Anglais médical: tout savoir sur les stéroïdes !

Ce nouveau cours d’anglais, élaboré par Virginia Allum, auteur et consultante EMP (English for Medical Purposes) traite de l’usage des stéroïdes en médecine. Les corrigés des exercices sont à retrouver en PDF en bas de page.
N'hésitez pas à vous servir du dictionnaire en ligne Wordreference. Vous trouverez à la fin de cet article les corrections des exercices qui vous sont proposés téléchargeables au format pdf.

Activity 1

Match the English term with the correct French translation.

Activity 2

Match the terms with their definitions. Select terms from the table in activity 1.

1. ______________: filling out of the face, so it appears very round
2. ______________: changes from feelings of well-being to depression which often happen rapidly
3. ______________: the relief of pain without causing unconsciousness
4. ______________: type of drug which reduces pain and inflammation by blocking prostaglandins
5. ______________: painless accumulation of fat on the back of the neck
6. ______________: measures taken to bring down an excessively high temperature
7. ______________: collection of liquid in tissue spaces causing swelling
8. ______________: acronym for a group of non-steroid drugs which reduce inflammation and pain
9. ______________: type of medication which alleviates pain and discomfort
10. ______________:  type of hormone produced in the adrenal cortex
11. ______________: secondary and often unwanted result of taking a medication
12. ______________: describes something which causes swelling

Activity 3

Read the article and answer the questions.

Corticosteroids versus NSAIDs

Corticosteroids are steroid hormones which suppress inflammation in the body and also regulate the balance of salt and water in the body. Corticosteroids are often used to treat conditions such as arthritis, colitis, asthma, bronchitis, allergic reactions, and skin rashes.

NSAIDs are drugs which are prescribed to treat pain and reduce inflammation from a variety of causes, e.g. headaches, minor injuries, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. They are also used for fever reduction. NSAIDs block two forms of the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX). COX-1 protects the stomach lining from digestive acid and COX-2 is produced, if joints are injured or become inflamed. By blocking both COX forms, inflammation, pain and fever can be treated.

Both corticosteroids and NSAIDs are effective drugs, however, both cause unpleasant side effects. The side effects of corticosteroids include fluid retention leading to oedema, development of a ‘moon face’ and increased facial hair growth, accumulation of fat on the back of the neck leading to growth of a ‘buffalo hump’, thinning skin which bruises easily and menstrual irregularity. The side effects of NSAIDs are predominantly gastrointestinal in nature and can include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain. Patients also report increased headaches and ringing in the ears.

1. Corticosteroids and NSAIDs are similar in that they…
   1. a)    are both types of painkillers
   1. b)    both reduce inflammation
   1. c)    treat the same types of illnesses
       
2. NSAIDs are used for arthritis pain, because they...
   1. a)    are more effective than corticosteroids
   1. b)     can be used to reduce fever as well as inflammation
   1. c)    reduce inflammation around painful joints
       
3. Corticosteroid use may result in the development of a ‘moon face’ or
   1. a)    a very pale complexion
   1. b)    oedema in the face and neck area
   1. c)    pock marks on the face
       
4. The term ‘buffalo hump’ refers to...
   1. a)    hairy mass on the back of the neck
   1. b)    a tumour-like growth on the neck
   1. c)    a fatty collection on the lower neck
       
5. The medical term for ‘ringing in the ears’ is
   1. a)    tinnitus
   1. b)    labyrinthitis
   1. c)    otitis media

Activity 4

Complete the text using the words below.

• absorbed
• inflamed
• side effects
• dosing card
• local
• pain relief

Using Topical NSAIDs for Arthritis Pain

People who only have osteoarthritis in a few joints may prefer to use a topical NSAID in place of an oral NSAID. Topical drugs are often better at reducing ⁽¹⁾ __________ rather than generalised pain and work best on joints that are closer to the surface, such as the hands, knees, elbows and ankles.

Topical NSAIDs are in the form of creams, gels and transdermal patches which can be rubbed on the skin (creams and gels) or placed on the skin over a sore and ⁽²⁾ _____________ joint (transdermal patch).

By switching to a topical NSAID, patients can minimise the risk of suffering the gastric ⁽³⁾ _________________ of the oral medication. Studies on the effects of topical NSAIDs versus oral NSAIDs suggest that topical NSAIDs are very effective in providing ⁽⁴⁾ ________________ for people with osteoarthritis. NSAIDs cause less drowsiness than opioid analgesia and are therefore preferable for elderly patients who may be at a high risk of falls, if they take stronger pain relief medication.

Because topical medication is easily ⁽⁵⁾ _____________ through the skin, the maximum daily dose must not be exceeded to avoid serious side effects. Guidance is supplied in the form of a ⁽⁶⁾ ___________________, so patients are aware of the amount of gel or cream they should apply each time. Transdermal patches are more convenient in this regard, as each patch contains the patient’s correct dose of NSAID.

Téléchargez les corrections au format PDF

Virginia ALLUM  Author and Consultant in English for Medical Purposes