Pediatric Infectious Disease Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
enanthem
A rash or eruption occurring on mucous membranes, particularly inside the mouth, often accompanying viral infections in children.
acute otitis media
Bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear space, common cause of fever and irritability in young children.
aseptic meningitis
Meningeal inflammation with negative bacterial culture, most commonly caused by viral pathogens in children.
bacteremia
Presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, distinguished from sepsis by absence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome...
bacterial tracheitis
A rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the trachea, often presenting as croup that fails to impr...
bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the small airways in infants and young children, most commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RS...
C-reactive protein
Inflammatory marker commonly elevated in bacterial infections and used to guide antibiotic therapy.
cellulitis
Bacterial infection of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue causing spreading erythema.
cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis
Abnormal increase in white blood cells within cerebrospinal fluid, indicating central nervous system inflammation or inf...
cervical adenitis
Inflammation and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, commonly caused by bacterial or viral infections in children.
chronic granulomatous disease
Primary immunodeficiency characterized by defective neutrophil function leading to recurrent severe infections.
Congenital Cytomegalovirus
Intrauterine CMV infection causing sensorineural hearing loss, microcephaly, and developmental delays in newborns.
congenital TORCH infections
Group of infections that can be transmitted from mother to fetus causing congenital disease patterns.
consolidation
Radiographic finding showing dense opacity in lung tissue, typically indicating pneumonia or other pulmonary pathology.
croup
Acute viral laryngotracheobronchitis causing characteristic barking cough and inspiratory stridor in young children.
empyema
Collection of infected fluid (pus) in the pleural space, a serious complication of pneumonia requiring drainage procedur...
enanthem
A rash or eruption occurring on mucous membranes, particularly inside the mouth, often accompanying viral infections in...
epiglottitis
Acute inflammation of the epiglottis potentially causing rapid airway obstruction, now rare due to Hib vaccination.
erythema infectiosum
Viral exanthem caused by parvovirus B19, characterized by 'slapped cheek' appearance and lacy rash.
erythema migrans
Characteristic expanding red rash of early Lyme disease, typically appearing 3-30 days after tick bite.
erythema toxicum neonatorum
Benign newborn rash characterized by erythematous macules with central pustules, requiring no treatment.
febrile neutropenia
Medical emergency in immunocompromised children presenting with fever and low neutrophil count.
febrile seizure
Convulsion in children aged 6 months to 5 years triggered by fever, typically benign but requiring documentation of feve...
febrile UTI
Urinary tract infection accompanied by fever, suggesting upper tract involvement or systemic infection.
gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, commonly viral in children, causing diarrhea and vomiting.