Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
infectious polyneuritis

infectious polyneuritis

7.5
Swelling of many nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that causes pain, weakness and sometimes paralysis
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈfɛkʃəs ˌpɒlɪˈnjʊəraɪtɪs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : polineuritis infecciosa
  • The patient was diagnosed with infectious polyneuritis after experiencing rapid muscle weakness and numbness in his limbs.

Examples

  • Early treatment of infectious polyneuritis can sometimes improve the chances of full recovery.

  • Researchers continue to investigate the possible causes of infectious polyneuritis, as its origins remain unclear.

  • The doctor diagnosed him with infectious polyneuritis.

  • Many patients suffering from infectious polyneuritis experience severe pain.

  • The patient was diagnosed with infectious polyneuritis after experiencing rapid muscle weakness and numbness in his limbs.

  • Early treatment of infectious polyneuritis can sometimes improve the chances of full recovery.

  • Many patients suffering from infectious polyneuritis experience severe pain.

Synonyms

multiple neuritis
vsinfectious polyneuritis
  • Specialized
8.0

Swelling of many nerves in the body that causes weakness and numbness

often includes pain and sometimes paralysis rather than only weakness
polyneuritis
vsinfectious polyneuritis
  • Specialized
9.9

Inflammation of many nerves outside the brain and spine that causes weakness or numbness

usually presents with pain and occasional paralysis not just sensory changes

Surface Forms

infectious polyneuritis singular
infectious polyneuritides plural

Morphology

infectious + polyneuritis

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival modification: 'infectious' (caused by an infection) describes the noun 'polyneuritis' (inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves), so the overall meaning is directly predictable from the parts. This compositional pattern is transparently interpretable in medical language and parallels constructions in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Infectious polyneuritis breaks into parts: infectious meaning 'caused by germs', poly meaning 'many', and neuritis meaning 'inflammation of nerves'. Imagine many thin wires, your nerves, becoming swollen or like they are 'on fire' after an infection spreads along them, and that image shows why the term means many nerves are inflamed, causing pain and weakness.