Inflamed
Inflamed
Inflamed (/ɪnˈfleɪmd/), derived from the Latin word "inflammare" meaning "to set on fire", is a medical term used to describe a condition where a part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
Definition
Inflammation is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators. The function of inflammation is to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out necrotic cells and tissues damaged from the original insult and the inflammatory process, and initiate tissue repair.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of an inflamed part of the body include redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function. These are caused by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) from the blood into the injured tissues.
Causes
Inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors, including pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, physical injury, autoimmune diseases, and exposure to harmful substances or radiation.
Treatment
Treatment for inflammation depends on the cause and location of the inflammation. It may include rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and in some cases, surgery.
Related Terms
- Acute inflammation: A short-term response to tissue injury, typically characterized by the classic signs of inflammation: heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function.
- Chronic inflammation: Long-term inflammation which can last for several months and even years. It can result from: failure to eliminate the cause of an acute inflammation, an autoimmune response to a self antigen, or a chronic irritant of low intensity that persists.
- Inflammatory response: The reaction of the immune system to infection or irritation.
- Inflammatory diseases: Diseases characterized by inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Inflamed
- Wikipedia's article - Inflamed
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