ILLNESSOPEDIA

Free Online Database Of Diseases, Illnesses & Ailments

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647 results found for "hal"



  • 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, rare (NIH)
    1p36 deletion syndrome also known as monosomy 1p36 is a disorder of the chromosomes in which chromosome 1 loses the end part of its short arm. This disorder was first depicted during the late 90's and the early parts of 2000's. FISH testing is often required to be able to confirm a diagnosis. This condition can occur as a ?pure' case or it can occur together with other imbalances of the chromosome. [read more]

  • 48,XXXX Syndrome
    48 XXXX syndrome is a very rare disorder of the chromosomes where the normal XX combination becomes a quadruple X grouping. This condition is also called tetrasomy X, 48, XXXX or quadruple X and is only seen among females as there is no Y chromosome involved. The first occurrence of this disorder was discovered in 1961 and since then, there are about 100 reported cases globally. [read more]

  • Aagenaes syndrome
    Aagenaes syndrome is a condition which is characterized by inborn hypoplasia of the lymph vessels. This eventually causes recurring cholestasis on the formative years lymphedema on the legs. This could develop into hepatic cirrhosis and giant cell hepatitis (which could occur with portal tract fibrosis). The name of Aagenaes syndrome was derived from a pediatrician in Norway named Oystein Aagenaes. The name was finalized in 1968 when the condition was first described by Aagenaes. It is sometimes called cholestasis-lymphedema syndrome or simply CLS. [read more]

  • Abdominal Defects
    Defects of the abdominal wall are comparatively common fetal abnormalities. It occurs in about 1 in every 2,000 births. Majority of these defects of the abdominal wall cannot be detected early on in pregnancy. When a defect is detected, it is necessary to pinpoint what type of defect it is so that proper medication and treatments can be done. There are many types of abdominal wall disorders. Some examples include: gastroschisis, omphalocele, esophageal atresia, and duodenal atresia. [read more]

  • Absence Seizure
    Absence seizure is more commonly known as the petit mal seizure that involves some a brief episodes or some sudden lapse of conscious activity. This occurs most often in children. Absence seizure may often look like the individual is only staring into space for a several seconds. This means in comparison to the regular epileptic seizures, the petit mal is very mild. However, some people may suffer from hundreds of episodes a day, which interrupts ordinary activities. [read more]

  • Absent T lymphocytes
    The deficiency or absence of T lymphocytes is a rare immuno-deficiency condition which is characterized by the lack of CD8(+) T lymphocytes and the absence or depression of the function of the T cell. A mutation of the gene for ZAP-70 (tyrosine kinase which has notable effects on indicating through the T cell receptor) has been associated with this syndrome. T cells are cells that belong to a cluster of white blood cells which are known as the lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are responsible in cell-mediated immunity. They are distinguished from the other types of lymphocytes (the NK cells and the B cells) through the presence of a specific receptor on the surface of these cells. This receptor is called as T cell receptor or the TCR. The T abbreviation in T cell refers to thymus which is the primary organ in the development of the T cell. [read more]

  • Achalasia
    Achalasia also called esophageal achalasia; cardiospasm, achalasia cardiae; dyssynergia esophagus or esophageal aperistalsis; is an esophageal motility disease. This disorder manifests an impaired peristalsis of the smooth muscle level of the esophagus. Peristalsis is the term used to describe the muscular capability of the esophagus to make the food move down to the stomach). Also, a patient with achalasia has a lower esophageal sphincter or LES that cannot relax which is its normal response to swallowing. The most common form of this disorder is primary achalasia. This form has no recorded underlying cause. Esophageal cancer (Chagas disease in South America) could be a result of achalasia. [read more]

  • Achondrogenesis
    Marco Fraccaro was the very first person to observe and record the description of achondrogenesis in the year 1952. Fraccaro used this name in description of a stillborn female who was afflicted with acute micromelia and apparent changes on her histological cartilage. This term was then coined to characterize many more acute kinds of chondrodysplasia among humans. The conditions were invariably lethal on pre and post births. When the 70's came, researchers have concluded that the disorder is a part of a heterogenous cluster of chondrodysplasias that are fatal to neonates. Histological and radiological measures have distinguished the achondrogenesis type 1 (which is the Fraccaro-Houston-Harris kind) and the type 2 (or the Langer-Saldino kind). 1983 marked a new radiological category of the disease (Types 1-4). This was done by Gorlin and Whitley and was adapted by the McKusick catalog. This classification describes types 1 and 2 as having similar femoral cylinder indeces (or Clfemur which is calculated as the length of the femur bone divided by the range of the width of the same bone. Both kinds have stellate elongated bones and crenated ilia. Both types 1 and 2 are characterized by several rib fractures. Type 3 has ribs that are non-fractured, mushroom-stemmed elongated bones, halberd ilia, and a Clfemur 2.8 to 4.9. The last type (type 4) has sculpted ilia, long bones that are well-developed, non-fractured ribs and Clfemur measured at 4.9 to 8.0. The late 80's was the time when mutations on the collagen II structure were depicted to cause achondrogenesis type 3 (which might also correspond to type 2). At present, only 3 variants of the disorder have been identified and they are type IA or the Houston-Harris type; type IB (or the Parenti-Fraccaro type); and type II (or the Langer-Saldino type). [read more]

  • Achondroplasia
    Achondroplasia is a kind of autosomal disorder of the dominant genes which commonly causes dwarfism. Achondroplastic dwarfs are short in stature and their average height when they reach adulthood is at 123 centimeters (about 4 feet and 0.6 inches) for females and 131 centimeters (about 4 feet and 3.8 inches) for males. [read more]

  • Achromatopsia
    Achromatopsia or ACHM is a condition where the patient is unable to perceive color. Although this name may also be used to refer to acquired defects such as cerebral achromatopsia or color agnosia, it normally refers to a congenital disorder of the vision which is autosomal recessive in nature. It can also be called rod monochromacy or total inborn color blindness. Patients with this kind of disorder manifest total absence of the cone cell activity through electroretinography. At least 4 causes are listed as congenital ACHM: ACHM2 and ACHM3; the third type is a cone photoreceptor transducin called GNAT2, ACHM4; the last cause is still unknown. [read more]

  • Acidemia, isovaleric
    Isovaleric Acidemia or isovaleric aciduria is an autosomal metabolic illness which prevents or disturbs the normal metabolism of branched-chain amino acid leucine. It is a traditional form of organic academia. [read more]

  • Acidemia, propionic
    Propionic acidemia also known as propionic aciduria or ketotic glycinemia is an uncommon metabolic disorder which is characterized by the deficiency of propionyl CoA carboxylase (an enzyme that is involved in breaking down the amino acids). It is categorized as branched-chain organic acidemia which often presents symptoms early on in the neonatal period which comes with progressive encephalopathy. [read more]

  • Acne
    Acne vulgaris or just acne is a common skin disease which is caused by changes on the pilosebaceous units (structures of the skin which consist of sebaceous gland and a hair follicle). The severe cases of acne are often inflamed but it can also show up as non-inflamed. Lesions are common and they are called spots, zits or pimples. This condition is common during the stage of puberty (affecting about 85% of teeners) while some cases carry on to adulthood. Most acne cases diminish and then disappear over time and this begins during the early twenties of an individual's life. There are no means of predicting when the disease will totally disappear because some cases continue even when the person is already in his thirties or forties. Acne is an altered form of the Greek word akun (or skin eruption). The vernacular name bakne or bacne is used often to specify acne that is found at the back of a person. [read more]

  • Acrocephaly
    Acrocephaly is a rare congenital syndrome which is often characterized by a narrowing of the pulmonary valve, retardation of the patient's mental development, and a pointy skull (or the skull's loftiness). More often than not, the head of the patient appears cone-like. A term that is similar to acrocephaly is oxycephaly. Oxycephaly has features that are similar to acrocephaly such as the coronal sutre and other sutures that close prematurely. Oxycephaly is the most severe type of of all craniostenoses. [read more]

  • Acrodysplasia
    Acrodysplasia or acrocephalosyndactyly is an uncommon medical condition which is often characterized by a bulbous nose, bony growths, and loose extra skin throughout infancy. This is also a very rare genetic disease. A synonymous word is acrocephalosyndactyly. [read more]

  • Acrodystrophic Neuropathy
    Acrodystrophic neuropathy, also known as Morvan disease, is a rare autoimmune defect characterized by muscle malignancies, severe cramps, myotonia, delirium and insomnia. There are only about 14 recorded cases of the illness disease since it was first discovered. [read more]

  • ACTH Deficiency
    ACTH deficiency or isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency is a disorder which arises from a decrease or absence of the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (also known as ACTH hormone). The pituitary gland is the one which produces this hormone. A decrease on the concentration of adrenocorticotropic in a person's blood would lead to reduced adrenal hormone secretions. This reduction of secretion of adrenal hormones could result into hypoadrenalism or adrenal deficiency. Adrenal insufficiency would then lead to loss of weight, a lack of appetite or anorexia nervosa (which is also a psychological disorder), nausea, weakness, vomiting, and hypotension or low blood pressure. Other uncommon symptoms include the lack or absence of pubic hair in some female patients; the lack or absence armpit hairs; having pale skin. These symptoms can be so general that is why proper diagnosis is often totally missed or delayed. For this reason, some physicians tend to believe that the disorder could be more common than had been previously thought. [read more]

  • Acutane Embryopathy
    Acutane embryopathy is a rare disease that is caused by exposure of the fetus to retinoids and which often results into physical and mental defects at birth. [read more]

  • Acute intermittent porphyria
    Acute intermittent porphyria is a very rare metabolic disorder that is characterized by an abnormal deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase enzyme that would result to the buildup of polyphyrins. This medical condition is inherited and is passed on from one generation to another. [read more]

  • Acute Liver Failure
    Acute liver failure is considered a serious medical emergency that typically occurs when the liver rapidly loses the ability to function. This medical condition gradually develops through the years due to some factors such as alcohol abuse and hepatitis virus. This condition requires immediate medical attention since lack of treatment can prove to be highly fatal [read more]

  • Acute myelocytic leukemia
    Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is known to be the most common type of leukemia, which is found in adults, although people pf all ages can be affected by this serious medical condition. In AML, underdeveloped leukemia cells accumulate in the patient's bone marrow, thereby causing the destruction and replacement of cells that would produce normal blood cells. [read more]

  • Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
    Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis or ANUG is characterized as a plymicrobial infection of the patient's gums that normally leads to bleeding, inflammation, necrotic gum tissue and deep ulcerations. Patients with this condition also suffer from fever and halitosisi. ANUG is also known as Vincent's angina, a popular term whioch was coined in WW1 when a great number of soldiers suffered from this condition. [read more]

  • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
    Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), also known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or adult respiratory distress syndrome, is a serious reaction to various forms of injuries to the lung. This is the most important disorder that is caused by an increased permeability pulmonary edema. ARDS is a severe lung disease caused by different direct and indirect issues. It is marked by inflammation of the lung parenchyma leading to impaired gas exchange with concomitant systemic release of inflammatory mediators causing inflammation, hypoxemia and frequently resulting in multiple organ failure. This condition is life threatening and often lethal, typically requiring mechanical ventilation and admission to an intensive care unit. A less severe form of this disease is called acute lung injury (ALI). ARDS most commonly signified adult respiratory distress syndrome to differentiate it from infant respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. However, as this type of pulmonary edema also arises in children, ARDS has gradually shifted to mean acute rather than adult. The differences with the typical infant syndrome remain the same. [read more]

  • Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, medium chain, deficiency of
    Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD) is a rare hereditary disease that is the result of the lack of an enzyme required to convert fat to energy. People with MCADD cannot refrain from eating for very long. Fasting starts after the body has used all the food that the person has eaten, then begins to use the body's own fat to make energy. When people with MCADD fast, they can experience a variety of serious life threatening symptoms or even death. Persons with MCADD cannot utilize this fat to make energy, consequently, the body begins to fail and malfunction once the food the person has eaten runs out. [read more]

  • Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, very short chain, deficiency of
    Short Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (SCADD) is a condition in which the body fails to oxidize fatty acids because an enzyme is either missing or not functioning correctly. Short-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase deficiency (SCAD) is a rare condition that stops the body from converting certain fats into energy, especially during periods without food (fasting). People affected with this disorder are not able to break down a certain group of fats called short-chain fatty acids efficiently. Some affected infants will display vomiting, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), a lack of energy (lethargy), poor feeding, and failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive). Other features of this disorder may include poor muscle tone (hypotonia), developmental delays, seizures, and a small head size (microcephaly). The symptoms of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency may be activated by periods of fasting or during illnesses such as viral infections. In some cases, signs and symptoms may not exhibit themselves until adulthood, when some individuals may develop muscle weakness and wasting. Other people with gene mutations that can lead to this disorder may have such mild symptoms that they are never diagnosed. [read more]

  • Adducted thumb syndrome recessive form
    Adducted thumb syndrome recessive form, also known as Christian syndrome or Craniostenosis arthrogryposis cleft palate, is a rare disease that affects multiple systems which causes malformations of the palate, thumbs, and upper limbs. [read more]

  • Adrenal Insufficiency
    There are two classifications for adrenal insufficiency and they are: primary and secondary. The primary adrenal insufficiency happens when the adrenal gland dysfunctions. The secondary adrenal insufficiency which is also named central adrenal insufficiency happens there is a lack of CRH secretion or the corticotrophin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus; or it could be the lack of ACTH secretion which is the corticotropic hormone from the pituitary. The second type leads to adrenal cortex hypofunction. Further classifications include acquired and congenital. [read more]

  • Adult Schizophrenia
    Adult Schizophrenia is considered to be one of the most complex of all identified mental health disorders. It is characterized by a severe and chronic, often disabling disturbance of the person's brain that causes distorted thinking, unusual strange feelings and disturbed behavior and use of language. [read more]

  • Aging
    Aging, also known as the cycle of life, is any form of change of an organism as time passes. There are many dimensions to aging such the physical, psychological, mental, and emotional aspects. For example, the time of reaction of a human being is lessened or slowed as he ages while his wisdom and knowledge of facts may improve. There should be a distinction between universal aging (where all people go through) and probabilistic aging (which is a type of aging that occurs only to some and not all individuals). An example of probabilistic aging is the manifestation of diabetes mellitus. Chronological aging refers to the actual age of an individual and it can clearly be distinguished from social aging (where the society expects people to behave in accordance to their age and status). The third type of aging is biological aging (which is the person's physical state as he ages). Age measurement is done through entire years or months in the case of infants. An individual's birthday is often a significant event. As to mental aging, it is a bit more challenging to categorize individuals under this type because an older person does not guarantee mental or emotional capacities that are greater than the younger generation. [read more]

  • Agyria
    Agyria which actually means smooth brain is an unusual brain formation disorder distinguished by the absence of normal folds in the brain. Malfunctioning neuronal movement is the cause of Agyria where in the nerve cells travel from their original place to their stable location. It is a kind of cephalic disorder. Convolutions or gyri refer to the folds in the brain and this forms the surface of the normal brain. Young patients who have Agyria has have a lack of or partially formed convolutions which makes the exterior of the brain smooth. [read more]

  • Agyria pachygyria polymicrogyria
    Agyria pachygyria polymicrogyria is an abnormal development of the human brain distinguished by a huge amount of small folds or concolutions (gyri) on the exterior of the brain. The entire surface or other parts of the brain may be involved. [read more]

  • Ainhum
    Ainhum is a disease characterized by painful constriction of the fifth toe. This generally leads to amputation after a few years. Ainhum is more common among black African descents. It is commonly found among the blacks in West Africa, India and South America. The first recorded incidence of the disease is in 1867 by J.F. da Silva Lima. He described the disease suffered by one of the tribes in Brazil, the Nagos, who gave the disease its name. It is very rare in Europe and only a few incidences have been reported. It is also more common among those in between 20 and 50 years of age, with the average in 38 years of age. The youngest patient in record to have Ainhum is seven years old. The cause of the disease is still being studied. At present though, scientists have found that it is not caused by fungi, virus, parasite, bacteria and injury. Although it linked with walking barefoot during childhood, the disease is also found among those who have not gone barefoot. Among all the predisposing factors, race has been found to be on top of the list and thus scientists believe that it has some genetic component. Scientists believe that the disease is caused by the abnormal blood supply on the foot. Angiography of the peripheral limb has shown that the tibial artery may have become attenuated at the ankle and that there is noticeable absence of the plantar arch and branches. There are four stages of ainhum: the Grade I, wherein there is the presence of the groove; Grade II, wherein the floor of the groove is ulcerated; Grade III, wherein the bone is involved; and Grade IV wherein autoamputation occurs. In about 78% of the cases there is the presence of pain. For those in the early stage the pain may be slight and may have been caused by the pressure on the nerves. For those in the advanced stage, the pain is quite severe which is caused by chronic sepsis or fracture of the phalanx. Ainhum is commonly confused with diabetic gangrene, scleroderma, leprosy, Vohwinkle syndrome and leprosy. The pain is the symptom of the ainhum and it is a progressive condition. For the treatment of the ainhum, for the Grade I and II excision of the groove and z-plasty has been proven to relieve pain and prevent autoamputation. For the Grade III disarticulating the metatarsophanlangeal joint has been proven to be as effective. [read more]

  • Akathisia
    Akathisia also spelled as acathisia from the greek word means without or not. Akathisia is characterized by restlessness. The patient is unable stay still or motionless. [read more]

  • Albright hereditary osteodystrophy
    Albright hereditary osteodystrophy, otherwise known as Martin-Albright syndrome is generally a form of osteodystrophy. This is considered to be a very rare genetic disorder characterized as the body's failure t respond and recognize parathyroid hormone. This hormone is involved in taking control of phosphate and calcium in the blood vessel. [read more]

