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An inflammatory state, it's adjoining Northern Europe (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

neuritis

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'an inflammatory state' is the definition.
'neuritis' can be an answer for 'state' (neuritis is a kind of state). I am not certain of the 'an inflammatory' bit.

'it's adjoining northern europe' is the wordplay.
'it's' becomes 'itis' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'adjoining' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'northern' becomes 'n' (abbreviation e.g. N. Ireland).
'europe' becomes 'eur' (abbreviation for Europe).
'n'+'eur'='neur'
'itis' after 'neur' is 'NEURITIS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for neuritis that I've seen before include "Inflammation of nerves" , "Painful condition" , "cause of suffering" , "painful problem" , "Inflammation of a nerve" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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