Clinical Diagnosis · Immune System · Hard

Listeriosis

Meaning: A foodborne bacterial infection particularly dangerous in pregnancy, where it can cause miscarriage or newborn sepsis.

In practice: Pregnant women avoid soft cheeses and pâté to reduce the risk of listeriosis.

Word parts

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.

Which word means: Destruction of alveolar walls producing enlarged air spaces and loss of lung elasticity.

Which word means: A collection of pus beside a tonsil, causing severe sore throat, trismus and a muffled voice.

One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.