  • Alcohol fetopathy
    Alcohol fetopathy is characterized by a series of congenital defects that affect the facial, cranial, cardiac and nueral abnormalities. This medical condition also involves mental and physical retardation that occur on infants arising from excessive alcohol intake by the mother during pregnancy. [read more]

  • Aldosteronism, Primary
    Primary aldosteronism is a medical condition, where the adrenal glands of the body produce too much of the aldosterone hormone, which causes the body lose potassium and retain sodium. In general, sodium and potassium work together to aid in maintaining the right balance of fluids in the human body, help in transmitting nerve impulses, as well as contract and relax the muscles. However, the excess in aldosterone results to sodium retention, retaining excess water and the increase of blood pressure and blood volume. [read more]

  • Alkaptonuria
    Alkaptonuria is a very rare disease that is genetically transmitted. The disease is characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme called homogentisic acid oxidase. This type of deficiency often leads to the buildup of the homogentisic acide on the tissues of the body. This medical condition has been reported to be more prevalent in Dominican Republic and Slovakia. [read more]

  • Allergic Cascade
    Allergic cascade is the medical term used to describe a sequence of chemical release that takes place in response to allergens. [read more]

  • Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
    Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, also known simply as Alpha-1 or A1AD, is a genetic disorder caused by the defective production of ?alpha 1-antitrypsin?. When this happens, the blood and lungs receives insufficient amounts of A1AT while the liver cells receive excess amounts of A1AT proteins. Serious cases of Alpha-1 cause emphysema in most patients with this condition. Children and adults may experience liver diseases. Treatments of this disease include intravenous A1AT protein infusions, liver or lung transplants and avoidance of dangerous inhalants. People of Iberian, Saudi Arabian and northern European ancestry are more at risk of having A1AD. [read more]

  • Alpha-thalassemia
    In this condition, ?a thalassemias? involve genes HBA1 and HBA2, which occurs due to Mendelian inheritance in a recessive fashion. Alpha-thalassemia is also connected to the deletion of 16p chromosome. Alpha-thalassemia results in a decrease in alpha-globin production that causes a decrease in the production of alpha-globin chains. As a result, an excess of beta chains occur in adults, while an excess of gamma chains occur in newborns. [read more]

  • Alstrom syndrome
    Alstrom syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder ? one of the rarest in the world, existing in only 266 reported cases in medical books and only 411 patients in 42 countries. First described by Carl Henry Alstrom in 1959, this condition is usually mistaken with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which has resembling symptoms. However, the Bardet-Biedl syndrome usually have later onset with its symptoms. [read more]

  • Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia
    (ACD) is defined as a lethal evolving anomaly of the pulmonary vasculature. It is normally illustrated as the miscarriage of the normal air-blood diffusion barrier in the newborn lung. It is usually supplementary with the misalignment of the pulmonary veins. [read more]

  • Alveolitis, extrinsic allergic
    Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA), also known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, is an inflammation of the alveoli found in the lung. This condition is caused by hypersensitivity to various types of inhaled organic dusts. People with this disease are usually exposed to dust from their hobbies or occupations. Several types of extrinsic allergic alveolitis exist based on the provoking antigen. These include Bird-Breeder's Lung (avian proteins), Farmer's Lung (molds), Bagassosis (moldy bagasse or sugarcane), Malt Worker's Lung (moldy barley), Humidifier Lung (by mist of standing water). Mushroom Worker's Lung (mushroom compost), Compost Lung (compost), Peat Moss Worker's Lung (peat moss), Suberosis (moldy cork dust), Japanese Summer-Type HP (damp wood and mats) and Cheese-Washer's Lung (cheese casings). Other types of EAA include Hot Tub Lung, Mollusc Shell HP, Metalworking Fluids HP, Isocyanate HP, TMA HP, Beryllium and Wine-grower's Lung. The most common of all EAA are Bird-Breeder's Lung and Farmer's Lung, affecting 8 to 850 people in 100,000 persons each year for farmers alone and 6,000 to 21,000 people in 100,000 persons for pigeon breeders yearly. [read more]

  • Amenorrhoea
    Amenorrhoea, a term derived from the Greek ?a?=negative, ?men?=month, ?rhoea?=flow, is a condition wherein a female does not experience a menstrual period. Amenorrhoea is also a symptom of various causes. For women where menstrual cycles never start, a condition called primary amenorrhoea, the condition may be caused by several developmental problems such as failure of ovaries to maintain or receive eggs cells as well as congenital absence of one's uterus. Delay in a female's pubertal development may also cause primary amenorrhea. Secondary amenorrhoea, wherein menstruation cycles cease, is usually caused by hormonal problems from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. This can also occur when a female experiences premature menopause and intrauterine scar formation. [read more]

  • Anaphylactic Shock
    Anaphylactic Shock is also called Anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction in humans and other mammals. It occurs when an allergic response triggers a rapid release from mast cells of huge quantities of immunological mediators leading to systemic vasodilation and edema of bronchial mucosa. Anaphylactic shock can advance to death in a count of minutes if left untreated. Anaphylactic Shock may occur after ingestion, injection of an allergen, skin contact or, in rare cases, inhalation. [read more]

  • Anaphylaxis
    Anaphylaxis, from the Greek words ?ava ana? (against) and ?phylaxis? (protection), is a severe type I hypersensitivity and acute systemic allergic reaction in mammals, including humans. This condition occurs when an animal or person is exposed to an allergen that has already become sensitized. Large amounts of this allergen may cause a life-threatening reaction. Anaphylaxis occurs after injection, ingestion and inhalation of an allergen. In the United States, 1% to 17% of the population is estimated at risk for experiencing an anaphylactic reaction if exposed in various allergens, especially insect stings and penicillin. Of those who suffer from Anaphylaxis, 1% die as a result, accounting to 1,000 deaths per year in the United States. [read more]

  • Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)
    Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is also called Androgen resistance syndrome. Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a condition wherein patients suffer from a set of disorders related to sexual differentiation, which results in mutation of the genes encoding the androgen receptor. The nature of problems caused by Androgen insensitivity syndrome varies largely according to the sensitivity and structure of abnormal receptor. Almost all types of Androgen insensitivity syndrome involve infertility and undervirilization in persons of both genders. Women with complete Androgen insensitivity syndrome have female appearance even if they have an undescended testes and 46XY karyotype. [read more]

  • Anencephaly
    Anencephaly is a cephalic disorder resulting from a neural tube defect, which occurs when the head of the neural tube does not close. It usually occurs around the 23rd to 26th day of pregnancy. This condition results in the absence of a large portion of the scalp, skull and brain. Infants with Anencephaly are born with no forebrain, the part of the brain where the cerebral hemispheres should be present. The brain tissues that exist are often uncovered by skin or bone. Infants born with Anencephaly are usually deaf, blind, unconscious and inability to feel pain. This is because the cerebral hemispheres affected by this condition are responsible for higher level of cognition, such as thinking. In the United States, 1,000 to 2,000 babies are born with Anencephaly every year. Female babies are more likely to be affected by Anencephaly. Unfortunately, the cause of Anencephaly is unknown. [read more]

  • Aniridia
    Aniridia is an extremely rare congenital disease characterized by an underdevelopment of the patient's iris, which usually occur in both eyes. This condition is associated with very poor development of the retina at the back of the eye, which in turn, prevents normal vision development.. [read more]

  • Anisometropia
    Anisometropia is a medical condition where it affects the binocular vision of a person especially that of infants and children. It is characterized by having Non-symmetric vision or eyes that have unequal and different refractive power which causes varying or unequal rotations leading to diplopia and asthenopia. [read more]

  • Anonychia microcephaly
    Anonychia Microcephaly is a neurological disorder characterized by a small head circumference, widely spaced teeth, clinodactyly of 5th finger and the absence of nails. This condition may be congenital. However, some cases develop during the first years of life. Anonychia Microcephaly may be caused by various conditions that result in chromosomal abnormalities or an abnormal growth of the brain. Infants with Anonychia Microcephaly are born with a reduced head size. As the child grows, his or her head size fails to grow while their faces continue to develop normally, resulting in a small head with receding forehead and loose scalp. When the child grows older, the size of the skull becomes more obvious even if the entire body became dwarfed or underweight. [read more]

  • Anophthalmia
    Anophthalmia is the congenital absence of one or both eyes. Its name is derived from the Greek word ?anophthalmos?, meaning ?without eye?. Primary or True Anophthalmia is extremely rare. True Anophthalmia occurs when complete absence of the ocular tissue inside the orbit is diagnosed. When this condition occurs, a small globe becomes present inside the orbital soft tissue, which is usually not visibly in the initial examination. Extreme microphtalmos is more commonly seen. [read more]

  • Anopthalmia
    Anopthalmia is a congenital disorder in which a child is born with only one or totally no eyes. The occurrence of this defect is very rare. In this condition, there only is a small white mass present in the ocular cavity; but the mass contains no vision abilities. Treatment for this disease requires surgery. [read more]

  • Anosmia
    Anosmia is a condition wherein patients experience the loss of temporary or permanent ability to smell. Hyposmia is a related condition wherein patients experience a decrease in their ability to smell, while ?hyperosmia? is a condition that causes an increase in the patient's ability to smell. However, when a person loses his sense of smell for a particular odor, he is suffering from a genetically based disorder called ?specific anosmia?. ?Congenital Anosmia? refers to the condition wherein a person is born without the sense of smell. Anosmia can be associated with other conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, zinc deficiency, cadmium poisoning, allergies, Refsum disease, holoprosencephaly, Alzheimer's disease, Kallman syndrome and Parkinson's disease. [read more]

  • Anoxia
    Anoxia is a medical condition where there is lack of oxygen in the body to supply it to the person's organ tissues. It is also known as hypoxia inasmuch as they refer to same condition where there is not enough oxygen needed to supply the organ tissues of the body. [read more]

  • Anthrax
    Anthrax is an acute disease in animals and humans, which is caused by the bacterium ?bacillus anthracis?. Some types of anthrax are highly lethal. There are 89 types of anthrax recorded. Unlike other types of bacteria, anthrax can form long-lived spores. As soon as the life cycle of the bacteria is threatened by various factors, such as temperature change of dying host, the bacteria can transform into dormant spores, wait for another host and transfer to continue their life cycle. Anthrax usually occurs in wild and grass-eating mammals that breathe or ingest in the spores while eating grass. This disease can also be caught by humans exposed to dead infected pigs, high amounts of anthrax spores in animal wool, fur or hide and tissues from infected animals. While anthrax cannot be spread directly from one person to the next, human clothing can transfer the spores and when an infected person dies and the body is buried. [read more]

  • Apert syndrome
    Apert syndrome is a congenital disorder commonly known as ?acrocephalosyndactyly?. This disorder is classified as a ?branchial arch syndrome?, which affects the first branchial arch, responsible for the maxilla and mandible. Apert syndrome causes lasting and widespread effects to individuals because branchial arches are important in the fetus development. [read more]

  • Aphthous stomatitis
    Aphthous stomatitis is a form of mouth ulcer that presents a painful open sore within the mouth, which is caused by a break in the patient's mucous membrane. Also known as aphthous ulcer or ?Sutton's disease?, the term ?aphtha? means ulcer. Aphthous stomatitis is characterized by repeated painful discrete areas of ulceration. Recurrent Aphthous stomatitis (RAD) is distinguished from other diseases by their multiplicity, chronicity and tendency to recur. RAD is one of the most common oral diseases, accounting to 10% of the population. Females are more affected by Aphthous stomatitis than men are. However, over 35% of patients with RAD have a family history of this disease. [read more]

  • Aphthous Ulcers
    Aphthous ulcers are more commonly known as canker sores. These are characterized by the development of small and shallow lesions on the soft tissues in your mouth, under the tongue, or insides of the cheeks or lips, as well as at the base of the gums. Often , it will usually go away naturally after a few weeks or so. [read more]

  • Arnold-Chiari malformation
    Ocassionally it is called as Chiari II malformation or ACM, it is is a hereditary deformity of the brain. It is an unusual deformity where the support of the brain goes through the upper spinal canal. This disorder happens to approximately every child born with both spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Chiari malformations I, II and III is associated with the apparent irregularity of the hindbrain which was described by German pathologist Hans Chiari in the late 1800's. Afterwards, further investigators supplemented a fourth (Chiari IV) malformation. The severity scale is rated I ? IV, with IV as the most severe. Arnold Chiari Malformation particularly refers to the Chiari II malformation. [read more]

  • Arthritis
    Arthritis is a condition that usually involves damage on the joints of the body. For people older than fifty-five years, it is the leading cause of disability. Arthritis is a medicinal term, which mean any kind of joint swelling but the term is usually used to refer to age-related osteoarthritis that is the most usual kind. Though, there are other kinds of arthritis involving rheumatoid arthritis (second-most usual, involving younger adults and juveniles), and different kinds of minor arthritis which are caused by a primary condition: immediate arthritis caused by an infection, psoriatic arthritis from psoriasis, gonococcal arthritis from gonorrhea, and the like. Several probable circumstances with arthritis-like signs involve ankylosing spondylitis and gout. [read more]

  • Arthritis, Juvenile
    Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) previously identified as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most ordinary type of unrelenting arthritis in children. Occasionally it is called as juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) a term that is not exact as JIA does not include all types of persistent childhood arthritis. Arthritis causes the lining of the joint (synovium) to swell. JIA is a division of arthritis noticeable during childhood, which might be temporary and self-limited or persistent. It varies considerably from arthritis usually noticed in adults (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), and other kinds of arthritis that can present in infancy which are persistent conditions. [read more]

  • Arthritis, Thumb
    Arthritis, thumb (or thumb arthritis) is characterized by inflammation of the joint of the wrist and the base of the thumb (basal or carpometacarpal joint). Thumb arthritis is also alternatively called basal joint arthritis. [read more]

  • Asbestos Poisoning
    Asbestos Poisoning is a medical condition whereby the person is poisoned because of too much exposure or even ingestion of asbestos fibers. It may later on cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. [read more]

  • Astasia-abasia
    Astasia-abasia refers to the lack of ability to walk or stand normally. Individuals affected by this disease usually presents trouble in walking, tilting wildly in several directions and only falls when they a physician or family member is nearby. Patients cannot stand up straight except when assisted by someone. Although movements of the legs can be done normally while lying or sitting down. [read more]

  • Asthma
    Asthma is persistent condition affecting the respiratory system where in the airway seldom tightens, swells, and is lined with extreme amounts of mucus, usually in reaction to one or more triggers. The episodes may be set off by events such as contact to an environmental allergen or stimulant like cold air, moist air, warm air, excessive exercise or emotional stress. Common cold can set off the episodes on children. [read more]

  • Asthma, Childhood
    Asthma, childhood (childhood asthma), the most chronic illness affecting children, is characterized by continuous inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs. [read more]

  • Asthma, Exercise-Induced
    Asthma, exercise-induced (exercise-induced asthma) pertains to coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath during exercise or any vigorous physical activity. As with most other types of asthma, exercise-induced asthma results from the inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs. [read more]

  • Atelectasis
    Atelectasis is described as a state in which the lung, in whole or in part, is collapsed or without air. It is a condition where the alveoli are deflated, as distinguished from pulmonary consolidation. Infant respiratory distress syndrome includes another type of atelectasis, and is distinguished and discussed in its own article. [read more]

  • Athetosis
    Athetosis is a nonstop flow of sinuous, slow, writhing movements, usually of the hands and feet. Movements that are cause by athetosis are mainly referred to as athetoid movements. It was said that due to the damage to the corpus striatum of the brain and a cut to the motor thalamus that is why Athetosis happens. [read more]

  • Atonic Seizures
    Atonic seizures, also known as drop attacks or akinetic seizures, are a minor kind of seizure. These seizures are characterized by brief lapses in muscle tone that last for up to 15 seconds and can cause no damage. However, the sudden loss of muscle control may lead to falling or loss of balance. It can be diagnosed by electroencephalography, and doesn't need treatment until injuries occur. [read more]

  • Atopic Dermatitis
    Atopic Dermatitis involves the parts of the body which is not in direct contact with the allergen and it is considered as an allergic hypersensitivity. It is a skin disorder distinguished by constant swelling and pruritis. Usually it is congenital and related with allergic rhinitis and asthma. [read more]

  • Attachment Disorder
    Attachment disorder pertains to a relatively rare but nonetheless serious mental problem characterized by the inability of infants and young children to form healthy bonds with parents and/or their primary caregivers. [read more]

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity is it classified as a neuro-behavioural developmental disorder which affects 5% of the world's population. It is usually acquired during childhood, and is distinguished by a constant pattern of distraction or hyperactivity and forgetfulness, poor inclination control or impulsivity, and being distracted and over the years it has been increasingly seen on adults. Children around 60% who have this disorder carries it as they grow. [read more]

  • Autonomic dysfunction (Autonomic nervous system diseases)
    Autonomic dysfunction it is a disease of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. It has components placed in the Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Autonomic dysfunction can be related with hypothalamic ailments, spinal cord disorders, brain stem disorders, and peripheral nervous system. Signs can include destruction of the vegetative functions that includes the preservation of heart rate, blood pressure pupil function, reproductive and injury physiology, sweating and digestion. [read more]

  • Bacterial food poisoning
    Bacterial food poisoning also generally known as foodborne illness it is an illness that it is caused by ingesting a contaminated food. [read more]

  • Bacterial Meningitis
    Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges ? the protective membranes wrapping the central nervous system. This condition may develop as a result of viruses, bacteria and a number of infectious agents. However, it may also occur in people who recently experience physical injury, those with cancer and others who have a history of drug abuse. Most cases of meningitis resolve without treatment. However, this condition can become severe because the inflammation can damage the spinal cord and the brain, which are both in close proximity to the areas affected by meningitis. Since severe meningitis could cause serious neurological damage or death, immediate medical attention and diagnosis is needed. The most common type of meningitis ? infectious meningitis ? can be treated with antibiotics alone, but requires continues observation. Other types of meningitis can be prevented through scheduled immunization. [read more]

