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General Illness Information Common Name: Cervical Cancer Medical Term:None Specified Description: A common, but treatable, cancer of the cervix (the lower third of the uterus, which opens into the vagina). It can affect women of all ages, but most common between ages 40 and 55. About 85% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas i.e. they arise from the scaly, skin-like cells covering the outside of the cervix. Most other cervical…

Description Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative process that develops in the bones of the neck (vertebrae) and intervertebral discs, resulting in compression of the spinal cord in the neck. Affects men and women equally. Very common after age 50, and considered by many to be a natural aging phenomenon. Causes Osteoarthritis (wear and tear on joints that accompanies aging); Arthritis (inflammation of a joint); Injuries such as automobile accidents with…

General Illness Information Common Name: Chalazion Medical Term: None Specified. Description: Chronic inflammation of the meibomian gland in the eyelid.  Meibomian glands are long thin oil glands found in the eyelid, and serve to lubricate the lid margins. Causes: Blockage of a duct leading to the surface of the eyelid from the meibomian gland. The blockage may be due to infection (usually staphylococcal) around the duct opening. Prevention: If you…

General Illness Information Common Name: Cervicitis Medical Term: None Specified. Description: Inflammation or infection of the cervix. There are two types, and either may be contagious: acute cervicitis, which is usually a bacterial or viral infection with specific symptoms and chronic cervicitis, which is a long-term infection that may not have symptoms. Causes: The organism Chlamidia trachomatis most commonly causes acute cervicitis. Other causes are: Neisseria Gonorrhea and Herpes Virus….

General Illness Information Common Name: Cataract Medical Term: None Specified Description: Opacity (or clouding) of the lens of the eye. As the opacity gets denser, it interferes with vision. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes. Cataracts are not cancerous. Most common cause of visual loss (blindness) in adults. Causes: Common causes include: Aging. Metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, galactosemia (inherited disease of infants in which milk cannot…

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: Care of Feet and Skin Medical Term: Diabetic foot ulcers Description: Because of impaired nerve supply and nerve involvement people with diabetes are more susceptible to have foot injuries and foot infections. In diabetes, care of feet is very important. Causes: As above. Prevention: Report the foot injuries and ulcers to your doctor promptly. Wash feet daily with soap and warm (not hot) water. Dry…

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…

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,…