crisis

crisis /cri·sis/ (kri´sis) pl. cri´ses   [L.]

1. the turning point of a disease for better or worse; especially a sudden change, usually for the better, in the course of an acute disease.

2. a sudden paroxysmal intensification of symptoms in the course of a disease.

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addisonian crisis , adrenal crisis fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss accompanying an acute attack of Addison's disease.

blast crisis  a sudden, severe change in the course of chronic granulocytic leukemia with an increase in the proportion of myeloblasts.

genital crisis of newborn  estrinization of the vaginal mucosa and hyperplasia of the breast, influenced by transplacentally acquired estrogens.

hemolytic crisis  acute red cell destruction leading to jaundice, occasionally seen with sickle cell disease.

identity crisis  a period in the psychosocial development of an individual, usually occurring during adolescence, manifested by confusion over one's self, values, or perceived role expected by society.

sickle cell crisis  a broad term for several acute conditions occurring with sickle cell disease, including hemolytic crisis and vaso-occlusive crisis.

thyroid crisis , thyrotoxic crisis thyroid storm; a sudden and dangerous increase of symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.

vasoocclusive crisis  severe pain due to infarctions in the bones, joints, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, eye, or central nervous system, an acute condition seen with sickle cell anemia.

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cri·sis (krss)

n. pl. cri·ses (-sz)

1. A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration.

2. An emotionally stressful event or a traumatic change in one's life.

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crisis

pl. crises [L.]

1. the turning point of a disease for better or worse; especially a sudden change, usually for the better, in the course of an acute disease.

2. a sudden paroxysmal intensification of signs in the course of a disease.

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addisonian crisis

signs of severe depression, muscle weakness, vomiting and diarrhea accompanying an acute attack of adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease). Called also adrenal crisis.

adrenal crisis

see addisonian crisis (above).

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crisis Clinical medicine 1. An abrupt–paroxysmal change in the course of a disease, usually for worse–eg, an acute exacerbation of adrenal insufficiency 2. An abrupt intensification of a symptom or other manifestation of a disease, a paroxysm. See Adrenal crisis, Aplastic crisis, Blast crisis, Healing crisis, Hemolytic crisis, Hypertensive crisis, Myasthenic crisis, Therapeutic crisis, Thyrotoxic crisis, Tumarkin crisis, Vaso-occlusive crisis Psychiatry A state of psychologic disequilibrium; turning point in a person's life. See Adolescent crisis, Identity crisis, Legal crisis, Midlife crisis.