  • Bacterial pneumonia
    Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria. The most common cause is the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (J13.) which is also common in all ages except for newly born babies. Another type of bacteria that causes pneumonia is the Staphylococcus aureus (J15.2) these bacteria are classified as Gram-positive bacteria. For Gram-negative bacteria it is seen less regularly like Klebsiella pneumoniae (J15.0), Haemophilus influenzae (J14.), Escherichia coli (J15.5), Moraxella catarrhalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (J15.1) are the most usual bacteria. The gut is where these bacteria reside and enters the lungs when the lung's content is inhaled like vomit. Not unlike typical bacteria, ?atypical? bacteria are commonly seen in young adults and teenagers and are less sever and needs various antibiotics. Examples of ?atypical? bacteria are Chlamydophila pneumoniae (J16.0), Coxiella burnetti, Legionella pneumophila and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (J15.7). [read more]

  • Bad Breath
    Bad breath is known medically as halitosis. It pertains to bad odor emanating from an individual's oral cavity, usually as a result of poor hygiene, certain diets, or bacterial infections. [read more]

  • BAER
    BAER is an acronym for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response and it is test measures of ear and brain wave activity that happens in reaction to clicks or certain pitch. There are 3 waves (1, 3 and 5) set for the ear, BAER uses a computer that averages over time to determine background noise to produce an averaged reaction of the auditory gateway to an auditory stimuli. [read more]

  • Bannayan-Zonana syndrome
    Bannayan-Zonana syndrome or other term is Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome is an unusual hamartomatous disorder through the incidence of several subcutaneous macrocephaly, lipomas and hemangiomas. In an autosomal prevailing form the disease is inherited though wild cases have been documented. Hamartomatous polyposis syndrome is the family where the disease belongs that also involves juvenile polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and Cowden syndrome. BZS lesions are slowly developing and simply resectable. Intracranial association and visceral may happen in unusual conditions and can result to bleeding and indicative automatic compression particularly of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots and may need surgical resection. [read more]

  • Baritosis
    Baritosis a condition of the lung, that results from inhaling barium dust or barium that has compounds. It is a condition that is benign generally that does not result to symptoms except for irritation. On chest X-rays the particles of barium can be evident as an opaque shadow on individuals that has Baritosis. When contact to barium dust stops the abnormalities seen on chest X-rays slowly disappears. [read more]

  • Bartonella infections
    Bartonella infections previously known as Rochalimaea it is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria. Bartonella species may contaminate healthy people though are considered particularly essential as opportunistic pathogens. Bartonella is spread by insect vectors like fleas, ticks, sand flies and mosquitoes. It is known that eight Bartonella species or subspecies are recognized to infect humans. Bartonella rochalimae was the sixth species discovered in June 2007 that is recognized to infect humans and also the ninth species and subspecies generally recognized to infect humans. [read more]

  • Basal ganglia diseases
    Basal ganglia diseases or also known as basal nuclei are a collection of nuclei in the brain interrelated with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and brainstem. [read more]

  • Becker's Muscular Dystrophy
    Becker's muscular dystrophy (BMD), also known as benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy, is an X-linked inherited disorder that involves the slowly and progressive weakness of the muscle in the legs and pelvis. It is a type of dystrophinopathy, which includes a range of muscle diseaseswhere there is insufficient dystrophin produced in the muscle cells, resulting in instability in the muscle cell membrane's structure. [read more]

  • Becker's Nevus
    Becker's nevus is a skin disorder that predominantly affects males. The nevus mostly first appears as an irregular pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) on the torso or upper arm (though other areas of the body can be affected), and gradually enlarges in an irregular shape, becoming thickened and often developing abnormal hair growth (hypertrichosis). It is also known as Becker's pigmented hairy nevus, Becker nevus, Becker pigmented hairy nevus, Becker melanosis and pigmented hairy epidermal nevus. [read more]

  • Behr's Syndrome
    Behr's Syndrome is a rare inherited neurological condition named after Carl Behr, who first described it in 1909 as a syndrome of variable pyramidal tract signs. It is characterized by spastic paraplegia and sometimes optic atrophy. It is a hereditary familial syndrome that falls under ocular and neurologic disorders affecting both men and women. Behr's Syndrome starts in infancy with disturbed vision, disturbed coordination with ataxia, mental deficiency, and urinary sphincter weakness. Other characteristics include optic atrophy prevalent in males, scotoma, bilateral retrobulbar neuritis, nystagmus, progressive temporal nerve atrophy, increased tendon reflexes, Babinski sign, and incoordination. Its inheritance is autosomal recessive, meaning it is not linked to sex chromosomes, although heterozygotes may still manifest much attenuated symptoms. [read more]

  • Benign Astrocytoma
    Benign astrocytoma (or astrocytoma Grade I, astrocytoma Grade II, intracranial neoplasm, intracranial tumor) is categorized into two types: Diffuse (Adults, cerebral hermisphere and brainstem) and circumscribed (Children, characteristic location/morphology). They are benign tumors that occur in the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms and severity of the astrocytoma depends on its location and size. [read more]

  • Benign Essential Tremor Syndrome
    Benign essential tremor (ET) is a movement disorder affecting the neurological system. It is characterized by involuntary fine rhythmic tremor of a body part or different parts, mostly the hands and arms (upper limbs). In many individuals affected by this, upper limb tremor may occur as an isolated finding. In others, however, tremors may gradually involve other regions of the anatomy, such as the head, voice, tongue, or palate (roof of the mouth), leading to dysarthria, or difficulty articulating speech. Less common are tremors that affect muscles of the torso or legs. It is also known as Presenile Tremor Syndrome, familial essential tremor, or hereditary benign tremor. [read more]

  • Berger's Disease
    Berger's Disease (also known as primary IgA nephropathy, glomerulonephritis with IgA and IgG deposits and IgA mesangial nephropathy), has a wide pattern of distribution and is thought to be the most common form of primary glomerular disease throughout the world. Although highly prevalent, geographic variations occur, which could be due to genetic as well as enviromental influences on the patient. This is a kind of glomerulonephritis resulting from the deposition of circulating IgA antibody in the kidney tissues. Inflammation of the glomerulus (glomerulonephritis) is the result of this and may present as acute glomerulonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This renal disorder more commonly affects males in the 16-40 age range. [read more]

  • Beriberi
    Beriberi is an ailment affecting the nervous system. It is caused by a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1). The etymology of the word is from a Sinhalese phrase meaning literally, "I cannot, I cannot", the word being repeated for emphasis. [read more]

  • Berlin Breakage Syndrome
    Berlin breakage syndrome, also known as Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) and Seemanova syndrome, is a rare syndrome that is characterized by chromosomal instability, maybe as a result of a defect in the Double Holliday junction DNA repair mechanism. It is a very rare syndrome characterized mainly by a small head, lowered immunity and heightened risk of cancer. The features of this condition are basically indistinguishable from the Nigmegen Breakage syndrome. The name comes from the Dutch city Nijmegen where the condition was first discovered. Most people with NBS originate from West Slavic regions. The largest number of them is Polish. [read more]

  • Berylliosis
    Berylliosis, also known as chronic beryllium disorder (CBD), is an occupational lung disease. It is a chronic allergic-type lung response and chronic lung disease that results from exposure to beryllium and its compounds. Berylliosis is incurable but its symptoms can be treated. [read more]

  • Beta Thalassemia
    Beta thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. [read more]

  • Bicuspid Aortic Valve
    A bicuspid aortic valve is a heart valve possessing two cusps that are situated between the left ventrical and the aorta. A congenitally bicuspid aortic valve has 2 working leaflets. Most people have 2 complete commissures. An approximated half of cases have a low raphe. Excluded are stenotic or partially fused valves caused by inflammatory processes, such as rheumatic fever. [read more]

  • Birt-Hogg-Dub Syndrome
    Birt-Hogg-Dub syndrome is a rare disorder that affects the skin and lungs and heightens the risk of certain types of tumors. The condition is characterized by multiple noncancerous (or benign) skin tumors, particularly on the face, neck, and upper chest of the person. These growths typically first appear during a person's twenties or thirties and become larger in size and more numerous over time. Affected individuals also have a higher chance of developing cysts in their lungs and an abnormal accumulation of air in the chest cavity (pneumothorax) that may lead to the collapse of a lung. Additionally, people with Birt-Hogg-Dub? syndrome have a greater risk of developing cancerous or noncancerous kidney tumors and possibly tumors in other organs and tissues. [read more]

  • Black Lung
    Black Lung or black lung disease is a common name for coal worker's pneumoconiosis, a lung disease of long-time workers in the coal industry. Cause is linked to accumulated inhalation of small amounts of coal dust. It has been termed black lung because accumulated inhalation of coal dust made the lung turned black in color instead of the regular pink color. [read more]

  • Bladder Neoplasm
    Bladder neoplasm (or bladder cancer) is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply and grow in number without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine and is located in the pelvis. The most common type of bladder cancer starts in cells lining the inside of the bladder and is called urothelial cell or transitional cell carcinoma (UCC or TCC). [read more]

  • Blepharophimosis
    Blepharophimosis is a condition where the individual has bilateral ptosis with reduced lid size. The the patient's nasal bridge is flat and there is hypoplastic orbital rim. Both the vertical and horizontal palpebral fissures (or eyelid opening) are reduced in length. Vignes probably first described this entity as a dysplasia of the eyelids. Aside from small palpebral fissures, features include epicanthus inversus (folds curving in the mediolateral direction, inferior to the inner canthus), low nasal bridge, and ptosis of the eyelids. Blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome, either accompanied with premature ovarian failure (BPES type I) or without (BPES type II), is caused by mutations in the FOXL2 gene. [read more]

  • Blepharospasm
    A blepharospasm is any abnormal tic or twitch of the eyelid. It generally refers to Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEP), a focal dystonia, in which a neurological movement disorder affects involuntary and sustained muscle contractions of the muscles around the eyes. Benign means that the condition is not life threatening and essential indicates that the cause of the condition is unknown. Fatigue, stress, or an irritant are possible contributing factors of the condition. Symptoms may sometimes last for a few days then disappear without treatment, but in most of the cases the twitching is chronic and persistent, causing lifelong challenges. The symptoms are often acute enough to result in functional blindness. The person's eyelids feel like they are clamping shut and will not open without much effort. Patients have normal eyes, but for periods of time are basically blind due to their inability to open their eyelids. [read more]

  • Blindness
    Blindness is the condition of lacking vision which may be caused by physiological and neurological factors. The clinical term ?no light perception? often refers to total blindness. Severe visual impairment with residual vision is also interpretative to blindness. Individuals described to be having only ?light perception? are those who have loss sight and can only differentiate light from dark ? meaning they only have the capacity to pinpoint the direction where the light is coming from. [read more]

  • Blood Pressure, Low
    Blood pressure, low (or low blood pressure) is the opposite of high blood pressure. Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure may not necessarily pose a health risk unless it is caused be an underlying medical condition. [read more]

  • Bordetella Pertussis
    Bordetella pertussis belongs to the genus Bordetella. It is a Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus which the main agent that causes whooping cough. [read more]

  • Borreliosis
    Borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is an emerging infectious disease caused by bacteria from the genus Borrelia. The vector of infection is usually the bite of an infected black-legged or deer tick, but other carriers (including other ticks in the genus Ixodes) have been implicated. Borrelia burgdorferi is the leading cause of Lyme disease in the U.S. and Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are found in Europe. The disease presentation varies greatly, and may include a rash and flu-like symptoms in its initial stage, then musculoskeletal, neurologic, arthritic, psychiatric and cardiac manifestations. In a most of the cases, symptoms can be eliminated with antibiotics, especially if treatment begins early in the course of illness. Late or inadequate treatment often results to "late stage" Lyme disease that is disabling and difficult to treat. Controversy over diagnosis, testing and treatment has resulted to two different standards of care. [read more]

  • Bothriocephalosis
    Bothriocephalosis (also known as Diphyllobothriasis) is an infection with an intestinal parasite. The parasite is a fish tapeworm known as Diphyllobothrium latum. Human infection is caused by eating undercooked fish contaminated with the bacteria. Adult tapeworms may infect humans, felines, canids, pinnipeds, bears, and mustelids, though the accuracy of the records for some of the nonhuman species is disputed. Immature eggs are passed in the feces of the mammal host (the definitive host, where the worms reproduce). [read more]

  • Bourneville's Disease
    Bourneville's disease (also known as Tuberous sclerosis) is characterized by facial lesions with tuberous sclerosis, first reported as adenoma sebaceum, but now recognised as angiofibromas. It produces tuberous sclerosis occurring in association with adenoma sebaceum. It is syndrome of epilepsy, severe mental retardation associated with adenoma sebaceum (overgrowth of the sebaceous glands) of the face, hamartomatous tumours of the heart and kidney, and cerebral cortical tubers (hence the name "tuberous sclerosis"). It is heredofamilial and usually shows itself early in life. Females are more often affected by this disease than males. Incomplete forms of the syndrome can manifest. Bourneville's disease is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity. [read more]

  • Bowen's Disease
    Bowen's disease (BD) is a skin disease induced by sunlight, considered either as an early stage or intraepidermal form of squamous cell carcinoma. [read more]

  • Bradykinesia
    In medicine (neurology), bradykinesia means "slow movement". Its etymology is brady = slow, kinesia = movement. It is a feature of several of diseases, most notably Parkinson's disease and other disorders of the basal ganglia. Rather than being a slowness in initiation (related to hypokinesia) bradykinesia describes a slowness in the execution of movement. [read more]

  • Brain Aneurysm
    Brain aneurysm is characterized by a bulge forming in an artery of the brain, which may be tiny or large enough to put pressure on surrounding brain tissue. [read more]

  • Brain Attack
    Brain attack is a type of stroke that occurs from a drastic shortage of blood supply in the brain. Brain cells will commonly die in a matter of minutes. A brain attack is more commonly referred to as a stroke. [read more]

  • Brain Infection
    Brain Infection is a medical condition where there is an infection in the brain. It is commonly called encephalitis. [read more]

  • Brain Neoplasms
    Brain neoplasms are tumors of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are further divided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are categorized into benign and malignant forms. Generally, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain. [read more]

  • Broken Hand
    A broken hand is a fracture in the bones of the hand, usually occurring along with a broken wrist. [read more]

  • Broken Ribs
    Broken ribs pertain to a common injury wherein the bones in the rib cage breaks, fractures, or cracks. [read more]

  • Bronchial Asthma
    Bronchial asthma is a pulmonary inflammation wherein the air passages become narrow, causing incessant coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Severe asthma attacks can be fatal. [read more]

  • Bronchiolitis
    Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the small airways of the lungs, usually occurring in young children between three to six months of age. [read more]

  • Bronchitis
    Bronchitis is a condition that occurs when the inner walls lining the main airways of the lungs become inflamed; usually happening after a previous respiration infection like colds. [read more]

  • Bronchitis, Chronic
    Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation, or irritation, of the airways in the lungs. Airways are the tubes in the lungs where air passes through. They are also known as bronchial tubes. When the airways are irritated, thick mucus forms inside of them. The mucus plugs up the airways and makes it hard for the person to get air into your lungs. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a cough that produces mucus (sometimes called sputum), breathing difficulties, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. [read more]

  • Brown-Squard Syndrome
    Brown-S?quard syndrome, also known as Brown-S?quard's hemiplegia and Brown-S?quard's paralysis, is a loss of motricity (paralysis and ataxia) and sensation as a result of the lateral hemisection of the spinal cord. Other names for the syndrome are crossed hemiplegia, hemiparaplegic syndrome, hemiplegia et hemiparaplegia spinalis and spinal hemiparaplegia. It is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by a clinical picture reflecting hemisection of the spinal cord, often in the cervical cord region. It was initially described in the 1840s after Dr. Charles Edouard Brown-Sequard sectioned one half of the spinal cord. It is a rare syndrome, made up of ipsilateral hemiplegia with contralateral pain and temperature sensation deficits because of the crossing of the fibers of the spinothalamic tract. [read more]

  • Brucellosis
    Brucellosis, also known as undulant fever, undulating fever, or Malta fever, is a zoonosis (infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans) caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It is generally a disease of domestic animals (goats, pigs, cattle, dogs, etc) and humans and has a worldwide distribution, mostly now in developing countries. [read more]

  • Brugada Syndrome
    The Brugada syndrome is a genetic disease that is marked by abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. It is also known as Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome (SUDS), and is the most commonly found cause of sudden death in young men without known underlying cardiac disease in Thailand and Laos. Although the ECG findings of Brugada syndrome were first reported among survivors of cardiac arrest in 1989, it was only in 1992 that the Brugada brothers recognised it as a distinct clinical entity, causing sudden death by resulting to ventricular fibrillation (a lethal arrhythmia) in the heart. [read more]

  • Bubonic Plague
    The bubonic plague, also known as bubonic fever, is the best-known variant of the deadly infectious disease caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis (Pasteurella pestis). The epidemiological use of the term ?plague? is currently applied to bacterial infections that cause buboes, although historically the medical use this term has been applied to pandemic infections in general. [read more]

  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome
    In medicine (gastroenterology and hepatology), Budd-Chiari syndrome is the clinical picture resulted from occlusion of the hepatic vein or inferior vena cava. It presents with the classical triad of abdominal pain, ascites and hepatomegaly. Some examples of occlusion include thrombosis of hepatic veins and membranous webs in the inferior vena cava. The syndrome can be acute, fulminant, chronic, or asymptomatic. It takes place in 1 out of 100,000 individuals and is more common in females. Some 10-20% also have a sort of obstruction of the portal vein. [read more]

  • Byssinosis
    Byssinosis is more popularly as ?brown lung", which is categorized as an occupational lung disease mainly caused by direct exposure and inhalation of cotton dust in some inadequately ventilated production site and working environment. Byssinosis is more common among factory workers employed in fabric and yarn manufacturing companies. This condition results to the narrowing of the lung's trachea and possible destruction of the lung tissue that can ultimately lead to respiratory failure. [read more]

