for family physicians and you
General Illness Information Common Name: Depression Medical Term: Major mood or affective disorder Description: Depression is a continuing and persistent feeling of deep sadness, despondency or hopelessness, with accompanying symptoms of depression. (See DSM IIIR Criteria below). It may follow a recent loss or a sad event, but is out of proportion to the event and persists beyond an appropriate length of time. Depression, however, may occur without any precipitating…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Nasal Polyps Common Name: Description: Benign fleshy outgrowths of the mucous membrane in the nasal cavities, usually in both sides of the nose. They sometimes grow large and numerous enough to cause nasal obstruction. They are more common in adults than in children. Â Causes: Chronic inflammation or allergy in the nose (allergic rhinitis) that causes the nasal mucous membranes to swell and produce excess…
General Illness Information Common Name: Cushing’s Disease, Cushing’s syndrome. Medical Term: Cushing’s Disease, Cushing’s syndrome Description: Clinical abnormalities associated with chronic exposure to excessive amounts of cortisol. Causes: The most frequent cause is prolonged use of steroid medications (Cortisone, or ACTH) Other causes: ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor Ectopic ACTH production (e.g., small-cell carcinoma of lung, bronchial carcinoid) Endogenous ACTH-independent hypercortisolism: Adrenal adenoma Adrenal carcinoma Macro/micro nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal gland….
General Illness Information Common Name: Cystic Fibrosis Medical Term: Cystic Fibrosis, CF Description: An inherited disease of the exocrine glands, primarily affecting the Gastro-intestinal and respiratory systems, and usually characterized by chronic obstructive lung disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and abnormally high sweat electrolytes. Causes: Autosomal recessive genetic defect. Prevention: In prenatal situations Genetic counseling; Prenatal diagnosis for future pregnancies. For complications: For respiratory infections – maintain pertussis and measles immunity;…
General Illness Information Medical Term: CYSTITIS IN FEMALES Common Name: Bladder Infection Description: A common problem in women who are otherwise healthy. Caused by inflammation or infection of the urinary bladder. It is particularly common during the reproductive years. 3-8% of women have bacteriuria at any given time and 30% of females have at least one urinary tract infection (UTI). Causes: Commonest cause is bacteria in the vagina that travel to…
General Illness Information Common Name: Dementia Medical Term: None Specified Description: Dementia is a brain disorder characterized by a gradual and progressive mental deterioration Memory loss is most common, but other mental faculties may be affected including attention, judgment, comprehension, orientation, learning, calculation, problem solving, mood and behavior. Agitation or withdrawal, hallucinations, delusions, insomnia and loss of inhibitions are common. There are many different causes of dementia but it is essential…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Multiple Sclerosis Common Name: None Specified Description: Chronic, slowly progressive, neurological disease characterized by myelin loss in the brain and spinal cord, causing neurological symptoms. Myelin is the tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord. It usually begins in young adulthood (ages 20 to 40), is more common in females, and is more prevalent in cooler climates. A third of all affected patients have…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Muscular Dystrophy Common Name: None Specified Description: A group of inherited muscular disorders, especially of the extremities, pelvis, and hips. It is characterized by progressive muscle weakness. It typically presents in boys aged 3 to 7 years. There are 9 forms of Muscular Dystrophy, with the major 2 being Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy and Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy. These are inherited through the X-chromosome, affect only males,…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Myasthenia Gravis Common Name: None Specified Description: Autoimmune disorder, characterized by progressive muscle fatigue and weakness, and improved by drugs which inhibit the enzyme choline-esterase. Usually involves muscles around the eyes, mouth, throat and limbs. Usually presents between ages 20-40, and is more common in women Causes: This is an autoimmune disorder. The body produces antibodies to a receptor (acetyl-choline) at the level of the…
General Illness Information Medical Term: MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROMES (FIBROSITIS) Common Name: Fibromyalgia (Fibromyositis) Description: Fibrositis (fibromyalgia syndromes, myofascial pain syndromes) are a group of disorders characterized by chronic widespread aches and pains in the muscles, muscle sheath and connective tissues of tendons, muscles, bones and joints, with associated tenderness. The pain and stiffness (fibromyalgia) may affect the whole body or may be restricted to certain parts of the body, as…