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General Illness Information Common Name: Shingles Medical Term: Herpes Zoster Description: Reactivation of a latent or dormant virus (varicella,or chickenpox virus)  in the body. When the virus is activated, it spreads through part of the nervous system called the dorsal root ganglia, causing the characteristic crops of blistering lesions (vesicles) of shingles. Can affect any age, but most common in adults over the age of 50. Causes: Herpes zoster is…

General Illness Information Medical Term: PSORIASIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Psoriasis is a recurrent skin condition which is characterized by macules and patches (flat areas of altered coloration), as well as papules and plaques (elevated areas of skin). It is recognizable by silvery scaling bumps and various sized plaques. There are many different forms of psoriasis, including: Plaque psoriasis; Guttate psoriasis; Erythrodermic psoriasis; Pustular psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Psoriasis is…

General Illness Information Common Name: Otitis Externa, Swimmer’s ear Medical Term: Otitis Externa. Description: Inflammation or infection of the external ear canal that extends from the eardrum to the outside. Causes: Bacterial or fungal infection of the delicate skin lining of the ear canal. Injury to the ear canal. Prevention: Avoid preventable risk factors. Signs & Symptoms Discharge of pus from the ear. Ear pain that worsens when the earlobe…

General Illness Information Common Name: Otitis Media Medical Term: Otitis media Description: An infection (viral or bacterial) of the lining of the middle ear. It is common in children and is usually secondary to an upper respiratory infection. Causes: Viral or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, usually spreading to the middle ear via the eustachian tube. The causative micro-organism varies according to which ones are epidemic in any…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Parkinson’’s disease Common Name: None Specified Description: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive movement disorder which affects 1% of the population over the age of 65 years. This is a neurological disorder which becomes apparent as cells in a certain part of the brain (the basal ganglia), are lost. The disease is characterized by a tremor which is present at rest, increased muscle tone…

General Illness Information Common Name: Osteoarthritis Medical Term: (Degenerative Arthritis) Description: Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown and eventual loss of joint cartilage. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of the joint. It is the commonest of all the different types of arthritis and affects over 15 million people in the United States. Before age 45, osteoarthritis occurs more…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Nasal septum, deviated. CommonName: Deviated nasal septum. Description: Abnormality of the septum of the nose, resulting in partial or almost complete obstruction of the affected side. Causes: The septum of the nose is composed of bone in the back, and cartilage in the front. Any injury or malformation of these structures can cause a deviated nasal septum. Prevention: Protection from nasal injury, especially with contact…