  • C Syndrome
    C syndrome is also known by another medical term opitz trigonocephaly syndrome, which is categorized as a very rare disorder typically transmitted as a result of a "gonadal mosaicism". This condition is present in people with different cells in its genetic makeup, usually with the number of chromosomes. The affected people are usually corn with some malformation of the head that typically displays a triangular shape which is largely due to the premature union of bones of the skull. Learning and developmental disabilities are also common in people with C syndrome. [read more]

  • CADASIL
    CADASIL, which stands for cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortial artifacts and leukoencephalopathy, is a type of inherited stroke disorder, usually attacks persons aged 30-50 years old. The disease is fatal, as patients usually die around 12 years after symptoms show. The disease affects the brain's small blood vessels. CADASIL also causes an abnormality in the muscle cells around the small blood vessels, called the vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to the destruction of the blood vessel cells. Patients typically have one parent who has CADASIL; as one copy of the gene is enough to cause the condition. [read more]

  • CAMFAC
    CAMFAK syndrome or CAMAK syndrome is only an acronym used to describing a rare and inherited neurological disease. It is characterized by peripheral and central demyelization of nerves, similar to that seen in Cockayne syndrome. The name "CAMFAK" is derived from the first letters of the characteristic findings of the disease: cataracts, microcephaly, failure to thrive, and kyphoscoliosis. However, the disease may also occur with or without failure to thrive and arthrogryposis. Among the first signs of the disease are low birth weight and a bird-like face. It is also typical for persons with CAMFAC to be intellectually deficit. Death may even occur within the first decade. Listed as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Disease (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CAMFAK syndrome only affects less than 200,000 people in the US population. [read more]

  • Canavan leukodystrophy
    Canavan disease is an autosomal recessive disorder that is the most common cerebral degenerative disease of infancy. The disease causes progressive damage to the brain's nerve cells. It is also a gene-linked, neurological birth disorder, wherein the white matter of the brain disintegrate into spongy tissue puzzled with microscopic fluid-filled spaces. The disease belongs to a group of genetic disorders called leukodystrophies, which are characterized by the degeneration of myelin. Myelin is an electrically insulating dielectric covering the phospholipids layer of neuron insulating the axon. Canavan disease hinders the body's normal production of myelin. Called the central nervous system's ?white matter,? this fatty membrane ensures that nerve impulses are properly transmitted. [read more]

  • Canine distempers
    Canine distempers are a highly contagious disease that primarily affects dogs and other types of carnivores. This medical condition is still considered reasonably common despite decades of vaccinations. The severity of this disease can vary from mild to seriously fatal. [read more]

  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
    Carbon monoxide poisoning is a condition resulting from exposure to a colorless, odorless, tasteless, yet potentially fatal gas known as carbon monixde. [read more]

  • Cardiospasm
    Cardiospasm is the muscular failure among the esophagus and the stomach to open where in obstructing the passage of food into the stomach which causes the food to go into the esophagus. Cardiospasm is also known as achalasia and other terms for this condition are as follows achalasia cardiae, cardiospasm, dyssynergia esophagus, and esophageal aperistalsis. [read more]

  • Carnitine Transporter Deficiency
    Carnitine transporter deficiency is a hereditary carnitine deficiency, which is a result of defective proteins. These proteins are called carnitine transporters. These transporters are responsible for carrying carnitine to wherever it's needed in the body, and prevents it from being excreted. With the deficiency, carnitine is released through urine. Illness or fasting may trigger severe attack. [read more]

  • Carpenter Syndrome
    Carpenter syndrome is classified as a very rare or uncommon genetic disorder, distinguished through premature closure of skull bones, growth retardation, heart defects, craniofacial abnormalities, and other health disorders. It is usually manifests at/or shortly following birth. [read more]

  • Catel Manzke Syndrome
    Catel Manzke syndrome is an uncommon genetic disorder combining glossoptosis, cleft palate, and micrognathia with an abnormality of the index fingers. Apart from the major features, there are also several related malformations described, particularly growth retardation and cardiac defect. [read more]

  • Cayler Syndrome
    Some people are born with defects on their lower lip, and this may occur on the right or left side of the lip. This disease is Cayler Syndrome, also known as asymmetric crying facies. It is a disease wherein a congenital heart defect constricts the muscle movement of the lower lip. The controlled muscle movement is due to an underdeveloped muscle in the lip, or a complete absence of the muscle. Being congenital in nature, those afflicted are born with the disease, and is noticed in the infant when they cry or smile. [read more]

  • Cenani Lenz Syndactylism
    Cenani Lenz syndactylism is a hereditary malformation syndrome that involves both the lower and upper extremity. It's an uncommon birth defect that's characterized by a variety of bone abnormalities. The syndrome was named after two medical geneticists; Turkish geneticist Asim Cenani, and German geneticist Widukind Lenz. [read more]

  • Central Diabetes Insipidus
    Central diabetes insipidus is the body's deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone, causing too much production of extremely dilute urine. It is uncommon, and involves intense thirst and over urination. The condition indicates the kidney's inability to balance urine concentration. [read more]

  • Central serous chorioretinopathy
    Central serous chorioretinopathy is a condition of the eye wherein the central macula leaks fluid from the choriocapillaris, resulting in blurry vision. The word serous means serum, which is thin and watery-like in texture. The blurry vision is called metamorphopsia. Sometimes the patients see gray or blind spots, as well as occurring photopsia, or flashes of light. [read more]

  • Central Sleep Apnea
    Central sleep apnea is a condition characterized by breathing disturbances in sleep, often as a result of respirator weakness. [read more]

  • Centronuclear myopathy
    Centronuclear myopathy belongs to a group of rare diseases called congenital myopathies. Congenital myopathies are conditions wherein the cell's nuclei is located within the skeletal muscle cells, an abnormal condition. Normally, the nuclei would be positioned in the periphery of the cell, but with centronuclear myopathy the nuclei is in the center, hence the name. [read more]

  • Cerebral gigantism
    Cerebral gigantism, also known as Sotos syndrome, is a rare hereditary disease characterized by excessive abnormal growth during birth, and extreme physical growth during early childhood years. The growth is purely physical, as there is no increased serum growth hormone levels. Sometimes, the condition may be accompanied by various levels of mental retardation, hypotonia, hindered motor, social, and cognitive development, and speech problems. Children born with cerebral gigantism are larger than normal during birth, and also possess a condition called macrocrania, where their heads are larger than normal. The disease may occur sporadically, or it can also occur in familial cases. [read more]

  • Cerebral hypoxia
    Cerebral hypoxia occurs when the brain cannot get sufficient oxygen supply. Four classifications divide the other forms of cerebral hypoxia. A milder form of the disease is known as diffuse cerebral hypoxia, wherein brain impairment occurs due to low blood oxygen levels. Focal cerebral ischema is a localized reduction in the transport of oxygen from the blood to the brain. Mild strokes may occur, and the neuron damage in this case is irreversible. Cerebral infarction occurs when the oxygen flow from blood to a part of the brain is completely stopped, causing significant and irreversible brain damage. Global cerebral ischema is the last category, wherein the blood completely stops flowing to the brain. [read more]

  • Cerebral Thrombosis
    Cerebral thrombosis is defined as blood clot that takes place in the cerebral vessel. It is more commonly known as stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA. TIA is a ?mini? or ?warning? stroke, but doesn't have lasting damage. There are strokes that damage part of one's brain, and some have permanent injury. TIA is important in foreseeing if a ?stroke? will happen and the chance to prevent it. They may occur several days, some weeks, or even a few months prior to a major cerebral thrombosis attack. In approximately half of the cases, stroke happens within a year from TIA. [read more]

  • Ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal
    Ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal is also known as Batten Disease and Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. The name constitutes a family of 8 or more different neurodegenerative disorders which occur when lipopigments called lipofuscin, accumulate in the body's tissues. Fats and proteins make up the lipopigments, and they can accumulate in cells of body parts including the brain, eyes, muscle, and skin. The disease is quite rare, although they can occur in more than one member in a family if they possess the defective gene. The disorder is autosomal recessive in nature; meaning that if a child acquires the disease, both his parents have the defective gene. Parents who carry one defective gene result in each child having a one in four chance of inheriting the disease. Each of them also has a one in two chance of inheriting a copy of the gene. In adults, the CLN may be autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant form of the disease. [read more]

  • Chalazion
    A chalazion is a cyst that grows in the eyelid caused by the inflammation of the meibomian gland. These cysts vary in styes and are usually painless until they start to swell. They eventually heal and disappear on their own after a few days or weeks, but oftentimes it needs treatment in order to heal faster. [read more]

  • Chandler's Syndrome
    Chandler's Syndrome (CS) is an eye disease which eats up the lining of cell inside the cornea causing the iris to dry up. This rare eye disorder is characterized by the swelling of the cornea as well as glaucoma. One of the three syndromes that dwell on the eyes, CS is more common to females than with males. At most times CS only affects one eye, but when left unattended, the other eye may be infected as well. Because of the glaucoma and leaking of fluids throughout the cell membrane would cause extreme pain and impaired vision. [read more]

  • Cherubism
    Cherubism is a genetic defect which consists of the protruding bone tissue at the lower part of the face, particularly at the jaws. At the beginning of one's childhood, his upper and lower jaw grow at an abnormal rate and will soon be replaced by cyst-like bones. Because of this sudden enlargement of the jaws, the person's cheeks become swollen and rounded just like that of a cherubim, and will soon face problems with tooth growth. The condition varies among people; some cases of cherubism are quite mild and in fact unnoticeable, but in others the defect is so severe they even encounter difficulties in chewing, talking and seeing. However, these growths become replaced by normal bones as the children enter adulthood, and they will soon have a normal appearance as they reach maturity. [read more]

  • Chest Pain
    It is a sudden feeling of pain in the chest. [read more]

  • Chikungunya
    Chikungunya is a rare viral fever spread by mosquitoes that contain an alphavirus. Its name comes from a Makonde word that literally means 'that which bends up', as the arthritic symptoms of the disease result to a stooped posture on the patient. It was first discovered in 1955 after 1952 outbreak along the Makonde Plateau, which is located in between Tanganyika and Mozambique. [read more]

  • Childhood disintegrative disorder
    Childhood disintegrative disorder or CDD is a condition that consists of a child's delayed development in social function, motor skills and language. It is also known as disintegrative psychosis or Heller's syndrome. It is similar to autism, but normal development is first seen before a sudden regression occurs. It is not easy to detect CDD on children during its early stages; the disorder would only be obvious when the child starts to lose his language skills. Some children seem to react to seizures and hallucinations, much to the surprise of their parents. This is often described as a devastating condition, since it affects the family's future. Child disintegrative disorder was first described by Thomas Heller in 1908. [read more]

  • Childhood Schizophrenia
    Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that causes people to communicate and behave differently than most other people through disorganized, detached, paranoid, or illogical behaviors. [read more]

  • Cholecystitis
    Cholecystitis is a disease characterized by the inflammation of the gall bladder. It is mainly caused by gallstones or choleliths which block the cystic duct. The blocking of the bile ducts leads to complications such as bile stasis, inspissation of the bile, and infection done by gut organisms. The disease takes place when the gall bladder's wall becomes swollen. Sometimes this inflammation may develop into necrosis and damage other structures such as the bowel and diaphragm. [read more]

  • Chorioretinitis
    Choriorentinitis is an inflammatory illness involving the eye's retinal vessels. It is caused by bacterial, viral, or protozoan infections. When not treated, choriorentinitis may completely damage the retina and cause poor visions for the person with the said disease. [read more]

  • Chronic berylliosis
    Chronic Berylliosis is the inflammation of the lungs due to inhaling fumes or dust contaning the element beryllium. This metal can be found in coal, soil and volcanic dust and is used in manufacturing and aerospace industries. This disease may appear even after 20 years after exposure to the said element. [read more]

  • Chronic Cough
    A chronic cough is a cough that lasts for eight weeks or longer. It physically drains the affected individual and may have major repercussions. [read more]

  • Chronic fatigue disorder
    Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder where in one suffers from recurring fatigue which cannot be improved by rest and can be aggravated by mental or physical activity. People suffering from CFS do not engage in lots of activities because they easily get tired. CFS can last for years and there are no specific tests available to diagnose this disorder. [read more]

  • Chronic hiccup
    A chronic hiccup is a condition where a person experiences hiccups for an abnormally long period of time. A hiccup is an involuntary spasm made by diaphragm. It may occur several times a minute, but it resolves by itself after some time. It is caused by the sudden rush of air to the epiglottis, causing it to close. Hiccups may occur due to some activities like laughing too hard, drinking too much alcohol and eating spicy food. They are usually treated by drinking a glass of water until the spasm subsides. Chronic hiccups meanwhile last from weeks to months and even years for some cases. [read more]

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the continual obstruction of the brochial airflow, which is usually occurring with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. It leads to persistent decrease in airflow rate from one's lungs when they exhale. The disease is second to heart disease, and often affects men than women. [read more]

  • Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplagia
    Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplagia is autosomal recessive mitochondrial defect characterized by mitochondrial DNA deletions found in the skeletal muscle. Persons with the disease usually show signs of ataxia, neuropathy, depression, hearing loss and weakness of the external eye muscles. [read more]

  • Cloacal exstrophy
    Cloacal exstrophy is a rare although severe birth defect where most of the abdominal organs, including the bladder and intestines, are exposed. The condition is named so, because the cloaca refers to the area in the embryo which eventually forms into the lower abdominal wall structures. When a child is born with cloacal exstrophy, a part of the large intestines is located outside of the body, and on one side lies the bladder in halves. In males, it occurs that the penis is short and flat, and sometimes cut in half; while with females, the clitoris is also cut in half. The condition may also result in two vaginal openings. [read more]

  • Cluster Headache
    Cluster headache is defined as intense pain felt at one's temple or area surrounding the eye on any side of the head. The pain lasts moderately short, and usually happens in clusters for six- to eight-week period. This disorder is comparatively rare, and mostly affects men above thirty years old. [read more]

  • Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis
    Coal workers' pneumoconiosis or Black Lung Disease is an illness that affects the lungs, wherein coal dust deposits spread throughout the organ resulting from prolonged inhalation of coal dust. Coal dust can block airways. The disease develops into more serious illness called progressive massive fibrosis. [read more]

  • Coats Disease
    Coats disease is an uncommon eye condition that causes partial or full blindness. It is distinguished by an abnormal growth of blood vessels at the back of the retina, causing retinal detachment. [read more]

  • Coccidiodomycosis
    Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by Coccidioides immitis, a dimorphic fungus. [read more]

  • Coccidioidomycosis
    Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious condition brought about by fungus known as coccidioides immitis found in soil. The disease affects the skin and lungs, and is distinguished by too much nodules and sputum. It may occur as a severe or mild, progressive infections spreading all through one's body. Coccidioidomycosis' progressive form can often be fatal. [read more]

  • Cohen Syndrome
    Cohen syndrome is an uncommon genetic condition characterized by obesity, prominent frontal teeth, and decreased muscle tone. In some individuals, there is a low level of white blood cells. Its transmission is in an autosomal recessive manner with variable expression. [read more]

  • Coloboma, Ocular
    Coloboma, Ocular is an uncommon chromosomal disorder that involves Chromosome 22 abnormalities. The eye has a hole in one of its structures, such as in the lens, iris, eyelid, optic disc, retina, or choroids. The disorder is inborn, and may be due to a gap known as choroids fissure in between the eye's two structures. This gap exists early during development inside the uterus, failing to completely close before an infant is born. It can affect both or only one of the eyes. [read more]

  • Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome
    Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, or CCHS, is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The disease is characterized by an impairment or absence in the body's automatic control for breathing. The patient's body forgets to breathe, even during sleep. The symptoms for congenital central hypoventilation syndrome can be mild or severe, but typical symptoms include abnormal pupils, which occur in 70% of cases; poor breathing functions especially during sleep, lack of spontaneous breathing, and bluish color in lips, nails, and skin due to breathing problems. Half of the patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome can breathe almost normally when they are awake; however, it is during sleep when they encounter difficulty breathing. Other characteristics to watch out for when diagnosing one with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome are: no muscular or respiratory problems that may cause the breathing difficulty; no heart disease; consistent poor breathing during sleep, and that the symptoms are noticed when the child is less than a year old and continues. Early diagnosis of the disease is important, because when it goes undetected, this may result in death. Once it is determined that a patient has congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, they can seek treatment for the disease. Prior to treatment, the patient will undergo a variety of tests, among the first will determine the severity of the problem. Other tests will determine the respiratory aspects of the disease, as well as neurological and cardiac tests. During the course of treatment, the patient will use breathing support apparatus, such a respirator. Some children may need to use it for 24 hours of the day. In more severe cases, patients undergo surgery that will allow them to use a surgical implant that provides electrical stimulation to the diaphragm muscle to help improve breathing. Studies show that genetics plays a role in the occurrence of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Research also shows that since 20% of the cases are accompanied by Hirschsprung disease, that there is an underlying connection that can be found in the genetics of the patients. Children born with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome can still lead normal and active lives; however, extra supervision is needed during certain activities such as swimming when the body can forget to breathe when in the water. [read more]

  • Congenital deafness
    Congenital deafness may or may not be inherited or genetic in nature. It can also be dues to the exposure of the pregnant mother to infections such as the rubella virus. Roughly about 80% of the congenital deafness cases that are-syndromatic, which are highly heterogeneous but the mutations in the Connexin 26 molecules usually account to almost half of the patients. [read more]

  • Congenital herpes simplex
    Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the highly identified common infection carriers among humans of all ages. This type of virus usually occurs globally and produces a large variety of illnesses such as infections of the CNS, mucocutaneous infections, as well and sporadically infections affecting the visceral organs. [read more]

