1. A diseased state. 2. The ratio of sick to well in a community. SYN: morbility. SEE ALSO: m. rate. 3. The frequency of the appearance of complications following a surgical procedure or other treatment.
- puerperal m. illness arising during the first 10 days of the postpartum period, i.e., a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or more on any two days of the first 10, excluding the first 24 hours.
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1) a diseased state or symptom <lumbar puncture, if improperly performed, may be followed by a significant \morbidity (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc.)>
2) the incidence of disease: the rate of sickness (as in a specified community or group) <while TB mortality has declined fairly steadily, \morbidity has been rising (Time)> compare MORTALITY (2)
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n.
the state of being diseased. The morbidity rate is the number of cases of a disease found to occur in a stated number of the population, usually given as cases per 100,000 or per million (the number may be smaller for common diseases). Annual figures for morbidity rate give the incidence of the disease, which is the number of new cases reported in the year. See also incidence rate, prevalence rate.
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mor·bid·i·ty (mor-bidґĭ-te) 1. a diseased condition or state. 2. the incidence or prevalence of a disease or of all diseases in a population. See morbidity rate, under rate.Medical dictionary. 2011.