nephritis

UK: nɪˈfraɪtɪs | US: nɪˈfraɪtɪs

Definition
  1. n. Inflammation of the kidneys, typically caused by infection or autoimmune disease.

Structure

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Etymology

The word nephritis originates from Greek, combining nephros (kidney) and -itis (a suffix denoting inflammation). The term reflects classical medical terminology, where Greek roots were systematically used to describe diseases. The suffix -itis is widely applied in medicine (e.g., arthritis, bronchitis), while nephr- appears in related terms like nephrology (study of kidneys). This logical pairing highlights the kidney as the affected organ and inflammation as the pathological process.

Examples
  1. The patient was diagnosed with acute nephritis after exhibiting severe back pain and fever.

  2. Chronic nephritis can lead to kidney failure if left untreated.

  3. The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacterial nephritis.

  4. Autoimmune disorders like lupus may trigger nephritis as a complication.

  5. Early symptoms of nephritis include blood in the urine and swelling.