-itis

(Greek: a suffix; inflammation, burning sensation; by extension, disease associated with inflammation)

This suffix has come to mean "inflammation of" but originally it meant "pertaining to" or "of the". The Greek word nosos ["disease"] was either expressed or understood, although it might not be included with the basic element. For example, bursitis nosos would mean "disease of the bursa".

colitis
conjunctivitis (s) (noun), conjunctivitides, conjunctivitises (pl)
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane on the inner part of the eyelids and the membrane covering the white of the eye.

The conjunctival membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.

Viral and bacterial forms of conjunctivitis are common in childhood and it is also called pinkeye and red eye.

The bacteria that most commonly cause pink eye are staphylococcus, pneumococcus, and streptococcus.

Symptoms include eye pain, swelling, redness, and a moderate to large amount of discharge, usually yellow or greenish in color.

The discharge commonly accumulates after sleep and the eyelids may be stuck together requiring a warm wash cloth applied to the eyes to remove the discharge.

coxitis (s) (noun), coxitides (pl)
Inflammation of the hip joint.
cystitis
dermatitis
dermatomyositis
1. An autoimmune disease that commonly causes a characteristic skin rash and muscle weakness.

On rare occasions, other vital internal organs; such as, the lungs, heart, bowels, and eyes can also be damaged.

2. Involvement of some internal organs; such as, the bowels and eyes is seen more commonly in children with dermatomyositis compared to adults with this disease.

In addition, certain internal complications including calcium deposits in damaged tissue (calcification) are seen more commonly in childhood-onset dermatomyositis; however, adults with classical dermatomyositis have a relatively greater risk of developing internal cancers in association with their dermatomyositis.

2. The rash of dermatomyositis has a unique appearance and distribution over the body in that the muscle weakness is most prominent in the shoulders, hips, neck and stomach; but muscles all over the body can be affected and become weakened.

The muscles used for swallowing food can be affected by dermatomyositis resulting in a choking sensation when the patient attempts to swallow solid foods or liquids.

Some patients initially develop the skin rash but can go for 20 years or longer without experiencing muscle weakness or amyopathic dermatomyositis.

3. Etymology: Dermatomyositis consists of dermato-, "skin" and myo-, "muscles".

There are two forms of dermatomyositis: the classical form and the clinically amyopathic form or a-, "no" or "without", myopathic, "muscle disease".

  • Classical dermatomyositis consists of a characteristic skin rash and muscle weakness most often noticed initially in the shoulders and hips.
  • In clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, the skin rash can be present for long periods of time (six months or longer) without the appearance of muscle weakness.
diverticulitis
1. Inflammation of a diverticulum, especially of the small pockets in the wall of the colon which fill with stagnant fecal material and become inflamed; rarely, they may cause obstruction, perforation, or bleeding.
2. Inflammation of a diverticulum, especially inflammation related to colonic diverticula, which may undergo perforation with abscess formation; sometimes this is called left-sided or L-sided appendicitis.
duodenitis
encephalitis (s) (noun), encephalitides (pl)
Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a viral infection.
endocarditis
endometritis
enteritis
enterocolitis
fibrositis
1. A syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints with detectable inflammation.
2. Pain, muscular stiffness and inflammation affecting the soft tissues of the arm, legs, and trunk.
gastritis (s) (noun), gastritis (pl)
The inflammation of the lining of the stomach believed to be caused by a bacterium: The gastritis which Sam was experiencing resulted in a painful abdomen.