Okuzeka
Medicine vocabulary · Diseases by System

Infection

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ɪnˈfekʃən/nounCore term

In medicine, infection means: An illness caused when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites enter the body and multiply.

In Turkish: enfeksiyon

How it is used

One of the most common reasons for admission. Doctors talk about the source of infection, signs of infection and infection markers such as CRP. Patients pick up, catch or develop an infection; wounds become infected.

Example sentences

  1. We haven't found the source of infection yet, so we've sent urine and blood cultures.

  2. A chest infection is the most likely cause of his confusion.

Common collocations

  • chest infection
  • urinary tract infection
  • source of infection
  • signs of infection
  • infection markers
  • antibioticA medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat bacterial infections. It does not work against viruses.
  • feverA body temperature higher than normal, usually above about 38 °C, often a sign that the body is fighting an infection.
  • sepsisA life-threatening reaction to an infection in which the body's response starts to damage its own organs.
  • pneumoniaAn infection of the lungs in which the small air sacs fill with fluid or pus, causing cough, fever and difficulty breathing.
  • -itisA word ending added to the name of a body part to mean inflammation of that part, as in tonsillitis, appendicitis or arthritis.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diseases by System

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.