How Do You Spell VARIOLA MALIGNA?

1. Variola maligna is a term used in medical and scientific literature to refer to a severe and virulent form of smallpox, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease caused by the Variola virus. This term is derived from Latin, where "variola" means smallpox, and "maligna" translates to malignant or severe.

   Variola maligna is marked by its aggressive nature, causing a rapid and devastating progression of symptoms. It is characterized by the development of deep and painful skin lesions, which are typically larger and more densely packed compared to milder forms of the disease. These pustular lesions are filled with a thick and highly contagious fluid, making the disease extremely transmissible.

   Symptoms of variola maligna often include high fever, severe headache, fatigue, and muscle pain. The skin lesions progress through several stages, starting as red macules that develop into papules and then progress to vesicles before finally forming the characteristic pustules. The pustules eventually scab over and leave permanent scars on the skin. In some cases, variola maligna can result in severe complications, such as pneumonia, encephalitis, or hemorrhagic fever, which significantly increase the risk of death.

   The development of effective vaccines and global vaccination campaigns has led to the eradication of variola maligna and its causative agent, the Variola virus. Today, the term is primarily used in historical and academic contexts to describe the severe and malignant form of smallpox that posed a significant threat to human health before its eradication.

2. Malignant smallpox, usually of the hemorrhagic form.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for VARIOLA MALIGNA

The word "variola maligna" is derived from Latin.

- "Variola" is the Latin word for "pustule" or "pox". It is a diminutive form of "varus", meaning "pimple" or "mark". It was used to describe the characteristic skin lesions that appear during an infection of smallpox.

- "Maligna" is the feminine form of the Latin word "malignus" which means "malignant" or "evil". This term was added to differentiate "variola maligna" from the less severe form of smallpox, known as "variola minor" or "variola vera".

When combined, "variola maligna" refers to a severe and more dangerous form of smallpox.