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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…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Mononucleosis Common Name: None Specified Description: An acute illness,characterised by fever, sore throat and enlarged lymph glands, caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus. Causes: The causative agent is the Epstein-Barr virus.  After gaining entry to the nasopharynx and replicating, the virus infects B lymphocytes in the body. Prevention: Avoid contact with persons having infectious mononucleosis. Signs & Symptoms Fever. Sore throat (sometimes severe). Fatigue. Swollen lymph…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Morning sickness during pregnancy Common Name: Morning sickness Description: Common symptom of nausea and vomiting,  usually during the first trimester of pregnancy. Occurs in over 50% of all pregnancies. Causes: Nausea probably results from rising levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin in the blood. These rising levels of hormones probably activate the vomiting center in the brain. Prevention: It is sometimes recommended for patients suffering nausea…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Migraine headache Common Name: None Specified Description: A migraine headache is a recurring, throbbing, intense pain that most commonly affects one side of the head but may affect both sides. The pain is of sudden onset and may be preceded or accompanied by visual, neurologic, or gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a type of vascular headache: a genetically based, neuro-chemical instability of the nervous system triggered…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Spontaneous Abortion Common Name: Miscarriage (Spontaneous abortion) Description: Spontaneous termination of pregnancy within 20 weeks of fetal age.  At this stage. the fetus is considered to be unable to survive outside the uterus. About 20% of recognized pregnancies terminate in spontaneous abortions and 75% of these occur before the 8th week. Frequently the miscarriage occurs so early in pregnancy that the woman is not aware…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Molluscum Contagiosum Common Name: None Specified Description: A harmless viral infection characterized by shiny, pearly white bumps on the skin surface. Causes: The causative factor is the DNA virus of the pox group This virus may be transmitted by local or sexual contact. The incubation period is 2 weeks to 6 months. Prevention: Contact avoidance. Signs & Symptoms Papules (small, raised bumps on the skin)…

General Illness Information Common Name: Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) Medical Term: None Specified Description: A chronic inflammatory disorder of connective tissue, of unknown cause. Involves major organs such as skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, etc. Occurs predominantly in young women, also occurs in children Causes: Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s defenses against infection attack the body’s own tissue. This causes inflammation. Areas of the…

General Illness Information Common Name: Leukemia, Chronic Myelocytic Medical Term: None Specified Description: A stem cell in the bone marrow becomes cancerous, and produces a large number of abnormal white cells, called granulocytes. May affect any age and sex, but uncommon under the age of 10. Causes: Unknown Prevention: Cannot be prevented. Signs & Symptoms No symptoms in early stages. Later, causes the following: Weakness and fatigue. Loss of appetite…

General Illness Information Common Name: Liver Cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) Medical Term: None Specified Description: A malignant tumor arising from liver cells. Although much less common than metastatic liver cancer in most areas of the world, hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common internal malignancy and an important cause of death in certain areas of Africa and Southeast Asia. This is mainly because of the high incidence of Hepatitis B in these…

General Illness Information Common Name: Larynx Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer Medical Term: None Specified Description: Cancer of the larynx (voice box), and surrounding tissues. Usually in patients over age 50 years old. Men are nine times more affected than women. Causes: The cause has not been identified, but there is a very strong association with smoking, and also with heavy alcohol use. Prevention: Do not smoke. Limit alcohol use. See your…