Category: I
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Illness
A condition that may or may not involve clinical signs and symptoms that form a known disease entity. Usually used synonymously with disease. Can be differentially defined by saying illness is present when an individual perceives himself as diseased and disease is present when identifiable by objective, external criteria. A state of not being well.…
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Illiterate E
A visual acuity test using the letter E with the arms placed randomly facing in various directions. Generally used with very young children or those who are unable to read, STYCAR; Snellen eye test.
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Illiterate
The inability to read and/or write at a functional level. Being unable to read and write or to use written language to interpret graphs, charts, tables, maps, symbols, and formulas.
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Illicit drug
A drug that is not used in a legal way, even when it is not an illegal drug.
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Ileocolostomy
A short-circuiting surgical procedure that establishes a connection between the ileum and some part of the colon. A surgical operation to make a link directly between the ileum and the colon. A surgical operation in which the ileum is joined to some part of the colon. It is usually performed when the right side of…
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Ileocecal value
The portion of the terminal ileum into the large intestine at the ileocolic junction. The protects the terminal ileum from feces being forced back from the cecum.
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Idiot
The term is rarely used today to describe people possessing extremely low intelligence. Obsolete term for a person who is severely mentally retarded (I.Q. under 20).
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Idiosyncratic response
Special sensitivity or unanticipated adverse reaction to a specific chemical substance: allergy; hypersensitivity.
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Idiosyncratic
A characteristic, habit, or mannerism unique to an individual.
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Ideology
The fundamental beliefs of an individual or group concerning human nature. Specific ideologies relate to the level of agreement of the individual’s personal beliefs with those of the culture.