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General Illness Information Common Name: BREAST CANCER Medical Term: None Specified Description: A malignant growth of breast tissue. Breast cancer may spread to nearby lymph glands, lungs, pleura, bone (especially the skull), pelvis, and liver. Breast cancer is classified by the kind of tissue in which it starts and by the extent of spread. It may affect males in rare cases. Breast cancer is rare before the age of 30,…

General Illness Information Common Name: BRONCHITIS, ACUTE Medical Term: None Specified Description: Infection or acute inflammation of the lung air passages (Bronchi, bronchioles) of sudden onset and short duration. Causes: Infection from one of many respiratory viruses. Most cases of acute bronchitis begin with a cold virus in the nose and throat that spreads to the airways. A secondary bacterial infection is common. Infectious bronchitis can also be caused by…

General Illness Information Common Name: BRONCHITIS, CHRONIC Medical Term: None Specified Description: Chronic inflammation of bronchial tubes causing cough and purulent sputum production for at least three months of the year for more than two years. More commonly associated with and exacerbated by cigarette smoking. Causes: Chronic Bronchitis can be caused by: Smoking; Air pollution. Occupational – more common in women exposed to dusts or noxious gases. Infection – repeated…

General Illness Information Common Name: BELL’S PALSY Medical Term: Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy Description: A form of acute paralysis of one side of the face, without an obvious acquired cause, in an otherwise healthy patient. Causes: Unknown- but it may involve swelling of the facial nerve secondary to a viral infection, compression or to lack of blood supply. Prevention: Cannot be prevented at present. Signs & Symptoms Pain behind the…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Common Name: Prostate Enlargement (Benign) Description: Benign glandular growth of prostate which may result in bladder outlet obstruction. The prostate gland is situated at the base of the urinary bladder, and encircles the urethra at the bladder outlet. This condition is common in males over the age of 60. It must be distinguished from Prostate Cancer. Causes: Exact cause unknown, but…

General Illness Information Common Name: BOILS Medical Term: Furuncles and Carbuncles Description: Hair follicles occasionally get infected. When infected hair follicles separate (form pus) furuncles are formed. Furuncles are cutaneous (skin) abscesses. Carbuncles start as furuncles. Furuncles that extend or bore through the subcutaneous tissues are called carbuncles. These can occur anywhere on the skin, but are most common on neck, face, buttocks, and breasts. Causes: Infection, usually from Staphylococcus…

General Illness Information Common Name: BLEPHARITIS Medical Term: None Specified Description: Infection or inflammation of the margins or edges of the eyelids. It can affect eyelids, eyelashes, meibomian glands (lubricating glands of the eyelid) or conjunctiva (whites of the eyes). Causes: Blepharitis can be cause by the following: Bacterial infection, usually staphylococcal, of the eyelash follicles and the meibomian glands; Allergic reaction (less serious- inflammation only); Body lice (rare). Prevention:…

General Illness Information Common Name: Meningitis, Bacterial Medical Term: None Specified Description: Bacterial infection of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord (the meninges).  May affect any age group, but most severe in infants and elderly. Causes: Many species of bacteria can cause meningitis. 3 species account for 80% of all cases: Meningococcus (Niesseria meningitides). Haemophilus (Haemophilus influenza type B).Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumonia). Prevention: Get medical care for treatment of…

General Illness Information Common Name: ARTHRITIS, JUVENILE RHEUMATOID (JRA) Medical Term: None Specified Description: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis begins before 16 yrs of age. It is a syndrome of unknown cause causing inflammation affecting one or more joints for at least six weeks. Joint inflammation is characterized by swelling, warmth, tenderness, pain on movement, limitation of movement or redness. Starts at age 2-5 years old and often disappears by young adulthood….

General Illness Information Common Name: BED-WETTING Medical Term: Enuresis Description: Involuntary urination during sleep in children 5 years of age or older. It is 3 times more common in boys than in girls. The occurrence of bed-wetting in children is: 15% at age 5, 10% at age 6, 7% at age 8, 3% at age 12, and 1% at age 18. Bed-wetting is usually caused by slow maturation ,but it…