  • Conjoined Twins
    Conjoined twins are identical twins that have failed to completely separate into two individuals usually joined at the chest, head, or pelvis. Some may even share one or more internal organs. [read more]

  • Constipation
    Constipation is one of the most common problems in the digestive system characterized by infrequent bowel movements, passing hard stools, and straining when moving a bowel resulting to feeling bloated, lethargic, and feelings of discomfort or pain. [read more]

  • Contact Lens Solution Toxicity
    Contact lens solution toxicity generally refers to the eye conditions that develop due to unwanted reactions to contact lens solutions. This type of reaction if often categorized as a form of allergy and is inflammatory in nature. [read more]

  • Conversion Disorder
    Conversion disorder is defined as a psychiatric disorder wherein people convey emotional distress through ?physical' manifestations and symptoms. The symptoms appear involuntarily, while medical examination doesn't explain any clear-defined root of the dysfunction. [read more]

  • Cooley's Anemia
    Cooley's anemia, also called Thassalemia, is a hereditary blood disorder distinguished by less number of red blood cells and less hemoglobin in the body. Due to the decreased amount of red blood cells, the condition leads to anemia. [read more]

  • Coproporhyria
    Coproporhyria, also known as Porphria, is a term used to define a set of hereditary disorders arising from troubles in the body's manufacture of a substance identified as ?heme'. Heme is present in each body tissue. The body utilizes enzymes to transform ?porphyrins' into heme. When one of the enzymes has an inherited deficiency, the process of transformation is interrupted. This causes porphyrins to accumulate in one's body, which in turn leads to the symptoms of Coproporhyria. [read more]

  • Craniostenosis
    Craniostenosis is the disorder wherein an infant's or child's skull sutures close prematurely thereby interrupting normal skull growth and brain development. [read more]

  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
    The fatal and rare denerative brain disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is caused by proteins called prions that multiply exponentially by refolding native proteins to infected state. Disrupting cell function, CJD results to cell death, rapid and progressive dementia, loss of memory, hallucinations and behavioral changes. Death can occur in as little as four months after the onset of the first symptoms. [read more]

  • Croup
    Croup refers to diseases of the respiratory system which are caused by inflamed upper airway. Characterized by sneeze and barking cough, vomiting, nausea, fever and high pitch sound the child makes when inhaling, Croup is often a benign condition that is treatable at home. Croup diseases are spasmotic croup, laryngotracheobronchopneumitis, acute laryngotracheitis, laryngeal diptheria and laryngotracheobronchitis. Laryngotracheobronchopneumitis and laryngotracheobronchitis are caused by bacterial infection and often severe. [read more]

  • Crouzonodermoskeletal syndrome
    Crouzondermoskeletal syndrome is a rare disorder not unlike Crouzon syndrome because it is caused by specific bones in our skull that join prematurely. It is distinguished from Crouzon syndrome by other disorders that also afflict patients with Crouzondermoskeletal, such as skin condition acanthosis nigricans, which is characterized by dark and thick skin in our body folds, changes in the vertebrae on x-rays, and the probable development of noncancerous cementomas during adulthood.. [read more]

  • Cryptococcosis
    Cryptococcosis is an infection arising from the inhalation of the soil contaminated with fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. It is characterized by pulmonary infection, meningitis, viscera, pneumonia as well other organ disorders. Disorders such as AIDS and Hodgkin's disease increase the risk of acquiring cryptococcosis. In fact, it used to be a rare infection before the start of AIDS epidemic. [read more]

  • Cutaneous anthrax
    Cutaneous anthrax was once known as a rather obscure disease is now a household name, largely owing to the media hype since it was used bioterrorism agents in the past. There are three different types of anthrax: gastronintestinal, inhalational and cutaneous. Anthrax is actually categorized as a zoonotic disease, which means, it mainly affects animals and not humans. This disease can be contracted through handling contaminated excrement from the infected animals. [read more]

  • Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
    Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is categorized as a type of lupus that primarily involves the patient's skin but may also be a precursor to another systemic form of the disease. There are three different types of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: chronic lupus erythematosus, subacute lupus erythematosus and e types of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Dark skinned women individuals are more prone to Cutaneous lupus erythematosus especially between ages 20-60. [read more]

  • Cutis verticis gyrata
    Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is considered as the medical descriptive term for a scalp condition that is characterized with furrows and convoluted folds that form from a thickened area of the scalp that resembles the cerebriform pattern. [read more]

  • Cystathionine Beta Synthase Deficiency
    Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency disease is a genetic metabolic disorder that involves the amino acid methionine. [read more]

  • De Sanctis-Cacchione Syndrome
    De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome is a very uncommon disorder distinguished by eye and skin manifestations of XP or xeroderma pigmentosum, occurring in involvement with mental retardation, neurological abnormalities, underdeveloped ovaries or testes, and abnormally short stature or dwarfism. [read more]

  • Delirium
    The word "delirium" typically hints a state of feverish ecstasy that is believed to fuel some sort of artistic creation or some form of spiritual awakening, it can actually be clearly defined as a form of medical condition. Delirium is basically characterized a decline in attention, mental clarity and awareness that is often known to be triggered by a serious illness. [read more]

  • Demyelinating Disease
    Demyelinating disease is defined as any type of nervous system condition wherein the neurons' protective covering, called myelin sheath, is damaged. This causes impairment in the transmission of signals within affected nerves, which in turn results to damage in movement, cognition, sensation, or other bodily functions, depending on the nerves involved. Some common demyelinating disease includes multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, devic disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, and adrenomyeloneuropathy. [read more]

  • Depersonalization Disorder
    Depersonalization Disorder (DPD) is a special type of dissociative disorder where an afflicted individual suffers from recurrent and resistant feelings of depersonalization. This is characterized by a sense of automation as well as the feeling of disconnection from the body, often making it difficult to relate to reality. [read more]

  • Dermatitis, Perioral
    Perioral dermatitis is characterized as a type of facial rash that usually tends to occur just around the mouth region. Most skin condition manifests as red and often slightly bumpy or scaly in texture. It can gradually spread up around the nose area, and even move up to the eyes. [read more]

  • Dermatophytosis
    Dermatophytosis, similarly known as athlete's foot is a common fungal infection among many people. It usually affects spaces in between your toes but it can spread to your soles, toenails and the sides of your feet. [read more]

  • Diabetes mellitus
    Diabetes mellitus, popularly known as "diabetes" is a chronic disease. It is associated with very high levels of the glucose sugar present in our blood. There are two mechanisms for diabetes, patients may experience either of the two to suffer from this disease. The first is that there is not enough production of insulin produced by the pancreas as a result, blood glucose level are lowered or type 1. The second is that the cells is not sensitive enough to the action of insulin or type 2. [read more]

  • Diabetes, insulin dependent
    Diabetis insulin dependent is also known as diabetes mellitus type 1. This is a chronic disorder of our system's failure to produce inadequate amount of insulin. Characteristics of this disease is loss of the beta cells which are responsible for producing insulin. These cells are found in the islets of Langerhans in our pancreas. This loss leads to insulin deficiency. There is no known measure to prevent this disease. Affected people mostly are healthy when this disease occurs. The cells sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin are not abnormal. This type of diabetes can affect both children or adults, although it was previously called "juvenile diabetes" as it usually affects children. [read more]

  • Diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD)
    Diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) also known as Interstitial lung disease, is refers to obstructive airway diseases of the lungs. It affects the alveolar epithelial lining, pulmonary capillary epithelium and its basement mambrane. [read more]

  • Diphallia
    Diphallia is also known as penile duplication (PD), dophallic terata or diphallasparatus. It is a disorder of male infant born with two or more penis. This disorder commonly accompanied with congenital anomalies like renal and anorectal duplication. A Diphalilic patient have high risk to develop spina bifida, a congenital defect that has incomplete closure of the empbryonic neural tube that allow spinal cord to protrude through the opening. It also has higher death rate because of its complicated renal and colorectal structures that results infection. [read more]

  • Disorganized Schizophrenia
    A chronic illness that causes altered perceptions of the world is called schizophrenia and disorganized schizophrenia is a subtype of such disorder. People who have disorganized schizophrenia display grossly disorganized behavior, disorganized thinking and an absent or inappropriate emotional expression. [read more]

  • Downs syndrome
    Down syndrome otherwise known as trisomy 21 is a disorder caused by the presence of an extra 21st chromosome. This disorder was termed as chromosome 21 trisomy in 1959 by J?r?me Lejeune. It is characterized by major and minor structural differences. Down syndrome is always associated with impairments of the cognitive ability and the physical growth. Facial appearance also is different. This disorder can be known even during pregnancy or right at birth. [read more]

  • Dubowitz syndrome
    Dubowitz syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder. It is often characterized by microcephaly, slow to very retarded growth and a rather unusual facial appearance like having small or round or even triangular shaped with a pointed chin with either a broad or wide-tipped nose, and eyes which are usually wide-set and drooping eyelids. It was first described by English physician Victor Dubowitz in 1965. Majority of cases are from the Russia, United States, and Germany. It also appears to have an equal affect to different ethnicities and even genders. [read more]

  • Dysencephalia splachnocyxtica
    Dysencephalia splachnocyxtica is not an ordinary ailment and is characterized by a severe genetic disorder that primarily affects the kidney along with some related cystic dysplasia, that causes the malfunctioning of the central nervous system and can eventaully create several hepatic developmental defects. [read more]

  • Dysgerminoma
    Dysgerminoma is considered to be the most common classification of malignant form of germ cell ovarian cancer. Dysgerminoma usually occurs in adolescence and early adult life; about 5% occur in pre-pubertal children. Dysgerminoma is known to be an extremely rare medical condition that usually occurs after age 50. Dysgerminoma occurs in both sections of the ovaries in more than 10% of patients and, in a further 10%, there is microscopic tumor found to have developed in the other ovary. [read more]

  • Dyskeratosis congenita
    Dyskeratosis congenita is also referred to as Zinsser-Engman-Cole Syndrome. It is a type of rare disease that is characterized by a gradual failure of the bone marrow. [read more]

  • Edwards' syndrome
    Edwards' syndrome is primarily caused by a gene mutation, particularly the extra copy of chromosome 18. For this very reason, it is also known by a medical term trisomy 18 syndrome. The presence of the extra chromosome has proven to be quite lethal for most babies who are born with this medical condition. Edwards' syndrome causes major physical malformations and also severe mental retardation and also comes with high mortality rate. [read more]

  • emphysema
    Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), previously termed a chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). This is called an obstructive lung disease because the destruction of lung tissue around smaller airways, called bronchioles, makes these airways incapable to hold their shape properly when you exhale. [read more]

  • Empyema
    Empyema is a condition characterized by accumulation of pus in a body cavity usually in the cavity between the lung and the membrane surrounding the lung. [read more]

  • encephalitis
    Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, normally caused by a viral infection. It's a rare disease that only occurs in approximately 0.5 per 100,000 individuals - most commonly in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. [read more]

  • encephalitis lethargica
    Encephalitis lethargica or otherwise known as von Economo disease is categorized as an atypical manifestation of encephalitis. Also known as "sleepy sickness" or as "sleeping sickness".EL is a dreadful illness that swept the world in the 1920s and then vanished as quickly as it had appeared. EL primarily attacks the brain, then leaving some of its victims in a rather statue-like condition, both motionless as well as speechless. [read more]

  • encephalocele
    Encephalocele, is a neural tube defect characterized by sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull. [read more]

  • Encephalocele Anencephaly
    Encephalocele anencephaly is among the most severe kinds of NTD or Neural Tube Defect. These types of defects occur during pregnancy, and affects the ?tissue' that develops into a fetus' brain and spinal cord. Anencephaly happens early in fetal development, and results when the neural tube's upper part doesn't close properly. [read more]

  • encephalomyelitis
    Encephalomyelitis is a general term for inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, describing a number of disorders like acute disseminated encephalomyelitis , encephalomyelitis disseminata, a synonym for multiple sclerosis; equine encephalomyelitis and myalgic encephalomyelitis [read more]

  • Encephalomyelitis, Myalgic
    Encephalomyelitis, Myalgic is an inflammatory, chronic, mainly neurological disorder that's multisystematic and affects the body's immune system, cardiovascular system, muscoskeletal system, endocrinological system, and central nervous system or CNS. In every case of myalgic encephalomyelitis, there is an extent of disability and impaired mobility. The impairment level and complexity will depend on the level of brain injury and involvement of the end organ. [read more]

  • Encephalopfacial Angiomatosis
    Encephalopfacial angiomatosis, also referred to as Dimitiri disease or Struge-Weber syndrome, is a congenital defect that features clusters of blood vessel fibers and calcium deposits in the brain. Unusual facial birthmarks as well as seizures are common with persons in this condition. Angiomas also develop inside the face, brain, jaws and eyes. [read more]

  • Endometrial Cancer
    Endometrial cancer is a common type of cancer affecting most American women. Roughly forty thousand American women are diagnosed per year, making it the 4th most common female cancer. It begins in the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium), and may also affect other cells of the uterus. It is alternatively known as uterine cancer, and usually appears as the female's reproductive period ends, usually at ages 60-70. [read more]

  • Enetophobia
    Enetophobia is described as "a persistent, unwarranted, and abnormal fear of pins." Every year this very common phobia or fear causes so many people distress of being needless. To make things worst for such very distressing condition, most therapies usually take months or even years which at times will even require the person frequent and countless exposure to his fear. It is believed that the procedure is not only unnecessary, it also often worsen the condition. It is really cruel the fear can be eliminated with just 24 hours of commitment provided the right method is done to the patient. [read more]

  • Epilepsy
    Epilepsy is a very common chronic neurological condition characterized by a recurrent seizure which is usally.The unprovoked seizures are transient signs or symptoms brought about by synchronous, abnormal, or excessive activities of the neurons in the patient's brain.There are about 50 million people around the world who suffer epilepsy at an any given time. Not all of epilepsy syndrome cases occur in a lifetime. Some forms of this disorder are only confined to some certain stages of childhood. Epilepsy, however, should not be considered or interpreted as a single disorder, rather occur as a group of syndromes with widely divergent symptoms which are all involving an episodic, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. [read more]

  • Epispadias
    Epispadias is a rare kind of malformation of the penis. In this condition, the urethra ends at the upper aspect of the penis. This malformation is result of a failure of the pelvic and abdominal fusion during the first stages of embryogenesis. Among the other defects include a bifid phallus joined with an exstrophic bladder. Epispadias may also occur among women. [read more]

  • Erdheim-Chester syndrome
    Erdheim-Chester disease is also known as polyostotic sclerosing histiocytosis or the Erdheim-Chester syndrome. This condition is a relatively rare form of non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis. Usually, this condition affects people at their in middle age years. It usually involves infiltration of lipid-laden macrophages, giant cells which are multinucleated, an infiltrate of lymphocytes which are usually swelling, and histiocytes located in the bone marrow, and sclerosis of the long bones. [read more]

  • Esophageal disorders
    Esophageal disorders refers to any disorder or abnormal conditions associated to the esophagus. It may include Achalas, Chagas disease, Caustic injury to the esophagus, Esophageal atresia and Tracheoesophageal fistula, Esophageal cancer, Esophageal web, Esophagitis, GERD, Hiatus hernia, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, Neurogenic dysphagia, Schatzki's ring, Zenker's Diverticulum, and Boerhaave syndrome. [read more]

  • Essential Tremor
    The word ?essential? in essential tremor means that the disorder isn't linked to other disease and is a sign of a movement disorder characterized as dismissed trembling hands or shaking head also it is also part of a normal aging process. It is the most common of the many movement disorder. [read more]

  • Exogenous lipoid pneumonia
    Exogenous lipoid pneumonia Also known as Lipid pneumonia or lipoid pneumonia is a lung inflammation or what we called pneumonia. But the difference is the exogenous is the lipid has entered the bronchial tree or the lungs while in pneumonia the water enters the lungs. [read more]

  • Exophthalmos
    Exophthalmos is referring to as a bulging of the eye out of the orbit bone. There are two types of exopthalmus, its either bilateral, it is often seen in Graves' Disease or unilateral cause by an orbital tumor. [read more]

  • Exploding head syndrome
    Exploding head syndrome is a medical disorder that the patient suffers from a very loud noise that comes from within his or her head. [read more]

  • Eye Cancers
    Eye cancers are malignant growths in the eyes. They are commonly associated with other cancers such as breast and lung cancers. They begin to grow as benign cysts or malignant rhabdomyosarcoma. When not treated, these cancers can caused permanent blindness or even death. [read more]

  • Eye Floaters
    Floaters are bits of cellular debris that come and go without treatment. They are often seen as floating specks in front of the eyes but they are not really on the surface but inside. Floater among other people may look like spots and to some they may look like tiny threads. [read more]

  • Eye Melanoma
    Melanoma that originates in your eye is termed a primary eye cancer. Eye melanoma is the most common type of primary eye cancer in adults, but it's rare. If the melanoma begins elsewhere and then spreads to your eye, it's called a secondary eye cancer; this also is rare. [read more]

  • Eye Melanoma Cancer
    Eye melanoma cancer is a disease affecting the cells in the eyes that produce melanin. It affects the frontal area of the uvea, particularly in the iris and ciliary body, as well as in the back portion of the uvea, particularly in the choroids layer. Melanoma is more commonly associated with skin cancer; however, it can also develop in an individual's eyes, as in the case of eye melanoma cancer. It may occur in the form of a primary eye cancer, which means that the melanoma originated in the eye; or as a secondary eye cancer, in which the melanoma has spread to the eye from some other part of the body. [read more]

  • Eyelid Cysts
    Eyelid cysts, or chalazia, are growths inside the eyelid caused by the swelling of the meibomian gland. These cysts are usually painless but they sometimes grow big enough to obstruct one's vision. [read more]

