1. Camilla is taking an exam that includes medical terms. She comes across a long word that seems very hard to understand: gastroenterology. Even though she might not recognize the word immediately, explain how Camilla could break the term down in order to understand its meaning.

Question

2. Medical emergencies call for quick action so abbreviations are made to save time. Why is it, then, that some abbreviations are banned from the practice of medicine? Please provide an example with your explanation.

3. James and Brianne must put together a poster on the risks of tobacco smoke. They want to make the point that tobacco smoke can cause cancer. James says that they should use 'carcingenic" because carcin means 'cancer and genic means 'causing. Brianne thinks that something is missing from the word. Is Brianne correct that something is missing? If so, what would be the correct way to say the word that Brianne and James want to use? Explain your answer.
4. Andre's elderly neighbor, Janet, just came home from the doctor. Janet said that the doctor diagnosed her with rhinitis. She is very worried because she only thought she had a head cold and this sounds much more serious. Using the parts of the word, how could Andre explain rhinitis to his neighbor to help her understand her condition? Is the condition serious?
5. Natalie has had dental work done. Her dentist sends her home with a prescription for antibiotics.
The prescription reads 1 t..d. p.o. ut dict. Using what you have learned about medical abbreviations, explain what pieces of information Natalie could get from these abbreviations. How many instructions can be gathered from the abbreviations, and what are they, specifically?

Answer 1

Sure! Here are the explanations to each of your questions:

1. Breaking Down 'Gastroenterology': Camilla can analyze the word 'gastroenterology' by identifying its root parts. The word can be divided into three components:

   • Gastro: This root comes from the Greek word for 'stomach.'
   • Entero: This part refers to the 'intestine.'
   • Logy: This suffix comes from the Greek word 'logia', meaning 'study of' or 'science.'

   By breaking it down, Camilla can understand that gastroenterology is the study of the stomach and intestines, specifically focusing on their health, diseases, and treatments.

2. Banned Abbreviations: Certain medical abbreviations are banned because they can lead to misunderstandings or errors that might endanger patient safety. For example, the abbreviation "IU" (International Unit) is often banned because it can be misread as "IV" (intravenous) or "10" (ten), which could lead to incorrect dosages. Using clear and complete terms helps ensure that the intended meaning is accurately conveyed, reducing the risk of medication errors.

3. Carcinogenic vs. Carcinogen: Brianne is correct that James is missing a part in his use of the word. The correct term should be 'carcinogenic,' which means 'causing cancer.' The term consists of 'carcin-' (meaning cancer) and '-genic' (meaning producing or causing). If they wanted to refer to the substance itself that causes cancer, they should use 'carcinogen.' Hence, 'carcinogenic' refers to the property (causing cancer), while 'carcinogen' refers to the actual agent (the substance that causes cancer).

4. Understanding Rhinitis: Andre can help Janet by breaking down the word 'rhinitis':

   • Rhino: This prefix comes from the Greek word for 'nose.'
   • Itis: This suffix means 'inflammation.'

   Therefore, rhinitis means inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes, which is often what happens during a head cold or allergic reaction. While it sounds serious, rhinitis is typically not very serious and can be treated effectively, especially if it is related to allergies or a common cold.

5. Interpreting Natalie’s Prescription: The prescription '1 t..d. p.o. ut dict' can be broken down as follows:

   • 1: Quantity - take one dose.
   • t.d.: The abbreviation means 'ter die', which is Latin for 'three times a day.'
   • p.o.: This means 'per os', or orally, indicating that the medication should be taken by mouth.
   • ut dict: This means 'as directed', which indicates that Natalie should follow any additional instructions provided by the healthcare professional.

From these abbreviations, Natalie gathers four specific instructions:

1. Take one dose,
2. Take three times a day,
3. Administer the dose orally,
4. Follow any additional directions as specified by the doctor.