Recurring every third day, counting the day of an episode as the first; actually, occurring every 48 hours or every other day. [L. tertianus, fr. tertius, third]
- double t. denoting malarial infections with two different sets of organisms producing daily paroxysms. SEE ALSO: quotidian malaria.
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ter·tian 'tər-shən adj recurring at approximately 48-hour intervals used chiefly of vivax malaria compare QUARTAN
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ter·tian (turґshən) [L. tertianus] recurring every third day, counting the day of occurrence as the first day; applied to the type of fever caused by Plasmodium vivax.Medical dictionary. 2011.