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General Illness Information Medical Term: Keratosis, Actinic Common Name: None Specified Description: A small area of sun-damaged skin that is pre-cancerous. It involves skin of exposed areas, especially the scalp, face, ears, lips, arms and hands. Causes: Prolonged exposure to the sun’s radiation. Prevention: Protect yourself against direct sun exposure. When outdoors, wear a hat and protective clothing. Use sunscreen lotions and creams with SPF rating of 15 or more….

General Illness Information Medical Term: Kidney Infection, Chronic (Pyelonephritis, Chronic) Common Name: None Specified Description: Chronic infection of the kidneys, resulting from anatomic abnormalities of the kidneys or the urinary system. Causes: Chronic pyelonephritis occurs only in patients with major anatomic abnormalities, such as obstructive uropathy, kidney stones, or, most commonly, reflux of urine at the junction of the bladder and ureter. Prevention: Obtain prompt medical treatment for acute kidney…

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: ANEMIA, IRON-DEFICIENCY Medical Term: None Specified Description: Anemia is caused due to lack of iron. Small, pale red blood cells and depletion of iron stores characterize it. Iron is an essential mineral, and is used by the body to produce hemoglobin, the red pigment protein in the red blood cells (erythrocytes). Lack of iron causes low hemoglobin, which decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Iron…

General Illness Information Medical Term: IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME Common Name: SPASTIC COLON, MUCOUS COLITIS Description: A disorder of the motility pattern of the bowels, characterized by abdominal pain, gaseousness, constipation or diarrhea, usually after meals or stress and in the absence of organic pathology. It is divided into 4  categories: 1.Alternating diarrhea with constipation; 2. Diarrhea predominant; 3. Constipation predominant; 4. Upper abdominal bloating and discomfort Irritable bowel syndrome affects…

General Illness Information Common Name: Coronary Artery Disease Medical Term: Ischemic Heart Disease Description: Coronary artery disease is a condition  in which fatty deposits  (atheroma) accumulate in the cells lining the wall of the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits build up gradually and irregularly in the large branches of the two main coronary arteries which encircle the heart and are the main source of its blood supply. This process is…

General Illness Information Medical Term: INSECT BITES AND STINGS Common Name: None Specified Description: Skin eruptions, swelling and other symptoms caused by insect bites or stings. Insects affect man by being pests, inoculating poison, invading tissue, or transmitting disease. Inoculation of poison may occur as either a bite or a sting. The bites cause a variety of reactions from a small bump to large sores (ulcers) with swelling and pain….

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…