  • Fahr's Disease
    Fahr's disease is an uncommon genetically dominant neurological disorder in which there is a presence of abnormal calcium deposits in brain areas that control movement, including the ?cerebral cortex' and ?basal ganglia'. This condition is frequently referred to as IBGC or ?idiopathic basal ganglia calcification', as there's no obvious explanation for calcification within these regions of the brain. [read more]

  • Fanconi's anemia
    Fanconi's anemia (FA) is an inherited ailment that involves children and adults belonging to all ethnic backgrounds. FA is distinguished by skeletal abnormalities, short figure, elevated occurrence of solid tumors and leukemias, failure in bone marrow and cellular sensitivity destroying agents like mitomycin C. [read more]

  • Farsightedness
    Farsightedness or hyperopia is a common vision condition in which an affected person can see objects in the distance clearly, but objects nearby may be blurry. The degree of farsightedness determines your focusing ability and for people with severe farsightedness, they can only clearly see objects at a great distance while those with mild farsightedness may clearly see objects that are closer. [read more]

  • Fatal Familial Insomnia
    Fatal familial insomnia is a very rare and deadly disease that affects the central nervous system. It results to ?spongiform degeneration' of the neurons inside the brain. It is characterized by extended incubation period, and it can be inherited, sporadic, or result from the intake of some contaminated food. [read more]

  • Feingold Syndrome
    Feingold syndrome is an extremely uncommon syndrome with several congenital anomalies. The syndrome is characterized largely by gastrointestinal abnormalities, toe and finger deformities, eye abnormities, and a small head. The features of the syndrome share considerable overlap with Vacterl and Vater connections, particularly patients that have esophageal/duodenal atresia. [read more]

  • Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
    Feline spongiform encephalopathy is one of the three kinds of Prion diseases that greatly affect humans and animals. It is a contagious disease that triggers the brain's function, making patients exhibit unusual, uncontrollable behaviors. This can be a fatal disease when not immediately treated. Other forms of Prion diseases include mad cow disease, mink encephalopathy, and the bovine spongiform encephalopathy. It is also called ?laughing disease?. [read more]

  • Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome
    Fetal hydantoin syndrome is an uncommon disorder that's caused by fetal exposure to an anticonvulsant medicine known as phenytoin or Dilantin. Dilantin is a drug commonly administered for treating epilepsy, and approximately one-third of the offspring of mothers who took the drug while pregnant developed minor limb and face defects. Some showed developmental delay, mental retardation, and growth problems. [read more]

  • Fetal thalidomide syndrome
    Fetal thalidomide syndrome primarily results from the utero exposure to thalidomide. This medical condition is typically characterized the anomalies in the mental function and fetal growth, as well as other abnormalities that may include facial, cardiac, limb, kidney, anal, spinal and CNS. Preganant women who are exposed to thalidomide during the first trimester of pregnancy has 10-15% of risk of embryopathy. [read more]

  • Fever
    Also known as pyrexia is a symptom of disease that describes that there is an internal termporary increase in the body core temperature which is above the regular body's thermoregulatory set point usually about 1 ? 2 0C. [read more]

  • Fissured tongue
    Fissured tongue characterized as a benign medical condition that often referred to as plicated or scrotal tongue. It is distinguished as a tongue with deep or shallow furrows or grooves causing a rather wrinkled appearance of the tongue. This condition may be congenital and may gradually increase with age. [read more]

  • Fitzsimmons-Guilbert syndrome
    Fitzsimmons-Guilbert syndrome is considered as an extremely rare genetic disease that is characterized by a considerably slow progressive spastic paraplegia, along with skeletal anomalies of the feet and hand with brachydactyly type E. This also comes with cone-shaped epiphyses, sternal anomaly, abnormal metaphyseal?phalangeal pattern profile, mild intellectual deficit and dysarthria. To date, there are only three reported cases of this disease, two of which suffered from severe mental retardation. [read more]

  • Flu
    Influenza or flu is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system including the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs. Though it is commonly called flu, influenza is not the same virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. [read more]

  • Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome
    Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome is a partial paralysis on the face, the pharynx and the jaw. Affected areas are still capable of certain movements like eating, smiling, and facial movements. Upper and lower limbs are usually unaffected. This syndrome is caused by blood supply loss or interruption in a specific part of the brain. This condition is also called bilateral anterior opercular syndrome. It was discovered in the year 1926 by Charles Foix, Jean Alfred ?mile Chavany and Julien Marie. [read more]

  • Formaldehyde poisoning
    Formaldehyde is a highly toxic and flammable gas (when at room temperature). It has an irritating and penetrating odor that may or may not be easily detected. It is more commonly used for formalin solutions. Exposure to and contamination from harmful concentrations of this substance can cause Formaldehyde poisoning. [read more]

  • Fox-Fordyce disease
    A rare disorder, Fox-Fordyce disease becomes a problem for most women who fall between ages 13 to 35 years. Males and young children may also develop this medical problem. Fox-Fordyce Disease is also called ?sweat retention disease' and ?apocrine duct occlusion'. [read more]

  • Francois Dyscephalic Syndrome
    Francois Dyscephalic Syndrome is also known as the Hallermann-Streiff syndrome and the Oculomandibulofacial Syndrome. This is a disorder which greatly affects one's body stature, the head structure, and also hair growth. Patients who suffer from this kind of condition are often shorter than average people. They may be unable to develop facial hair and hair in other places such as the legs and the pubic areas. Many others have persisting problems with teeth development with some only developing one set in a lifetime. [read more]

  • Fraser syndrome
    Fraser Syndrome is also called Cryptophthalmos-syndactyly syndrome. It is a rare genetic disorder with abnormalities that include that of the head, the lungs, the kidneys, and the limbs. Malformations are a combination of acrofacial and urogenital ones which may be with cryptophthalmos or without. [read more]

  • Froelich's Syndrome
    Froelich's syndrome is an acquired medical condition involving endocrine abnormalities especially in the hypothalamus. Often associated with tumors in the hypothalamus, this syndrome commonly affects males only. It usually manifests during childhood, especially during puberty with occasional reports during the postadolescent period. Froelich's syndrome is also known by other synonyms such as Adiposogenital Dystrophy, Babinski-Froelich Syndrome, Dystrophia Adiposogenitalis, Frolich's Syndrome, Hypothalamic Infantilism-Obesity, Launois-Cleret Syndrome, and Sexual Infantilism. [read more]

  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
    The second most common type of epilepsy after temporal lobe epilepsy, Frontal lobe epilepsy is similar to temporal lobe epilepsy because it is a type of focal seizure, which means that the seizure starts in a focal area of the brain, commonly referred to as the focus. Frontal lobe epilepsy means that the focus is located in the frontal lobe. [read more]

  • Frontal Lobe Seizures
    The second most common type of epilepsy after temporal lobe epilepsy, Frontal lobe seizures is similar to temporal lobe epilepsy because it is a type of focal seizure, which means that the seizure starts in a focal area of the brain, commonly referred to as the focus. Frontal lobe epilepsy means that the focus is located in the frontal lobe. [read more]

  • Frontotemporal Dementia
    Frontotemporal dementia is a general umbrella medical term to a diverse group of rare disorders that primarily affects the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain. These are the areas that are generally associated with individual personality and behavior. It usually affects the younger people and are known to undergo very rapid changes in the personality and usually become socially inappropriate. [read more]

  • Fulminant Liver Failure
    Acute liver failure (or fulminant liver failure) is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease (such as jaundice), and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage (loss of function of 80-90% of liver cells). [read more]

  • Galloway Mowat syndrome
    Galloway Mowat syndrome is a rare genetic disorder found to on autosomal recessive genes. There are many varieties of Galloway Mowat syndrome. It is also known as Hiatal Hernia ? Microcephaly ? Neprhosis, Galloway Type; Microcephaly-Hiatal Hernia-Nephrosis, Galloway Type; Nephrosis-Microcephaly Syndrome; Nephrosis-Neuronal Dysmigration Syndrome; and Microcephaly-Hiatal Hernia-Nephrotic Syndrome. This disease is characterized by the onset of nephritic syndrome and central nervous system anomalies at an early age. [read more]

  • gelineau disease
    Gelineau disease, otherwise called narcolepsy, is a neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS. The patient may experience disturbed sleep, which might be mistaken for insomnia or other rapid-eye movement (REM) disorders. [read more]

  • German Syndrome
    German Syndrome is a rare disorder affected by fetal exposure to trimethadione or the anticonvulsant drug which results in different kinds of physical and developmental abnormalities. It is found among infants who were born to epileptic mothers that are being treated with trimethadione for seizures during their pregnancy period. This is also known as Fetal Trimethadione Syndrome. [read more]

  • Gerstmann Syndrome
    A neurological disorder differentiate by four symptoms: inability to write, inability to calculate, an inability to make distinction between right from left, and the inability to identify fingers. This illness can sometimes be confused with Gerstmann-Str? ussler-Scheinker disease, which is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. [read more]

  • Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Syndrome
    Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is a rare, deadly neurodegenerative disease that affects people between ages 20 and 60. GSS is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). [read more]

  • Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome
    Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome is one of the tic disorders, characterized by numerous physical tics, and at least one vocal tic. It is hereditary neuropsychiatric condition, which begins in early childhood. [read more]

  • Glaucoma
    Glaucoma is a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. Although intraocular pressure has a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma, there is no set threshold for intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma. [read more]

  • Glioblastoma multiforme
    Glioblastoma multiforme is the highest grade brain tumor, and is also the most aggressive and most common type. It is also the most malignant form of gliomas characterized by star-shaped cells, called astrocystoma tumors. [read more]

  • Gliomatosis cerebri
    Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare type of brain cancer. It is different from most brain cancers because the cancer causes a tumor, or a lump of the cancer cells. In gliomatosis cerebri, the cancer does not form a mass but forms threads of cancer cells that scatter around the brain. [read more]

  • Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
    Glutaryl-Coa dehydrogenase deficiency, also known as Glutaric aciduria type 1 or Glutaric aciduria, is a hereditary disease characterized by the body's disability to completely metabolize lysine, tryptophan, and hydroxysiline, which are amino acids. This results in byproducts of the breakdown, including glutaryl-CoA, glutaric acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, and glutaconic acid, and the accumulation of these can harm the brain. [read more]

  • Gonococcal Conjunctivitis
    Gonococcal conjunctivitis is a sexually-transmitted ocular disease. It is a very rare eye infection in adults and is most commonly seen in infants by mothers who are suffering gonorrhea. [read more]

  • Grand Mal Seizure
    A grand mal seizure (also called tonic-clonic seizure) features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. This is the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general. [read more]

  • Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis
    Granulomatous amebic encephalitis is a disease that affects the central nervous system. It is brought about by a certain specie of amoeba called Balamuthia mandrillaris. [read more]

  • Graves' disease
    Graves' disease, the most common type of hyperthyroidism, is a condition wherein the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to overproduce thyroxine. [read more]

  • Greenberg Dysplasia
    Greenberg dysplasia, also known as hydrops-ectopic calcification-moth-eaten skeletal dysplasia is a rare lethal skeletal dysplasia. [read more]

  • Halitosis
    Halitosis, oral malodor (scientific term), breath odor, foul breath, fetor oris, fetor ex ore, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing ? whether the smell is from an oral source or not. [read more]

  • Hallermann Streff Syndrome
    Hallerman-Streiff syndrome is a genetic defect characterized by malformations in the craniofacial area, ocular abnormalities, dental deformities, skin atrophy and short stature. [read more]

  • Hallervorden-Spatz Disease
    Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a degenerative disease affecting the brain. The condition can lead to parkinsonism. Cases may be familial or occur sporadically. Neurodegeneration and excess iron in the brain also occur. [read more]

  • Hallucination
    Hallucination is the term used to describe false perceptions towards one's senses; a person who hallucinates behaves in response to the things he sees and/or hears despite the fact that the things he perceives are not actually there. [read more]

  • Hallux Valgus
    Hallux valgus, also known as bunions, is a condition characterized by a structural deformity in the bone as well as the joint between the big toe and foot. This is a typically painful condition. The big toe may turn facing the second toe, a condition called displacement. The tissue around the joint area is tender and swollen. [read more]

  • Hand Wringing Rett Syndrome
    Hand writing Rett syndrome, or more commonly known as Rett syndrome, is a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. [read more]

  • Hand-Schuller-Christian Disease
    Hand-Schuller-Christian disease is a condition which lipids accumulate in the body and manifest as histiocytic granuloma in bones, particularly in the skull, the skin and viscera and which is often accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. [read more]

  • Hantavirosis
    Hantavirosis is a term that describes an infection from the Bunyaviridae virus family which is transmitted from rodents. The condition occurs in China, Russia, Korean Peninsula, northern and western Europe, Brazil, Chile, United States, Panama, Canada, and Patagonian Argentina. [read more]

  • HARD Syndrome
    HARD syndrome, also known as Walker-Warburg syndrome, is a congenital muscular dystrophy related to eye and brain abnormalities. Around 30 different muscular disorders are classified under the HARD syndrome. [read more]

  • Headache, Spinal
    During a spinal tap, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn from the spinal canal. During spinal anesthesia, medication is injected into the spinal canal to numb the nerves in the lower half of the body. If spinal fluid leaks through the tiny puncture site, a spinal headache may develop. [read more]

  • Heavy Metal Poisoning
    Heavy metal poisoning is poisoning through ingestion of heavy metals such as common transition metal such as copper, lead and zinc. These metals are a cause of environmental pollution (A Dictionary of Chemistry. Oxford University Press, 2000. Oxford Reference Online.Oxford University Press). [read more]

  • Hemangioblastoma
    Hemangioblastoma is a disease of the central nervous system characterized by benign brain tumors, usually occurring in the cerebellum. The tumors represent cysts, and contain small solid nodules inside. The small nodules contain abnormal blood vessels in a tangle. Hemangioblastomas are most commonly occurring in those ranging from 35 to 45 years old. [read more]

  • Hemangioendothelioma
    Hemangioendothelioma refers to a group of vascular neoplasms that may be either benign or malignant. Around 10% of cases are associated with other syndromes including lymphedema, early onset varicose veins, Mafucci's syndrome, and Klippel-Trenauay-Weber syndrome. There are 3 types of hemangioendotheliomas: retiform, epitheloid, and kaposiform. [read more]

  • Hemianopia
    Hemianopia, or hemianopsia, refers to a partial vision loss in the eyes. It has three types: binasal, bitemporal, and homonymous hemianopia. [read more]

  • Hemifacial Microsomia
    Hemifacial microsomia is a congenital disease wherein the lower half of the face is undeveloped. The parts most commonly affected are the mandible, ears, and mouth, and can affect either one side of the face or both. Hemifacial microsomia may lead to complications in breathing, as it may obstruct the trachea. [read more]

  • Hemimegalencephaly
    Hemimegalencephaly otherwise known as unilateral megancephaly is a medical condition that is characterized by the enlargement or abnormal growth of one-half of the brain. [read more]

  • Hemiplegia
    Hemiplegia is a medical condition where there is paralysis of the other half of the patient's body. This is in contrast to hemiparesis where the other half of the body is just merely weakened but not paralyzed. [read more]

  • Hemoglobinopathy
    Hemoglobinopathy is a type of genetic defect that results from abnormal and not well defined structure of the globin chains of the hemoglobin molecule in the body. It usually includes sickle Disease and Thalassemia. [read more]

  • Hendra Virus
    Hendra virus is a strain of virus under the Paramyxoviridae family. It was first described in 1994 during an outbreak of neurological and respiratory disease in humans and horses in the Hendra suburb of Brisbane, Australia. [read more]

  • Hepatic Encephalopathy
    Hepatic encephlopathy is a neuropsychological disorder causing chronic or acute liver failure. The liver failure results in an accumulation of toxic substances in the blood and would affect the brain cells, which healthy livers normally remove. Impairment of mental functioning is the main characteristic of hepatic encephalopathy. [read more]

  • Hereditary amyloidosis
    In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a group of conditions in which amyloid proteins are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues, causing disease. A protein is amyloid if, because of an alteration in its secondary structure, it takes on a particular insoluble form, called the beta-pleated sheet. [read more]

  • Hereditary ceroid lipofuscinosis
    Hereditary ceroid lipofuscinosis (also known as Batten Disease or NCL) is a fatal, inherited disorder of the nervous system that starts in childhood. In some cases, the early signs are subtle, taking the form of personality and behavior changes, clumsiness, slow learning, or stumbling. [read more]

  • Hereditary deafness
    Hereditary deafness is hearing loss that is passed down from parents to their children. This type of hearing loss may be inherited from one or both parents who may or may not possess a loss of hearing themselves. [read more]

  • Hernia, Umbilical
    Umbilical hernia is a congenital malformation, particularly common in infants of African descent, and more frequent in boys. [read more]

  • Herniated Disc
    The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs. These discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and maintain the spine flexible. [read more]

  • Herpes of the Eye
    Herpes of the eye, or dendritic keratitis, is an eye infection caused by the herpes zoster virus. [read more]

  • Herpes simplex disease
    Herpes simplex is commonly known as as cold sores. It is a viral infection of the skin that arises once or return again and again. This is because when the virus is cleared from the skin by the immune system it hides in the nerves and is never wholly removed from the body. Herpes infections are very prevalent. Unfortunately those who carry the herpes virus can spread the disease without even knowing it. [read more]

  • Herpes simplex encephalitis
    Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a very serious disorder and one of the most severe viral infections affecting the human central nervous system. [read more]

  • Hiccups
    A hiccup (hiccough) is a spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm that typically repeats several times per minute. In medicine, it is referred to as synchronous diaphramatic flutter (SDF). [read more]

  • High Altitude Cerebral Edema
    High altitude cerebral edema, also known as ?altitude sickness of mountaineers?, is a medical condition experienced when traveling to high altitudes. Because of the lack of oxygen in high elevations, some people experience hypoxia, extreme headache and weakness. [read more]

