cells, resulting in an uncontrolled activation of too many immune cells
HEPA respirator
High-Efficiency Particular Air filter. Removes 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometers. The filter is sufficient to prevent the passage of viruses through the filter
Lymphocyte levels
The amount of a type of white blood cell levels that are present in the spinal column
Melatonin
A hormone that serves to control the circadian rhythm. Intake can serve to reset the body’s perception of time and is hence a common remedy for jetlag.
Meningitis
An inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is a potentially lethal conditions with symptoms similar to encephalitis
Naphazoline
hydrochloride
Drug for reducing redness of eyes, also referred to as Cleareyes, its most common brand name
Oseltamivir
An antiviral drug, which may slow the spread of influenza for certain strains. Marketed under the trade name Tamiflu
Petechial
hemorrhages
A form of mild hemorrhage which causes small red to purple spots to form. Reliable symptom of asphyxiation
Pleural cavity
The space that lies between the two thin membranes that line and surround the lungs.
Pneumonitis
Inflammation of lung tissue
Polymerase
An enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of copying a DNA or RNA strand (a virus’s process of replication)
Prions
An infectious agent composed of a protein in a mis-folded form. The cause of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, ‘mad cow’ disease and Kuru
Rosacea
A chronic condition characterized which causes redness of the skin and/or pimple-like pustules to form in one’s face
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – a respiratory disease that caused and epidemic which originated in Southern China and caused 8,273 cases and 775 deaths in multiple countries between November 2002 and July 2003
Sumatriptan
A drug used for treatment of migraine
Thyroid
A large gland found in the neck that controls how quickly the body uses energy
Vancomycin
A natural occurring antibiotic, originally discovered in the jungles of Borneo, generally seen as a drug of last resort as there are few bacteria that have developed resistance as it has from its discovery been administered intravenously at hospitals and not been made available to the general public
ViCPS
One of two vaccines recommended by WHO for prevention of Typhoid

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