fulminant period William R. Hogan A temporal part of a disease course that 1) itself has a temporal part of becoming severely symptomatic, 2) terminates in either death or some bodily harm, and 3) has a sudden onset and short duration. A temporal part of a disease course that 1) itself has a temporal part of becoming severely symptomatic, 2) terminates in either death or some bodily harm, and 3) has a sudden onset and short duration. Although it is often or even typically preceded by a prodromal period, it is not always the case. Therefore "immediately preceded by some prodromal period" cannot be a necessary condition. Matthew Diller process