  • High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
    High altitude pulmonary edema is another form of altitude sickness this time affecting the lungs. Unlike high altitude cerebral edema, pulmonary edema refers to hypoxia itself, as oxygen can no longer be processed by the lungs. [read more]

  • Histoplasmosis
    Histoplasmosis, also called Darling's disease, is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease mostly affects the lungs. [read more]

  • Histrionic Personality Disorder
    Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a personality disorder marked by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including an excessive need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness, usually beginning in early adulthood. [read more]

  • Hives
    Hives are also medically known as urticaria. It is characterized by batches of raised, reddish or whitish itchy welts that form in various sizes. Normally, the hives go away for a few weeks or even less but have the tendency to recur frequently. In most cases of chronic hives, a cause is never clearly identified. In some cases, the condition may be related to an underlying autoimmune disorder ? when your body becomes allergic to itself. Chronic hives can also be linked to other health problems such as thyroid disease or lupus. While the underlying cause of chronic hives is usually not identified, treatment can help with symptoms. For many people, a combination of antihistamine medications provides the best relief. [read more]

  • Holoprosencephaly
    Holoprosencephaly is a disorder caused by the failure of the prosencephalon (the embryonic forebrain) to adequately divide into the double lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. This results in a single-lobed brain structure and severe skull and facial defects. In majority of cases of holoprosencephaly, the malformations are so severe that babies die before birth. In less severe cases, babies are born with normal or near-normal brain development and facial deformities that may affect the noce, eyes, and upper lip. [read more]

  • Homocystinuria
    Homocystinuria is an inherited disorder in which the body cannot process certain building blocks of proteins (amino acids) properly. [read more]

  • Hordelum
    A sty (hordeolum) is a red, painful lump on the edge or inside of the eyelid that may look like a boil or a pimple. Often a sty is filled with pus. As it swells in size, the sty may make it difficult for the person to see clearly because he can't fully open his eye. [read more]

  • Horner's syndrome
    Horner's syndrome is a clinical syndrome resulting from damage to the sympathetic nervous system. It is also known as Bernard-Horner syndrome or oculosympathetic palsy. [read more]

  • Hydranencephaly
    Hydranencephaly is a rare condition in which the brain's cerebral hemispheres are missing and replaced by sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid. [read more]

  • Hydrocephalus
    Hydrocephalus is a term derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water, and "cephalus" meaning head, and this condition is sometimes known as "water in the brain". People with this condition have abnormal collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. [read more]

  • Hydrocephalus In Children
    Hydrocephalus is a serious increase of cerebrospinal fluid inside the ventricles of the brain. This is a common dreaded disease among infants that can lead to brain damage. [read more]

  • Hyperammonemia
    Hyperammonemia, also known as hyperammonaemia, is a type of metabolic defect marked by high levels of ammonia in the blood. Hyperammonemia can be a fatal condition which can easily lead to encephalopathy and eventual death. [read more]

  • Hyperemesis Gravidarum
    Hyperemesis gravidarum is a process of involuntary vomiting during pregnancy. This condition usually leads to ketosis and dehydration. The disorder can also contribute to other major complications such as centrilobular necrosis, Wernicke's encephalopathy, widespread fat degeneration and esophageal rupture. [read more]

  • Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome
    Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome or HHNS is a condition where the blood sugar is released through frequent urination. Too much urination leads to dehydration, if one does not drink sufficient fluids. Dehydration may lead to seizures and eventually, death. [read more]

  • Hyperopia
    Farsightedness (also known as hyperopia) is a common vision condition in which one can see objects in the distance clearly, but objects nearby may be blurry. [read more]

  • Hyperparathyroidism
    Hyperparathyroidism is a condition characterized by an over activity of the parathyroid glands, often caused by an overproduction of the parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH regulates and helps maintain the levels of calcium and phosphate in the body. When one or more of the parathyroid glands becomes over-active, calcium levels are elevated while phosphate levels drop. [read more]

  • Hyperprolactinaemia
    Hyperprolactinemia (AmE), also known as Hyperprolactinaemia (BrE), is characterized by increased levels of proclatin in the blood. Normal proclatin levels in women are less than 580 mIU/L, whereas 450 mIU/L is normal for men. [read more]

  • Hypertensive Retinopathy
    Hypertensive retinopathy is characterized by retinal damage that results from hypetension or high blood pressure. [read more]

  • Hyperventilation
    Hyperventilation is a condition in which the air passageways narrow due to excessive inhalation of oxygen. This commonly occurs during asthma attacks. [read more]

  • Hyphema
    Hyphema is a condition wherein blood is accumulated inside the anterior chamber of the eye. [read more]

  • Hypophosphatasia
    Hypophosphatasia is a rare inherited metabolic disease of decreased tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) and defective bone mineralization. Both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant varieties of the disease exist. The disease comes in one to five forms, perinatal, infantile, childhood, adult, and odontohypophosphatasia. [read more]

  • Hypopituitarism
    Hypopituitarism is a disorder characterized by a deficiency in one or several hormones of the pituitary gland. Hormones are produced by the hypothalamus to regulate secretions from the pituitary gland. This is why a dysfunction in the hypothalamus often causes disorders in the pituitary gland. [read more]

  • Hypothalamic Dysfunction
    Hypothalamic dysfunction is a condition that involves the hypothalamus, a region in the brain that helps control the pituitary glands especially in responding to stress. The hypothalamus gland helps in the regulation if appetite and weight, balance of salt and water in the body, body temperature as well as emotions. Childbirth, growth, sleep and milk production are also regulated by the hypothalamus. The thyroid, ovaries, adrenal glands and testes are all controlled in turn by the pituitary gland. [read more]

  • Hypothalamic hamartoblastoma syndrome
    Hypothalamic hamartoblastoma syndrome, also known as Pallister-Hall syndrome syndrome, is a disease characterized by an abnormal growth in the brain known as hypothalamic hamartoma. Hypothalamic hamartoblastoma syndrome affects many parts of the body but does not pose serious complications most of the time. While the growths often do not cause any health problems they sometime lead to seizures and other life-threatening conditions. Some individuals with this disease have an obstruction in their anal opening, malformation of their airways and even kidney abnormalities. [read more]

  • Hypothermia
    Hypothermia is a condition wherein the temperature of an organism drops below the level required for proper metabolism and bodily functions. The core body temperature of warm-blooded animals like humans are always maintained near a constant level. Hypothermia occurs when the body is subjected to very cold conditions that leads to inability of the body to replenish the heat lost. [read more]

  • hypothyroidism
    Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by insufficient production of the thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. [read more]

  • Hypotrichosis
    Hypotrichosis is a condition characterized by having a less than normal amount of hair on the head or body. Hypotrichosis is often confused with alopecia, or hair loss. In hypotrichosis as opposes to alopecia, there was never any hair in the first place. In hypotrichosis, the affected area is bald and remains bald for the rest of the life of the patient. There are three types of hypotrichosis, these are: 1.aplasia cutis congenita, a developmental disorder of unknown origin; 2.triangular alopecia, similar condition to aplasia cutis congenita but is distinguished by the identifying triangular patch in the head; 3.congenital atrichia, a congenital disorder where sometimes an individuals is born with a healthy head of hair but loses it at some point in his or her life. [read more]

  • Icu Psychosis
    ICU psychosis is a mental illness suffered by a person who has experienced traumas while undergoing treatment at a hospital's intensive care unit (ICU). This illness is characterized by delusions, hallucinations and short-term memory loss. [read more]

  • Idiopathic Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia
    Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia is a form of eosinophilic pneumonia wherein the cause is undetermined. Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia is a condition in which eosinophil a certain type of white blood cell, accumulates in the lung. Eosinophil cause disruption of the alveoli (air spaces). There are two forms of idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia: acute eosinophilic pneumonia and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. [read more]

  • Incontinentia Pigmenti
    Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) is a genetic disorder that affects the skin, hair, nails and teeth. It is also called Bloch Sulzberger syndrome, Bloch Siemens syndrome, melanoblastosis cutis and naevus pigmentosus systematicus. [read more]

  • Indigestion
    The condition is also referred to as an upset stomach where in an individual feels a discomfort in the upper abdomen. It is also a group of symptoms that usually includes nausea, heartburn, bloating and belching. [read more]

  • Infertility
    Infertility means not being able to become pregnant after a year of trying. If a woman keeps on having miscarriages, it is also called infertility. Several couples have infertility problems. For the third of the time, infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third case, it is because of the man. While the rest of the time, it is because of either partners or no cause is found. [read more]

  • Inflammatory breast cancer
    Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that progresses rapidly, making the affected breast red, swollen and tender. It's a locally advanced cancer, which means it has spread from its point of origin to nearby tissue and possibly to nearby lymph nodes. [read more]

  • Intracranial Hypotension
    Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is probably an under diagnosed cause of headache, even though it is estimated to affect only about one in 50,000 individuals. [read more]

  • Intraductal Carcinoma
    Intraductal carcinoma, or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), is when abnormal cells multiply and form a growth within a milk duct of your breast. [read more]

  • Iritis
    Iritis is a medical condition that refers to the inflammation of the iris of the eye; it is considered as a form of anterior uveitis. Two types of Iritis are chronic and acute Iritis. Acute Iritis has the capability to heal by itself while Chronic Iritis does not easily respond to treatment, lasting for months or years and comes with a high risk for serious visual damage. [read more]

  • Irritable Bladder
    Irritable bladder, or overactive bladder, is a problem with bladder function resulting in a sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to suppress. It may also result to incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine. [read more]

  • Japanese Encephalitis
    Japanese Encephalitis is a medical ailment caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. The mosquito Culex tritaeniorhynchus is the most significant carrier of the disease. Incidents of acquiring the disease are most common in Southeast Asian countries and the Far Eastern countries. [read more]

  • Japanese Encephalitis
    It is a serious viral disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes in the agricultural areas of Asia. The virus infection affects the central nervous system and can lead to serious problems and even death. [read more]

  • Johnson Munson Syndrome
    The Johnson Munson syndrome or aphalangy, urogenital-intestinal and hemivertibrae dysgenesis is a very rare syndrome which has been observed in only three siblings. It is associated with aplisia of the phalanges of the feet and hands or hypoplasia; hermivertibrea, and several other intestinal and/or urogenital defects. Intrafamiliar variability is highly important as one of the three siblings (a sister) had fatal defects (pulmonary hypoplasia and Potter syndrome). The other brother who was also sick with the syndrome was in great health and he had a normal development of his psychomotor skills at the sixth month of age. [read more]

  • Joubert Syndrome
    Joubert syndrome is a genetic disorder that is very rare. This disorder affects the brain areas which control coordination and balance. It was first identified by a pediatric neurologist named Marie Joubert from Montreal in Canada. The physician was then working with McGill Neurological Institute. [read more]

  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis
    Juvenile dermatomyositis or JDM is an autoimmune disorder which causes vasculitis manifesting itself among children; and it is a pediatric equivalent of dermatomyositis. JDM manifests vasculitis an inflammation which is caused by the attack of the body's immune system to the blood vessels. In the US, the rate of occurrence of JDM is estimated to be 3 in every 1,000,000 children annually. This is about 300 to 500 fresh cases every year or about 3,000 to 5,000 children. Other types of juvenile myositis include juvenile inclusion-body myositis (JIBM) and juvenile polymyositis (JPM). These two other types are very rare and are not that as common among children. The underlying cause of Juvenile dermatomyositis is still unknown. It is most probable that it has a genetic component such as other autoimmune diseases (inherited within the family). The most common triggering factors include infections, immunizations, sunburn and injuries. [read more]

  • Kallman Syndrome with Spastic Paraplegia
    Kallman syndrome, by itself, is a type of hypogonadism (which is a decrease in the function of the sex glands that produce hormones). This is caused by a lack of GnRH hormone (the one that releases gonadotropin). The term Spastic paraplegia with Kallman syndrome has not been discussed in the previous years. This is a very rare genetic disease which is characterized chiefly by lower leg weakness and mild spasticity. Other signs include lack of production of the sex hormones and also the inability to smell odors. [read more]

  • Kaolin Pneumoconiosis
    Kaolin is processed by, first, removing it from seams that are underground in an area of mining. The process involves slicing, drying, and pulverizing to make a finished product. A study was done to know the concentration of kaolin dust in different areas of work. The study was also set up to be able to assess the occurrence of pulmonary and radiographic function defects among workers. There were 65 subjects from the Georgia kaolin mines. It was noted that the respirable concentrations of kaolin dust were at their peak in the areas where the product was being processed as compared to the mine or areas of maintenance. The study ran through 1977 until 1981. The kaolin dust level that is was respirable in the processing are in the year 1981 was at 1.74 milligrams/m3 and 0.14 milligrams/m3 in the area of mining. 5 of the workers from the processing area had evidences, confirmed by radiography, of kaolin pneumoconiosis. The FVC or the forced vital capacity and FEV1 mean values for the entire group were observed to be in the normal range. When the spirometric quantities were stated as a percentage or portion of the values that were predicted, the FEV1 and FVC were noticeably lower among workers with kaolinosis than among workers from within the processing area. Both the FEV1 and the FVC have declined considerably as the years progress and the worker remains working in the processing area. The FEV1/FVC%, on the other hand, was not changed significantly by either the kaolinosis presence or by the increase in work years. This indicates that the defect was confined and thus very likely to be a result of inhalation of the kaolin dust as compared to smoking. [read more]

  • Kartagener Syndrome
    Kartagener syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder, which causes the cilia (tiny, hair-like structures) to be faulty or defective; thus prevent it from functioning properly. The cilia line the respiratory tract and fallopian tubes. It acts as the sweeper by brushing off all inhaled particles of dust, smoke, and other microbes out of the respiratory tract. Essentially, if the cilia are not functioning well, mucus and other inhaled germs will remain in the lungs, allowing the development of recurring infections in the lungs. [read more]

  • Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome
    Kaufman Oculocerebrofacial syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder. This rare genetic medical condition is characterized by some abnormal looking facial features including small head, narrow face, eye anomalies, small mandible, upslanting palpebral fissure (the distance between the upper and lower eyelids), highly arched palates, and preauricular skin tags. Severely inflicted people show very obvious facial features of a mentally retarded person. [read more]

  • Kawasaki Syndrome
    Kawasaki Syndrome is a medical condition with unknown cause that results in inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels (vasculitis) and primarily affects young children. [read more]

  • Kearns-Sayre Syndrome
    Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder of a genetic origin. However, it is different from other mitochondrial disorders because it occurs periodically and not maternally inherited. Onset of the disorder usually occurs before the person reaches the age of 20. [read more]

  • Keratoconus
    A rare degenerative disorder marked by a progressive thinning and cone-shape appearance of the cornea of the eyes; it is categorized as a non-inflammatory eye ailment. It is considered as the most usual type of corneal dystrophy in the US. [read more]

  • Keratolysis, Pitted
    A skin condition affecting the soles of the feet and, less commonly, the palm of the hands is called pitted keratolysis, which is caused by a bacterial infection of the skin and may give off an unpleasant odor. [read more]

  • King-Denborough syndrome
    King-Denborough Syndrome is the termed used for the combination of the particular characteristics of people with malignant hyperthermia. King-Denborough syndrome is a usually inherited reaction to exposure to general anesthesia and its component drug like volatile anesthetics. It is a rare life-threatening condition. Malignant hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant disorder that is usually inherited. It is genetically related to Central Core Disease (CCD), another autosomal dominant disorder that is remarkable by MH symptoms and neuromuscular disease that leads to muscle weakness. Exposure to drugs of this kind can lead to circulatory collapse and worse, death if left untreated. [read more]

  • Kleptomania
    Kleptomania is an inability or great difficulty in resisting impulses of stealing. Kleptomania is recognized from shoplifting or ordinary theft, as shoplifters and thieves generally steal for monetary value, or associated gains and usually display intent or premeditation, while people with kleptomania are not necessarily contemplating the value of the items they steal or even the theft until they are compelled. [read more]

  • Korsakoff's Syndrome
    Korsakoff's syndrome is a degenerative disease of the brain, which is caused by deficit amounts of thiamine (Vitamin B1) present in the brain. The syndrome's name was derived from the name of the neuropsychiatrist who made this theory popular, Sergei Korsakoff. This disease is also known as Korsakoff's psychosis and amnesic confabulatory syndrome. [read more]

  • Krause-Kivlin syndrome
    Krause-van Schooneveld-Kivlin syndrome (also known as Peters-plus sundrome) is a hereditary syndrome that primarily affects the eyes, growth and development of the individual. It is also called Krause-Kivlin syndrome or Peters-plus syndrome. [read more]

  • Kuru
    Kuru is a brain disease that became an endemic in Papua New Guinea. It is also called ?laughing sickness? due to the hallucinations the patients suffer due to the disease. [read more]

  • Labrador Lung
    Labrador Lung is kind of Pneumoconiosis. This medical condition is an occupational lung disease; a disease that is related to work associated exposures to various harmful elements. Labrador lung is primarily caused by inhalation of dust mixed with silica and other inorganic compounds like iron. The accumulated dusts are deposited in the lung; wherein it can create future health problems which may tend not to be non-existent for an extensive period of time. [read more]

  • Lactase Deficiency
    Lactose intolerance, also called lactase deficiency, means the person isn't able to fully digest the milk sugar (lactose) in dairy products. It's not usually dangerous, but symptoms of lactose intolerance can be uncomfortable enough to steer the person clear of the dairy aisles. [read more]

  • Landau-Kleffner syndrome
    Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a rare, childhood neurological syndrome marked by the abrupt or slowly development of inability to understand or express language (aphasia) and an abnormal electroencephalogram or EEG. This is because the syndrome affects the part of the brain that is responsible for comprehension and speech control. Usually, this syndrome affects children aged 5 to 7 years old. This syndrome is also known as: infantile acquired aphasia, aphasia with convulsive disorder, and acquired epileptic aphasia. [read more]

