for family physicians and you
General Illness Information Medical Term: EMPHYSEMA Common Name: None Specified Description: Emphysema is a chronic lung condition with abnormal enlargement of the air sacs (alveoli), because of destruction of their walls and with resulting loss of elasticity. The disease occurs in the distal and terminal airways and involves the airways as well as the lung parenchyma ( air sacs). It usually affects adults between 35 and 75. Males are more…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ENCOPRESIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Lack of bowel control in a child , older than 4 years of age, and who does not have an organic defect or illness. A child cannot be expected to have complete bowel control until at least 2-1/2 years of age. Occurs in about 1% of 4 year olds. Causes: Most of these accidental bowel movements result from resistance…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ENDOCARDITIS (Bacterial or Infective endocarditis) Common Name: None Specified Description: Infective endocarditis is a serious infection of the endocardium (the smooth interior lining of the heart ) and the heart valves. It is mostly caused by bacteria. Rarely, can be caused by fungi or other organisms. May be acute or sub acute. Infective endocarditis can come on suddenly and become life-threatening within a matter of…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ENCEPHALITIS ( VIRAL) Common Name: None Specified Description: An acute inflammation of the brain cells caused by a direct viral infection (primary encephalitis) or by a hypersensitivity reaction initiated by virus (secondary encephalitis). Secondary or post viral encephalitis usually occurs 2- 12 days after the primary viral infection. Meningeal, spinal cord and peripheral nerve involvement may accompany encephalitis. Most cases of viral encephalitis are rare…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ECZEMA (Dermatitis, atopic) Common Name: Eczema Description: It is a chronic, itchy inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. May be associated with other allergic disorders, such as asthma or hay fever and may have family members with these conditions. There are 3 phase: Infantile phase – birth to two years; Childhood phase – two years to puberty; Adult phase – after puberty. It…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ECTOPIC PREGNANCY Common Name: None Specified Description: An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus-either in the fallopian tubes, or in the cervical canal, or in the pelvic cavity or in the abdominal cavity. Commonest site (98%) is the fallopian tube (that connects the ovary to the uterus). 1-5% of all pregnancies are ectopic, in the United States. About 40% occur in…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EARWAX BLOCKAGE Common Name: Cerumen Impaction Description: Overproduction of earwax (cerumen), causing blockage of the external ear canal. Wax is produced, by glands in the ear to protect the ear canal ( passage leading from the eardrum to the outside). The amount of wax produced varies from person to person. Some people produce enough earwax to block the ear canal and need treatment. Causes: Overproduction…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EARDRUM, RUPTURED Common Name: Perforated eardrum Description: A hole in the thin membrane (tympanic membrane) that separates the inner ear from the outer ear. Causes: The eardrum may be perforated when a sharp object is inserted in the ear, such as: a cotton swab or paper clip to clean the ear or relieve an itch; or by an object accidentally entering the ear, such as…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Dysmenorrhea Common Name: Menstrual Cramps Description: Dysmenorrhea is severe painful abdominal cramps at the onset of and during menstruation. Severity of symptoms varies greatly from women to women and from time to time. It is usually less severe after childbirth. There are two types – Primary and Secondary dysmenorrhea. The condition is called Primary dysmenorrhea when there is no underlying cause and usually occurs in…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Dysentery, Bacillary ( Shigellosis) Common Name: None Specified Description: Bacillary dysentery is a bacterial infection of the mucosal surface of the intestines, that results in severe diarrhea and is caused by Shigella bacteria. It has a 1-4 day incubation period. It is a contagious infection, occurs in epidemics and occurs more frequently in the summer and fall. The infection is spread by contact with feces…