Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

acute myelogenous leukemia
See 
leukemia,
acute myeloid.
acute myeloid leukemia
See 
leukemia, acute
myeloid.
acute myocardial infarction
A heart attack that
occurs when the heart muscle is suddenly deprived
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acute myocardial infarction
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of circulating blood. Abbreviated AMI. See also
heart attack.
acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
See
leukemia, acute myeloid.
acute otitis media
Painful inflammation of the
middle ear, typically with fluid in the middle ear,
behind a bulging eardrum or a perforated eardrum,
often with drainage of pus. The customary treatment
is antibiotics for 7 to 10 days. After antibiotic treat-
ment, some children are left with fluid in the middle
ear, which can cause temporary hearing loss. In
most children, the fluid eventually disappears spon-
taneously. If a child has a bulging eardrum and is
experiencing severe pain, a myringotomy (surgical
incision of the eardrum) to release the pus may be
done. Tubes may be placed in the ear to drain fluid.
See also 
ear infection.
acute peritonitis
See 
peritonitis, acute.
acute respiratory distress syndrome
Respiratory failure of sudden onset due to fluid in
the lungs (pulmonary edema), following an abrupt
increase in the permeability of the normal barrier
between the capillaries in the lungs and the air sacs.
The muscles used in breathing are forced to work
harder, causing labored and inefficient breathing.
An abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood
(hypoxemia) occurs. The types of acute lung injury
that may lead to ARDS include, but are not limited
to, aspiration of food or other items into the lungs,
inhalation of a toxic substance, widespread infec-
tion of the lungs, blood infection (sepsis), and near-
drowning. Treatment frequently involves temporary
use of a mechanical ventilator to help the patient
breathe.