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General Illness Information Medical Term: Multiple Myeloma Common Name: None Specified Description: Multiple myeloma is the most common malignancy of the bone. It is a  malignancy beginning in the plasma cells of the bone marrow and characterized by the presence of large amounts of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the blood. Plasma cells normally produce antibodies to help destroy germs and protect against infection. With myeloma, this function becomes impaired, and the…

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 Medical Term: Mitral valve prolapse. Common Name: None Specified Description: Bulging of one or both leaflets of the mitral valve (valve between the left ventricle and left atrium in the heart) during the contraction phase of the heart cycle. This causes a characteristic heart murmur. This is a common and often benign disorder, and is most frequent in young to middle-aged women. Unknown in most cases. Occasionally…

General Illness Information Medical Term: Menorrhagia Common Name : Heavy Menses Description: A common disorder that is characterized by unusually heavy menstruation or prolonged menstrual flow. The average amount of blood loss during a normal menstrual period is 40 to 50 ml. With menorrhagia, a woman may lose 80 ml or more. It rarely signifies a serious underlying disorder. Causes: Menorrhagia can be caused by a variety of causes. These…

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 Medical Term: Menopause Common Name: Menopause Description: Menopause is final cessation of menstruation either as a normal part of aging, or surgical removal of both ovaries. This may occur as early as 40 years of age or as late as 55 years of age. It usually spans 1-3 years period, during which a woman adjusts to a diminishing and then absent menstrual flow. (Peri-menopausal Phase).  Average age…

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: Lead poisoning Medical Term: None Specified Description: Increased levels of lead in the blood, to the point of toxicity.  Lead is an element with no biological value. It is found in a number of commercial and industrial products, namely storage batteries, paints, pottery, plumbing, gasoline and in some traditional ethnic medications. Very small amounts of lead finds its way into everyone, and causes no problems….

General Illness Information Common Name: Legionella Pneumonia Medical Term: None Specified Description: Infection of the lungs by a bacteria called Legionella Pneumophila. Named in 1976 after an epidemic affected 182 people attending the American Legion convention. Accounts for 1-8% of all pneumonias. Causes: Infection by Legionella pneumophilia. It is spread between persons and contaminated sources. The germ is transmitted through the air, and the incubation period after exposure is 2…

General Illness Information Common Name: Lactose Intolerance Medical Term: None Specified Description: Diarrhea and abdominal distention caused by inability to digest carbohydrates because of a lack of one or more intestinal enzymes. The commonest variant is a lack of lactase, which is required to digest lactose in cow’s milk. If lactose is not digested, it remains in the intestine, and causes diarrhea and abdominal distension. Causes: Deficiency or absence of…