You searched for : 'K'

General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Infection, Acute (Pyelonephritis, acute) Common Name: None Specified Description: Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidney. It can be serious because of the important function of the kidneys and because the infection may enter the bloodstream. In women who are pregnant it may cause premature labor. Kidney infections are much more common in women than men. Causes: Most kidney infections result from lower…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi) Common Name: None Specified Description: Small solid particles (stones) that form in the kidney and sometimes travel down to the urethra (tube that connects kidney to urinary bladder). About 1 in 1000 adults is hospitalized annually in the USA because of urinary calculi, which are also found in about 1% of all autopsies. Causes: Almost 95% of all kidney stones are…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Keloids Common Name: None Specified Description: An overgrowth of fibrous tissue (scar) on the skin. Keloids can appear anywhere on the skin, but most commonly appear on the breastbone, upper back and shoulder. They usually arise in an area of injury (such as after a burn or from severe acne), but sometimes arise from a very minor scratch. Keloids are more frequent in people of…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratitis Common Name: None Specified Description: Infection or inflammation of the cornea (the center portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil). Causes: Bacterial, viral or fungal infections. The most common is herpes simplex virus, Type I. Drying of the eye caused by an eyelid disorder or insufficient tear formation. Foreign object in the eye. Contact lenses over-use. Intense light, such as from welding arcs…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratoses, Seborrheic Common Name: None Specified Description: A non-contagious, benign, inflammatory, pigmented, raised, scaling disease of the skin. It may involve the chest; back; face; arms; and can affect adults of both sexes. By age 60, almost everyone has a few seborrheic keratoses. Causes: Unknown. Prevention: No specific preventive measures. Signs & Symptoms Characteristic papules, which are pigmented, raised, flat, scaly lesions scattered on the…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hodgkin’s disease Medical Term: Hodgkin’s disease Description: A malignant disease of the lymphoid tissue. Involves lymph glands, white cells (lymphocytes) and the spleen. May present as a localized or generalized form of cancer. Has two age distribution patterns— One between the ages of 15 to 34 and the other after the age of 60. Rare in children under 10. Causes: Unknown; Viruses may be implicated….

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: Miscarriage (Spontaneous abortion) Medical Term: 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 that…

General Illness Information Medical Term: IRITIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Inflammation of the iris and the ciliary muscle ( the ring of colored tissue surrounding the pupil of the eye). This is also referred to as Anterior uveitis Causes: Infection that spreads to the eye from other body parts. Common causes include: Toxoplasmosis. Tuberculosis. Histoplasmosis. Syphilis. Sarcoidosis. Viruses (herpes simplex or zoster). Injury to the eye. Autoimmune reaction. Unknown in…