sleepy sickness
/'sli:piɳ,siknis/ Cách viết khác : (sleepy_sickness) /'sli:pi'siknis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A historical epidemic disease: "sleepy sickness" refers to a specific type of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that was epidemic between approximately 1915 and 1926. Its medical name is encephalitis lethargica.
- Characteristic symptoms: The disease is notably characterized by symptoms such as paralysis of the extrinsic eye muscles (leading to ophthalmoplegia), extreme muscular weakness, profound lethargy (sleepiness), and sometimes a Parkinson's disease-like state.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The outbreak of sleepy sickness in the early 20th century puzzled doctors for years.
- Patients with sleepy sickness often exhibited a mask-like face and severe lethargy.
- Historical records describe the devastating effects of the sleepy sickness epidemic.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Medical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in historical or medical discussions about the early 20th-century epidemic. It is not used for general sleepiness or modern illnesses.
- The chapter on neurological history detailed the impact of sleepy sickness.
Variants and Related Words
- Encephalitis lethargica: The formal medical term for "sleepy sickness."
- Sleeping sickness: CRITICAL NOTE: This is a different disease. "Sleeping sickness" refers to African trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease spread by tsetse flies. Do not confuse "sleepy sickness" with "sleeping sickness."
Synonyms
- Encephalitis lethargica (formal medical term).
- Epidemic encephalitis (descriptive term).
Notes on Meaning
- This term has a single, specific historical-medical meaning. It does not describe general tiredness or a minor illness. Its use is highly specialized.
Noun
- an encephalitis that was epidemic between 1915 and 1926; symptoms include paralysis of the extrinsic eye muscle and extreme muscular weakness