General Illness Information Common Name: Laryngitis Medical Term: None Specified Description: An inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and surrounding tissues, causing temporary hoarseness. Causes: Inflammation of the vocal cords and surrounding area caused by: Viruses (common), bacteria, allergies. Electrolyte-balance disturbances, especially low potassium, that cause muscle weakness (Uncommon). Tumors (rare) or polyps. Excessive use of the voice. Prevention: Avoid raising, or straining your voice. Treat all respiratory infections appropriately….
General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratosis, Actinic Common Name: None Specified Description: A small area of sun-damaged skin that is pre-cancerous. It involves skin of exposed areas, especially the scalp, face, ears, lips, arms and hands. Causes: Prolonged exposure to the sun’s radiation. Prevention: Protect yourself against direct sun exposure. When outdoors, wear a hat and protective clothing. Use sunscreen lotions and creams with SPF rating of 15 or more….
General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratosis Pilaris Common Name: None Specified Description: A common skin disorder in which the openings of the hair follicles become filled with hard plugs. Commonly on the back of upper arms, front of thighs or buttocks. It more often affects children and young adults. It is not contagious. Causes: Unknown, but it may be hereditary. These commonly occur in association with allergic dermatitis. Prevention: Cannot…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Infection, Chronic (Pyelonephritis, Chronic) Common Name: None Specified Description: Chronic infection of the kidneys, resulting from anatomic abnormalities of the kidneys or the urinary system. Causes: Chronic pyelonephritis occurs only in patients with major anatomic abnormalities, such as obstructive uropathy, kidney stones, or, most commonly, reflux of urine at the junction of the bladder and ureter. Prevention: Obtain prompt medical treatment for acute kidney…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Infection, Acute (Pyelonephritis, acute) Common Name: None Specified Description: Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidney. It can be serious because of the important function of the kidneys and because the infection may enter the bloodstream. In women who are pregnant it may cause premature labor. Kidney infections are much more common in women than men. Causes: Most kidney infections result from lower…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi) Common Name: None Specified Description: Small solid particles (stones) that form in the kidney and sometimes travel down to the urethra (tube that connects kidney to urinary bladder). About 1 in 1000 adults is hospitalized annually in the USA because of urinary calculi, which are also found in about 1% of all autopsies. Causes: Almost 95% of all kidney stones are…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratitis Common Name: None Specified Description: Infection or inflammation of the cornea (the center portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil). Causes: Bacterial, viral or fungal infections. The most common is herpes simplex virus, Type I. Drying of the eye caused by an eyelid disorder or insufficient tear formation. Foreign object in the eye. Contact lenses over-use. Intense light, such as from welding arcs…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Keloids Common Name: None Specified Description: An overgrowth of fibrous tissue (scar) on the skin. Keloids can appear anywhere on the skin, but most commonly appear on the breastbone, upper back and shoulder. They usually arise in an area of injury (such as after a burn or from severe acne), but sometimes arise from a very minor scratch. Keloids are more frequent in people of…
General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratoses, Seborrheic Common Name: None Specified Description: A non-contagious, benign, inflammatory, pigmented, raised, scaling disease of the skin. It may involve the chest; back; face; arms; and can affect adults of both sexes. By age 60, almost everyone has a few seborrheic keratoses. Causes: Unknown. Prevention: No specific preventive measures. Signs & Symptoms Characteristic papules, which are pigmented, raised, flat, scaly lesions scattered on the…
General Illness Information Common Name: Coronary Artery Disease Medical Term: Ischemic Heart Disease Description: Coronary artery disease is a condition in which fatty deposits (atheroma) accumulate in the cells lining the wall of the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits build up gradually and irregularly in the large branches of the two main coronary arteries which encircle the heart and are the main source of its blood supply. This process is…
