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General Illness Information Medical Term: FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE Common Name: Benign breast disease Description: Fibrocystic breast disease is a generalized term for non- malignant lumps in breasts, causing pain. Although it is called a disease, it is not really a disease. Therefore the term benign breast  disease or fibrocystic condition would be more appropriate. The benign lumps are usually smooth, regular and mobile. At least 50% of women  have benign…

General Illness Information Medical Term: IMPOTENCE, MALE SEXUAL (ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION) Common Name: None Specified Description: A consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Impotence is not inevitable with aging. The capacity for erection is retained, though a man may need more stimulation to achieve erection and more time between erections than in the past. Causes: Psychological causes include: Guilt feelings. A poor relationship with the sexual partner. Psychological disorders,…

General Illness Information Medical Term: ESOPHAGUS CANCER Common Name: None Specified Description: Malignant growth in the esophagus (food pipe) ,in which cells multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Usually develops in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years of age. The overall ratio of men to women is 3:1. There are 2 types of cancer – squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In the United States, squamous cell carcinoma is…

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Drug Abuse And Addiction Common Name: None Specified Description: Drug addiction involves a triad of compulsive drug use, which includes: 1) Psychologic craving or dependence and the behavior included in the procurement of the drug (“hustle”), 2) Physiologic dependence, with withdrawal symptoms on discontinuance of the drug; and 3) tolerance, i.e. the need to increase the dose to get the desired effect. Drug dependency is…