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Glite Dictionary
🦷 Tooth socket inflammation 🫁 Lung inflammation
alveolitis

alveolitis

9.9
Inflammation of the tiny air sacs in the lungs often caused by breathing in dust
  • noun
  • /ˌælviˈoʊlɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alveolitis
  • The patient showed signs of alveolitis, prompting the need for further lung examinations.

Examples

  • Her GP referred Mrs. A to secondary care with a provisional diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis or alveolitis.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The doctor explained that alveolitis can cause breathing difficulties if left untreated.

  • After years of working in construction, he developed alveolitis from the inhalation of harmful dust.

Synonyms

pneumonitis
vsalveolitis
  • Specialized
2 8.9

A condition where infection, allergy or harmful fumes make the lungs swell

is inflammation focused on air sacs often from dust exposure becoming chronic with repeats
pneumonoconiosis
vsalveolitis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A lung disease that happens when you breathe in metal or rock dust and scars the lungs

is inflammation mainly of tiny air sacs often from dust not broad scarring
pneumoconiosis
vsalveolitis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A long-term lung disease caused by breathing in dust at work

is limited to inflammation of small air sacs and can start before scarring

Surface Forms

alveolitis singular
alveolitis plural

Morphology

alveolitis = alveolus (semi-transparent) = alveol + itis

Formally 'alveolus' + medical suffix '-itis' straightforwardly means inflammation of the alveoli, but both elements are specialized medical vocabulary that many B1 learners will not know.

Etymology

Alveolitis comes from alveolus, a Latin word for a 'small hollow', and the ending -itis, which means 'inflammation'. So alveolitis is inflammation of the tiny air 'sacs' in the lungs, which explains symptoms like cough and trouble breathing.