phthisio-, phthis-, phthi-, -phthisis +

(Greek: decay, waste away, waning; loss, diminution)

In the past, tuberculosis was called consumption, because it seemed to consume people from within, with a bloody cough, fever, pallor, and long relentless wasting. Other names included phthisis, Greek for "consumption" and phthisis pulmonalis.

phthisiologist
1. A physician who specializes in phthisiology.
2. An obsolete term for specialist in tuberculosis.
phthisiology
1. The care, treatment, and study of tuberculosis.
2. The study or science of tuberculosis.
phthisiomania
An abnormal interest in tuberculosis; such as, an over concern that one might contract the disease.
phthisiophobia, phthisophobia (s) (noun) (no plural)
An uncontrollable apprehension about getting tuberculosis, or of being around those who have it: Pete's roommate in the hospital was a patient who was infected with tuberculosis, and so Pete pleaded with his doctor to move him into a room away from the sick man because he had a phthisiophobia, or a morbid fear of being infected with the other guy's TB.
phthisiotherapy
The treatment of tuberculosis.
phthisipneumonia, phthisipneumony
Pulmonary consumption (a wasting of the tissues of the lungs, usually because of tuberculous).
phthisis bulbi
Wasting and shrinkage of the eyeball following destructive diseases of the eye; such as, panophthalmitis.
phthisis corneae
Cicatricial (scar like) shrinking of the cornea.
phthisis, phthisic
1. A disease characterized by the wasting away or atrophy of the body or a part of the body.
2. A wasting disease; especially, pulmonary tuberculosis of the lungs.

The term was formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption.

spes phthisica
A state of euphoria occurring in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Word families with similar applications about: "decay, rotten; wasting away; putrid, pus" word units: puro- (pus); pus (viscous fluid via an infection); pustu- (blister, pimple); putre- (rotten, decayed); pyo- (pus; purulent); sapro- (rotten, putrid, putrefaction, decay); sepsi- (decay, rot, putrefactive); suppurant- (festering, forming or discharging pus); tabe- (wasting away, decaying).