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General Illness Information Common Name: Celiac Disease Medical Term: Gluten Enteropathy Description: A chronic diarrheal disease characterized by intestinal malabsorption of almost all nutrients precipitated by eating foods containing gluten. This intestinal sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats causes changes in the intestine which prevents it from absorbing nutrients. Usually present between ages of 6-12 months when the child is first introduced to gluten….

General Illness Information Common Name: Cellulitis Medical Term: None Specified Description: An infection of the skin and tissue beneath the skin. Non-contagious, non cancerous. Usually proceeded by skin surface injury. Severe cellulites of face are termed Erysipelas. Causes: Many different bacteria may cause infection; most common is from Streptococcus bacteria. The second most common is staphylococcus. Cellulitis due to streptococci tends to spread rapidly over a wide area because this…

General Illness Information Common Name: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Medical Term: None Specified Description: Common painful disorder in the hand and wrist, caused by compression (pressure) on the median nerve at the wrist. Causes: May be caused by: Inflammation of the tendon sheaths; Frequently from arthritis; A fracture of the forearm; Sprain or dislocation of the wrist; Ganglion cyst; Hyperparathyroidism and hypocalcemia. Most often associated with hypothyroidism and diabetes. Occurs with…

General Illness Information Common Name: BURSITIS Medical Term: None Specified Description: Inflammation of a bursa is known as bursitis and causes pain in the affected area. A bursa is a soft fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion between tendons and bones. They are located at sites of friction, especially where tendons or muscles pass over a bone, mostly near joints. A bursa normally contains very little fluid. However, when injured,…

General Illness Information Common Name: BULIMIA Medical Term: Binge-Eating Syndrome Description: Habit of consumption of large amounts of food in a discrete period of time. Binge eating is characterized by abnormal perception of body image, constant craving for food, followed by purging (self-induced vomiting, or laxative use or diuretics), rigorous dieting or excessive exercising to counteract the effects of binging. More common in adolescents or young adults, and in females….

General Illness Information Common Name: Lung Cancer (Bronchogenic Carcinoma) Medical Term: None Specified Description: A highly malignant primary lung tumor that accounts for most cases of lung cancer and has a very poor prognosis. It is the second most common cancer in men (13%) and the third most common cancer in women (13%).  It is the leading cause of cancer death among men (32%) and women (25%), and its incidence…

General Illness Information Common Name: BUNION Medical Term: Hallux Valgus Description: A bony protrusion from the outside edge of the joint at the base of the big (first) toe. Three times as many women as men have the disorder. Causes: If the big toe has grown or been forced into a position where it overlaps one or more of the other toes, that is called hallux valgus. Prevention: Wear wide-toed…

General Illness Information Common Name: BURNS Medical Term: None Specified Description: Injury to the skin, and sometimes other organs, from contact with heat, radiation, electricity or chemicals. Causes: Rise in skin temperature form a heat source, such as fire, steam or electricity. Open flame and hot liquid are most common causes. Tissue injury caused by chemicals or radiation, including sunlight. Lighting strikes can cause internal burns with minimal external signs….

General Illness Information Common Name: BREAST ABSCESS Medical Term: None Specified Description: Infection of breast tissue, occurring most often during nursing. The infected area becomes filled with pus. Causes: Bacteria that enter the breast through the nipple (usually a cracked nipple during the early days of breast-feeding). Prevention: Clean the nipples and breasts thoroughly before and after nursing. Lubricate the nipples after nursing with lanolin or Vitamin A & D…

General Illness Information Common Name: BRONCHIOLITIS Medical Term: None Specified Description: Bronchiolitis is a contagious viral infection of the airways of infants and young children that causes difficulty in bresthing especially breathing out. Bronchiolitis mainly affects children under 18 months of age and most commonly in infants younger than 6 months. Often occurs in epidemics Causes: Inflammation of the small airways called bronchioles; usually caused by a viral infection, most…