Glossary

Category: I

  • Infectious agent

    A disease-causing agent, such as bacteria or virus.  

  • Infected partner

    In regards to AIDS, a person in a sexual relationship who is carrying the AIDS virus (HIV) in his or her body.  

  • Infect

    To enter, invade, or inhibit another organism, causing infection or contamination. To contaminate someone or something with microorganisms that cause disease or toxins. To cause pathogenic organisms to be present in or upon, as to infect a wound. When an organism seeks to enter into a symbiotic relationship with another organism, it may do so…

  • Infant-mother attachment

    The special affection ate relationship between a mother and child, providing the infant with security and comfort necessary for healthful development.  

  • Infant mortality rate

    The number of deaths under 1 year per 1000 live births in a given year. The number of infants who die per thousand births. Number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births in a given geographic region or institution in a given period (usually 1 year). The number of…

  • Infantilism

    Persistence of infantile emotional attitudes and behavior patterns into adulthood. A condition in which a person keeps some characteristics of an infant when he or she becomes an adult. Condition in which childhood characteristics (mental and/or physical) continue into adulthood. Persistence of childlike physical or psychological characteristics into adult life. The condition characterized by imperfect…

  • Infantile spasms

    Muscular spasms that infants, 3 months to 2 years of age, experience, characterized by flexor spasms of the arms, legs, and head. Also known as jackknife seizures. Seizures in which a baby suddenly and briefly shakes or tenses his or her body several times a day. A spasm may also include difficulty breathing or a…

  • Infantile perseveration

    Speech immaturity that is characterized largely to sound omissions and substitutions, where the person uses speech as a major mechanism of communication, but it is like that of a much younger person.  

  • Infantile immunity

    Natural passive immunity of the infant during the first 3-6 months after birth that is acquired from the mother during gestation.  

  • Infantile enteritis

    Diarrhea occurring in children under 2 years.