for family physicians and you
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…
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: Diaper Rash Common Name: None Specified Description: Rash in the diaper area of infants. It is a form of primary irritated contact dermatitis. Causes: Diaper rash results from skin irritation caused by prolonged contact with substances in the urine and stool. The irritants are caused by the action of bacteria in the stools, reacting with chemicals in the urine. Studies show that the incidence of…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Diarrhea, Acute Common Name: None Specified Description: Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, or increased stool liquidity or increase in the volume. Normally, stool is 60 to 90 percent water: diarrhea mainly results when the percentage exceeds 90. Diarrhea is considered to be acute, when there is passage of three or more loose stools in a 24 hour period, and lasts…
Medical Term: Diphtheria Common Name: None Specified Description: Diphtheria is an acute, highly contagious infection caused by a bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae, that usually attacks the respiratory tract but may involve any mucous membrane or skin wound. The diphtheria bacteria are spread by droplets of moisture coughed into the air. Rarely, the bacteria can be spread by contaminated household article, such as clothing or toys. Years ago, diphtheria was one of…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Disk, Ruptured Common Name: Herniated disk, Slipped Disk Description: A herniated disk is a spinal disk which has collapsed and is bulging into the spinal cord, pressing on the spinal cord or the nerves emanating from it. This occurs as a result of degeneration of the ligaments and tissues surrounding a spinal disk (i.e.. the cushion separating bony spinal vertebrae). The disks of the lower…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Diverticulosis, Diverticulitis Common Name: None Specified Description: Divertculosis is the presence of small, sac-like swellings or pouches (diverticula) in the walls of the large intestine. Diverticula may appear anywhere in the large intestine but they are most common in the sigmoid colon, the last part of the large intestine before the rectum. A diverticula bulges at a point of weakness, usually where an artery penetrates…
General Illness Information Common Name: DERMATITIS, CONTACT Medical Term: Non-specified Description: Acute or chronic skin irritation caused by direct contact with an external substance (chemical or allergen) that causes an inflammatory reaction in the skin. It is a very common skin condition . Lesions are most often on exposed parts. Causes: In about 80% of the cases, it is due to excessive exposure to soaps, detergents and organic solvents. Others…
General Illness Information Medical Term: DIABETES MELLITUS – NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT (NIDDM) Common Name: Type II Diabetes Description: Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder in which blood levels of glucose are abnormally high due to either an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion, or as a result of reduced effectiveness of insulin, or both. Diabetes Mellitus is classified into two major types – Type I (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus ), and Type II (Non-Insulin…
General Illness Information Common Name: ECZEMA (Dermatitis, atopic) Medical Term: 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…