Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

degeneration, macular
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dementia, MELAS
See 
MELAS syndrome.
dementia complex, AIDS
See 
AIDS dementia
complex.
demulcent
An agent that forms a soothing, pro-
tective film when administered onto a mucous
membrane surface. For example, mucilage and oils
are demulcents that can relieve irritation of the
bowel lining.
demyelination
A degenerative process that
erodes the myelin sheath that normally protects
nerve fibers. Demyelination exposes these fibers
and appears to cause problems in nerve impulse
conduction. Demyelination is seen in a number of
diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis.
dendrite
A short, arm-like protuberance from a
nerve cell (neuron). The tips of dendrites transmit
and receive chemical messages. See also 
axon;
neuron.
denervation
Loss of nerve supply. Causes of den-
ervation include disease, chemical toxicity, physical
injury, or intentional surgical interruption of a
nerve.
dengue fever
An acute mosquito-borne viral ill-
ness of sudden onset with headache, fever, prostra-
tion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands
(lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence of
fever, rash, and headache (the “dengue triad”) is
characteristic. Dengue fever is endemic throughout
the tropics and subtropics. Also called breakbone
fever, dandy fever, and dengue. Victims of dengue
fever often suffer temporary contortions due to the
intense joint and muscle pain.
dengue hemorrhagic fever
A syndrome caused
by the dengue virus that tends to affect children
under age 10 and causes fever, headache, sore
throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
bleeding, and circulatory collapse (shock). Other
symptoms are bleeding with easy bruising, blood
spots in the skin, vomiting of blood, blood in the
stool, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Pneumonia
and heart inflammation may also be present. Most
deaths occur in children and infants are at particu-
lar risk.