we would like to thank you very much for all your hard work dealing with our case, it was very much appreciated. We were glad that we held out and not took the first offer - it was well worth the wait.

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Iatrogenic: caused by actions of a doctor or induced inadvertently by medical treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a common disorder involving an abnormal condition of bowel characterised by abdominal pain, bloating and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhoea and constipation

Irritable bowel disease (IBD): a group of chronic intestinal diseases characterised by inflammation of the bowel. The most common types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

Idiopathic: of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be termed idiopathic

Illness, Chronic: illness that has persisted for a long period of time

Illness, Acute: an illness with an abrupt onset, usually of short duration

Ileostomy: surgical procedure where the ileum (small intestine) is attached to the abdominal wall to a bag outside the body. The opening in the abdominal wall is called a stoma

Immune system:  complex system that is responsible for distinguishing us from everything foreign to us, and for protecting us against infections and foreign substances

Immuno-compromised: having an immune system that has been impaired by disease or treatment

Immunology: the study of all aspects of the immune system including its structure and function, disorders of the immune system, blood banking, immunisation and organ transplantation

Impetigo: a skin infection characterised by a patch of red, itchy skin with crusty, yellow-brown sores, predominantly found in children

In vitro:  in glass, as in a test tube. A test that is performed in vitro is one that is done in glass or plastic vessels in the laboratory

Incontinence: unable to control excretions i.e. to hold urine in the bladder or keep faeces in the rectum

Incurable: not amenable to a cure / Incapable of being cured

Induced abortion: abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an artificial or therapeutic abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage)

Infarct: an area of tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen. For example, in a myocardial infarction there is death of myocardial (heart muscle) tissue due to sudden deprivation of circulating blood

Infection: the growth of a parasitic organism within the body

Infection, hospital acquired: an infection caught whilst in hospital such as MRSA and C-Diff (clostridium difficile)

Inferior vena cava: large vein that receives blood from the lower extremities, pelvis and abdomen and delivers it to the right atrium of the heart

Inflammation: a basic way in which the body reacts to infection, irritation or other injury, the key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain

Infertility: the diminished ability or the inability to conceive

Informed consent: process in which a person learns key facts about an operation or clinical trial, including potential risks and benefits, before deciding whether or not to proceed

Inguinal: having to do with the groin

Insomnia:  inability to sleep

Insulin: a natural hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of the sugar glucose in the blood. The failure to make insulin or to respond to it constitutes diabetes mellitus

Intensive care: the specialised care of patients whose conditions are life-threatening and who require comprehensive care and constant monitoring

Intestine: the long, tube like organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. It consists of the small and large intestines

Intracellular: within a cell. In contrast to extracellular, meaning outside a cell

Intramuscular: intramuscular (IM) medication is given by needle into the muscle

Intrauterine Growth Retardation / Restriction (IUGR): the growth of the foetus is abnormally slow. When born, the baby appears too small, considering its dates. IUGR is associated with increased risk of medical illness and death in the newborn

Intravenous (IV): into a vein

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics: when a solution containing antibiotics is administered directly into the venous circulation via a syringe or intravenous catheter (tube)

Intubate: to put a tube into a hollow organ or passageway, often into the airway. The opposite of intubate is extubate

Iris: the iris is the circular, coloured curtain of the eye. Its opening forms the pupil. The iris helps regulate the amount of light that enters the eye

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