Diseases

Smallpox

An acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a biphasic febrile course and distinctive progressive skin eruptions. Vaccination has succeeded in eradicating smallpox worldwide. (Dorland, 28th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a biphasic febrile course and distinctive progressive skin eruptions. Vaccination has succeeded in eradicating smallpox worldwide. (Dorland, 28th ed)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Variola
  • Variolas
  • Alastrim
  • Variola Minor
  • Minor, Variola
  • Minors, Variola
  • Variola Minors

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

caused by a poxvirus

MeSH Record

History Note

ALASTRIM was heading 1975-96 (see under SMALLPOX 1975-90); VARIOLA MINOR was see ALASTRIM 1979-96

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Smallpox. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D012899. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D012899
  2. Smallpox. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox
  3. Smallpox. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12214