AUSLEXAustralian English & global dictionary

Medical

Everyday Australian words, slang and life-admin terms for migrants, students and workers — explained in plain English and 8 other languages.

Reviewed entries

160 entries
Medical words here are for communication only and are not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your health, and call 000 in an emergency.

  • dizziness

    noun

    A feeling that you are spinning or about to fall.

    Dizziness can happen if you stand up too quickly.

  • dosage

    noun

    The amount of medicine to take and how often, as directed by a doctor, pharmacist or label.

    Check the dosage on the label.

  • due date

    noun

    The date a baby is expected to be born.

    Her due date is in March.

  • ear infection

    noun

    An infection inside the ear, common in children.

    The child has an ear infection.

  • earache

    noun

    Pain inside the ear.

    The child woke up with an earache.

  • ECG

    noun

    Electrocardiogram, a test that records the heart's electrical activity.

    The nurse did an ECG to check his heart.

  • eczema

    noun

    A skin condition that makes skin dry, red and itchy.

    Her eczema gets worse in winter.

  • elbow

    noun

    The joint in the middle of the arm.

    He banged his elbow on the door.

  • epilepsy

    noun

    A condition of the brain that can cause seizures.

    He manages his epilepsy with medication.

  • examination

    noun

    A careful check of a patient's body by a doctor (informal: exam).

    The doctor did a physical examination.

  • eye drops

    noun

    Liquid medicine put into the eyes.

    Use the eye drops twice a day as directed.

  • eyelid

    noun

    The skin that covers the eye when it closes.

    Her eyelid is swollen and red.

  • fatigue

    noun

    Extreme tiredness.

    Fatigue is a common symptom of the flu.

  • fever

    noun

    A body temperature higher than normal, often a sign of infection.

    The child has had a fever since last night.

  • filling

    noun

    Material a dentist uses to fill a hole in a tooth.

    I needed a filling in my back tooth.

  • flu

    noun

    Influenza, a viral infection causing fever, aches and tiredness, often worse than a cold.

    She is off work with the flu.

  • follow-up appointment

    noun

    A later appointment to check how a patient is going.

    Book a follow-up appointment in two weeks.

  • food poisoning

    noun

    An illness caused by eating food containing harmful bacteria.

    He got food poisoning from undercooked chicken.

  • forehead

    noun

    The part of the face above the eyes.

    She has a small cut on her forehead.

  • fracture

    noun / verb

    A break in a bone; to break a bone.

    The X-ray showed a small fracture.

  • gastro

    noun

    Informal Australian word for gastroenteritis, a stomach and bowel infection causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

    Half the class was off with gastro.

  • glasses

    noun

    Lenses in a frame worn to help you see clearly.

    I need glasses for reading.

  • gums

    noun

    The pink flesh around the teeth.

    My gums bleed when I brush my teeth.

  • hay fever

    noun

    An allergy to pollen that causes sneezing and itchy eyes.

    Hay fever is bad in spring.

  • headache

    noun

    A pain in the head.

    I've had a headache all day.