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Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection. It may result in pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or loss of function of the affected body part.

In some cases inflammation develops as part of a disease process, such as the inflammation that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, or an allergic reaction.

Last Revised: January 25, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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