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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: 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 Medical Term: CROUP (Laryngotracheobronchitis) Common Name: Croup Description: Croup is a contagious viral infection causing inflammation and swelling of the larynx and surrounding tissues. It presents with difficulty in breathing especially breathing in and a typical barking cough. It usually affects children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Causes: Croup can be caused by a number of different viruses. In the fall, it is…

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: INFLUENZA Common Name: (FLU) Description: A specific acute contagious, viral illness causing fever, runny nose, cough, headaches, generalized aches and pains, malaise and upper respiratory infection. Incubation period is 24-48 hours. Main types: A, B, & C, but can mutate to different forms. Can affect most ages, especially infants. Causes: Infection by myxovirus class of viruses; The viruses spread by personal contact or indirect contact. Prevention:…

General Illness Information Common Name: Morning Sickness (Severe) Medical Term: Hyperemesis gravidarum Description: Persistent severe nausea and vomiting in a pregnancy; This may lead to dehydration and drastic changes in body chemistry; This is different from, and much more serious than, morning sickness during pregnancy. Causes: Unknown. May be psychological factors; Hyperthyroidism; Hyperparathyroidism; Gestational hormones; Liver dysfunction; Autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Prevention: Don’t use any drugs, including non-prescription drugs or…

General Illness Information Common Name: High Blood Pressure Medical Term: Hypertension. Description: Hypertension is defined as a sustained elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater). 50 million  people in the US have hypertension; 20% of the U.S. population. It is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Even though most patients have no symptoms, treatment…