  • Langer-Giedion syndrome
    Langer-Giedion syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder that occurs when a chrosomal material is deleted. This syndrome is also known as trichorhinophalangeal syndrome or LGCR (for Langer-Giedion Chromosome Region). This medical condition is named after the two doctors dig into research about this condition during the 1960s. [read more]

  • Laparoschisis
    Laparoschisis, also known as gastroschisis is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal opening in the abdomen causing some of the abdominal contents to develop outside the fetal abdomen. Laparoschisis is also known by other medical names: abdominoschisis and paraomphalocele. This occurrence happens more on male infants compared to incidents reported on female infants. [read more]

  • Laryngeal Carcinoma
    Laryngeal carcinoma is cancer of the laryngeal area. It is also referred to as cancer of the larynx or laryngeal cancer. Usually, laryngeal carcinomas are squamous cell carcinomas that come from the squamous cells that form a large part of the laryngeal cavity. [read more]

  • Laryngitis
    Laryngitis is the medical term for inflammation and swelling of the larynx, which is also known as the voice box. A lot of the causes of laryngitis, such as common viruses or using your voice too much, are not serious. there are few causes, however, require medical attention. [read more]

  • Laryngomalacia
    Laryngomalacia is a medical condition wherein the larynx is extremely soft enough to cause breathing difficulties and also can initiate voice quality negative effects. Because the larynx is very soft, it tends to collapse during inhalation causing blockage to the airway passage. Laryngomalacia is literally referred to as soft larynx. The condition is most common to occur in infants; however, it can also occur in older patients essentially those who have neuromuscular problems that are possible to develop weakness of the throat muscles. [read more]

  • Lassa Fever
    Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever named after the town in Lassa, Nigeria. The disease was first described in 1969 and is widespread in West African nations. [read more]

  • Leber's Disease
    Leber's Disease, medically referred to as Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), is a disease in which retinal ganglion cells degenerate causing loss of central vision. This disease occurs only on males. [read more]

  • Leigh disease
    Leigh disease, or Subacute Necrotizing Encephalomyelopathy (SNEM), is a rare disorder affecting the central nervous system. [read more]

  • Lemierre's syndrome
    Lemierre's syndrome is a rare bacterial disease that usually targets young adults. It brings about an inflammation of the internal jugular vein. A blood clot also develops in the said area during the onset of the disease. It was first described by Andre Lemierre in 1936, and the disease has produced about 160 cases for the past 100 years. [read more]

  • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
    The Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or LGS is a kind of epilepsy that usually occurs in children two to six years of age. It is oftentimes coupled with behavior problems and eventual mental retardation. [read more]

  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
    The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder which is transmitted by the mother to her male offspring. Patients with the disease suffer from sever mental and physical disabilities as well as self-mutilating behaviors all throughout life. [read more]

  • Lewy Body Dementia
    Lewy body dementia is characterized as a gradually progressive disorder that primarily affects the brain. This comes with the loss of reason, memory as well as the ability to think. In most cases, Lewy body dementia shares the many characteristics of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. [read more]

  • Lewy Body Disease
    Lewy body dementia shares characteristics with both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It can also cause distinctive physical signs typical of Parkinson's rigid muscles, slowed movement and tremors. Lewy body dementia may also cause hallucinations. [read more]

  • Lissencephaly
    Lissencephaly is brain development disorder in which the brain lacks its normal folds or convultions. It is a kind of cephalic disorder. [read more]

  • Lissencephaly Syndrome Type 1
    Literally meaning ?smooth brain?, lissencephaly is a rare brain abnormality characterized by a lack of normal convolutions (or folds) in the brain. In lissencephaly syndrome type 1, the cerebral cortex is not normally developed, and the gyri are malformed. [read more]

  • Listeria Infection
    Listeria infection, also referred to as listeriosis, is a relatively rare bacterial infection that results from Listeria monocytogenes, a type of gram-positive motile bacterium. Listeria infection commonly affects newborn infants, elderly patients, and individuals with immuno deficiencies. [read more]

  • Louping Ill
    It is described as a viral infection that can affect a number of species but it most significant in sheep. The tick-borne disease can be mild or severe that can cause serious neurological symptoms and even death. [read more]

  • lung Abscess
    Lung abscess pertains to an acute lung infection characterized by a localized accumulation of pus, inflammation, and tissue damage. [read more]

  • Lymphadenitis
    Lymphadenitis is the inflammation of a lymph node in the body. It is often a complication of a bacterial infection of a wound, although it can also be brought about by viruses or other disease agents. [read more]

  • Lymphedema Choriomeningitis
    Lymphedema choriomeningitis - or, more accurately, lymphocytic choriomeningitis - pertains to an infectious disease caused by a rodent-borne virus. Alternative names for this disorder are: lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, benign lymphocytic meningitis, la Maladie d'Armstrong, or serous lymphocytic meningitis. [read more]

  • Machado-Joseph Disease
    Machado-Joseph Disease pertains to a rare type of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia characterized by ophthalmoplegia, mixed sensory and cerebellar ataxia, and general lack of muscle control. It is also alternatively known as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. [read more]

  • Macular Hole
    Macular hole is a medical condition affecting the center of the retina in which the vitreous gel inside the eye weakens and eventually separates from the retina, leading to macular traction and causing a hole to form. [read more]

  • Mad Cow Disease
    Mad Cow Disease, otherwise known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a neurodegenerative diseases in cattle that cause a spongy degeneration in the brain and in the spinal cord. [read more]

  • Malabsorption
    Malabsorption is a condition characterized by impaired absorption of nutrients from the GI tract, affecting the small intestine's ability to adequately absorb nutrients that are essential for the normal functioning of the body. [read more]

  • Malignant Hyperthermia
    Malignant hyperthermia is a rare life-threatening condition. It is triggered by exposure to most drugs used in general anesthesia. Vulnerability to malignant hyperthermia is most of the time inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder. It is genetically associated with Central Core Disease, which usually presents malignant hyperthermia manifestations and myopathy, described as a muscle suffering disorder. [read more]

  • Mansonelliasis
    Mansonelliasis, also known as Mansonellosis is the condition of infection by the nematode or worm-like parasite known as Mansonella. Transmission commonly occurs through the bite of a midge. These worms live in the abdominal cavity [read more]

  • Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome
    Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome is a rare disorder of mucopolysaccharide metabolism due to a deficiency of the enzyme aryl sulphatase B, the enzyme necessary to break down the complex sugar glycosaminoglycan (formerly referred to as mucopolysaccharide). This complex sugar needs to be recycled and replayed to carry out its normal function of providing structure to skin, bones, organs, and airways. It belongs to a group of uncommon inherited diseases categorized as lysosomal storage disorders. Other names for Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome are mucolopolysaccharidosis VI and MPS VI. [read more]

  • Marshall Syndrome
    Marshall syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. The condition can occur in both male and female. [read more]

  • Marshall-Smith Syndrome
    Marshall-Smith syndrome is a rare genetic disorder involving specific facial features, remarkable accelerated skeletal maturation, failure to grow and thrive, and breathing problems that are severe in nature. [read more]

  • Mastalgia
    Mastalgia is breast pain and is generally classified as either cyclical (linked with menstrual periods) or noncyclic. [read more]

  • Measles
    2Measles, which is also known as, Rubeola is a viral disease that has had a long history with medical accounts of it going as far back as 600 B.C. It was first clinically described in an Arabic book which significantly distinguished it from small pox. Measles is one of the great childhood killers, claiming the lives of more then 200 million children and adults in the last 150 years. The development of a vaccine has made the effectively checked the disease. [read more]

  • Meckel syndrome
    By definition Meckel syndrome is also known as Meckel-Gruber Syndrome, Gruber Syndrome, Dysencephalia Splanchnocystica and is an extremely rare and often lethal genetic disorder; it is so rare that estimates for rates of incidence is about .02 for every 10,000 births. The country of Finland has the most number of cases with the incidence as high as 1.1 per 10,000 births. [read more]

  • Medulloblastoma
    By definition, medulloblastoma is an extremely malignant primary brain tumor that comes from the cerebellum or posterior fossa of the human brain. It belongs to the family of tumors knows as cranial primitive neuroectodermal tumors or PNET. [read more]

  • Megalencephaly
    Megalencephaly is a form of cephalic disease characterized by an abnormally large, heavy, and malfunctioning brain. This disorder is also known as macrencephaly. [read more]

  • MELAS
    Characterized in 1984, MELAS is the abbreviation for Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes, which belongs to the family of mitochondrial cytopathies which include MERRF, and Leber's Hereditary Optic Atrophy. [read more]

  • Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome
    Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is an extremely rare neurological disorder that basically afflicts facial features [read more]

  • Meningitis
    Meningitis is one of the more common diseases which result from the inflammation of the protective membranes that the central nervous system, known collectively of course as the meninges from where it gets its name. [read more]

  • Meningoencephalocele
    By definition, Encephalocele is also sometimes known by the Latin name cranium bifidum and is a neural tube defect that is characterized by sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it. These sacs actually protrude outside through openings in the skull. [read more]

  • Merkel Cell Cancer
    Merkel cell cancer is a rare form of cancer characterized by a bluish-red or flesh-colored nodule on the skin, particularly on the face, head, or neck of affected patients. It is also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, and typically occurs in the elderly. [read more]

  • Microcephaly
    Microcephaly is a neurological disorder which results in an individual with a much smaller head circumference for individual's age and sex compared with the average head sizes. [read more]

  • Microencephaly
    Microencephaly is a condition characterized by an individual's small head and neurological problems. [read more]

  • Microphthalmia
    Microphthalmia means small eyes, which is a condition resulting from the absence of vitreous humor fluid causing the eyes' failure to enlarge. [read more]

  • Migraine
    Migraine comes form the Greek word hemicrania, which literally means "half (the) head." It is a neurological syndrome that causes various symptoms during an attack. [read more]

  • Migraine With Aura
    Migraine with Aura is a condition whereby the person experience unusual visual sensations during or before the attack of migrain. It is characterized by the appearance of blind spots and flashes of lights. [read more]

  • Moeschler Clarren syndrome
    Moeschler Clarren syndrome is also known as a congenital disorder affecting the development of the lower half of the face, most commonly the ears, the mouth and the mandible. The disease can either occur on one side of the face or both and sever cases can lead to difficulties in breathing, blocking the trachea. The condition may then require a tracheotomy. After clefts, Moeschler Clarren syndrome is the second most common facial birth defect with an incidence of 1 in 3500 to 4500. [read more]

  • Mold Allergy
    There are over a thousand identified types of mold found in the environment. However, only a few dozen are culprits in triggering an allergic reaction. Mold allergy is the hypersensitivity to exposure to certain types of mold, which can either thrive outdoor or indoor. [read more]

  • Mondini dysplasia
    Sometimes known as Mondini malformation, Mondini dysplasia is an abnormality in the inner ear that may cause hearing loss. It is said that a person with the disorder had an incomplete cochlea, meaning, it has two, one and one half, one or no turns at all in the cochlea. Normal cochleas have two and a half turns. [read more]

  • Morvan Disease
    Morvan disease is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle abnormalities, cramping, weakness, delirium and insomnia. There are only about 14 recorded cases of the disease throughout medical history. [read more]

  • Mouth Ulcer
    Mouth ulcer is a condition characterized by the appearance of an open sore inside the oral cavity. It is also alternatively known as oral ulcer. [read more]

  • Moyamoya disease
    In most parts of the world, except Japan, Moyamoya is considered an extremely rare disease. Characterized by progressive intracranial vascular stenoses of the circle of Willis, the condition may result to ischemic events as well as hemorrhagic events. It may also lead to irreversible blockage of the carotid arteries to the brain as they enter into the skull. [read more]

  • Mucopolysaccharidosis type 3
    Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type III or Sanfilippo syndrome can result from the deficiency of one of four enzymes that are necessary to degrade heparan sulfate. MPS III also has 3 subgroups namely A, B, C, and D. [read more]

  • Mucopolysaccharidosis type I
    Also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type I, Hurler syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in the deficiency of alpha-L iduronidase. It is an enzyme that breaks down mucopolysaccharidosis in the lyosomes. A buildup of heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate occurs in the bosy without said enzyme. Hurler syndrome is often classified as a lyosomal storage and is clinically related to Hunter's Syndrome. [read more]

  • Mulibrey nanism syndrome
    Mulibrey nanism is a genetic disease and is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by profound growth delays and distinctive abnormalities of the muscles, liver, brain, and eyes. The disorder can lead to dwarfism, which is another term for nanism. Mulibrey is an acronym that stands for (Mu)scle, (Li)ver, (Br)ain, and (Ey)e. [read more]

  • Multiple sclerosis
    Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory, and demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system. It also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis, which onset, usually occurs in young adults and more common among women. The disease was first described in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot. [read more]

  • Murray Valley Encephalitis
    Murray Valley encephalitis is a potentially fatal disease caused by Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), which can cause serious neurological repercussions when infecting humans. [read more]

  • Myalgic encephalomyelitis
    Also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a poorly understood and debilitating disorder of uncertain cause or causes. According to a 1999 study among adults in the United States, CFS is thought to affect approximately 4 per 100 adults, and commonly occurs among women ages 40s and 50s. [read more]

  • Mycobacterium Avium Complex
    Mycobacterium avium complex (or MAC) pertains to a group of genetically-related bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium which, in humans, can cause fatigue, fever, and weight loss. [read more]

  • Mycoplasmal Pneumonia
    Mycoplasmal pneumonia is a bacterial infection caused by a very small bacterium, in the class Mollicutes. Characteristically, these organisms are resistant to penicillin as well as in other beta-lactam antibiotics. The bacteria closely associated with this condition spread via transmission of respiratory droplets. When the bacteria get attached to the mucosa of a host organism, it will extract nutrients to grow. Its reproduction is by binary fission. The sites where it can commonly get attached include the upper and lower respiratory tract which results to bronchitis, pharyngitis and pneumonia. Atypical Pneumonia refers to the infection caused by this very small bacterium primarily due to its protracted course. Moreover, it is characterized by lack of sputum production and by multiple extra-pulmonary symptoms. Chronic mycoplasma infections had also been associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The severity of illnesses from mycoplasma is often defined as mild to moderate. [read more]

  • Myelofibrosis
    Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia is also referred to as Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia, Chronic Idiopathic Myelofibrosis, and Primary Myelofibrosis. This condition was initially described in 1879. At present, it is classified as myeloproliferative disease resulting from the growth and proliferation of an abnormal bone marrow stem cell. This is due to the bone marrow being replaced with fibrous connective tissue. Assmann's Disease or Heuck-Assmann Disease is an eponym for this condition. Mean survival for patients with this condition is 5 years. Usual causes of mortality are bleeding, infection, portal hypertension, organ failure and resulting leukemia. [read more]

  • Myeloma
    Myeloma is a kind of cancer of plasma cells which are immune system cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies. Myeloma is regarded as incurable, but remissions could be induced with steroids, chemotherapy, thalidomide and stem cell transplants. Myeloma is a part of the broad group of diseases called hematological malignancies. [read more]

  • Myoclonus
    Myoclonus is a medical symptom marked by a brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles, often caused by contractions of the muscle as a result of brief lapses in concentration. [read more]

  • Myoclonus Epilepsy
    Myoclonus epilepsy is a type of brain function disturbance characterized by epileptic seizures, muscle twitching or myoclonus, and other serious symptoms. [read more]

  • Myopathy, Myotubular
    Myotubular Myopathy is the most common form of Centronucleara myopathies, in which the cell nuclei are located at a position in the center of the skeletal muscle cells, instead of their normal location at the periphery. [read more]

  • Myopathy-Centronuclear
    Centronuclear myopathies (or CNM) are a group of rare congenital myopathies that occur when cell nuclei are abnormally located in the center of the skeletal muscle cells (whereas, normally, they are located in the periphery). A myopathy implies a disease of the muscle tissue itself ? myo is from the word muscle and pathos literally means disease. CNM is considered very rare, but its most commonly occurring form is Myotubular Myopathy (or MTM). [read more]

  • Myopia
    Myopia, more commonly called near or short-sightedness, is characterized by a refractive defect of the eye wherein collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina when accommodation is relaxed. [read more]

  • Myopia-Severe
    Severe myopia is a severe form of near- or short-sightedness that often result in retinal detachments and primary open-angle glaucoma. The most difficult form of this condition, severe myopia or high myopia, is classified with a degree or severity of -6.00 or more. This measurement is in diopters, which measure the strength of optical power of the corrective lens. [read more]

  • Myositis
    Myositis is a general medical term encompassing conditions with muscle inflammation. Most myositis disorders are caused by autoimmune factors, rather than directly due to infection. Basically, the muscle fibers become damaged by inflammation, thus interfering with muscle contraction and eventually causing muscle weakness. Some documented types of myositis include myositis ossificans, fibromyositis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathiesm, and pyomyositis. [read more]

  • Naegleria
    Naegleria pertains to a rare infection caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri which invades the brain, causing inflammation and destroying the brain tissue. [read more]

  • Narcolepsy
    Narcolepsy is a neurological condition wherein patients exhibit excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The word itself is derived from the French word narcolepsie. It was Jean-Baptiste-?douard G?lineau, a 19th century French physician, who first coined the term by combining the Greek words ?narke? (meaning numbness) and lepsis (meaning attack or seizure). [read more]

  • Nearsightedness
    Nearsightedness otherwise known as the myopia is a condition whereby the person can see clearly the objects near him clearly but not those which are far away which are usually blurred. [read more]

  • Neonatal Ophthalmitis
    Neonatal ophthalmitis pertains to a discharge of pus from the eye of a newborn infant. It is also alternatively known as opthalmia neonatorum. [read more]

  • Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome
    Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome pertains to a relatively common complication affecting prematurely born infants. Also called infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), hyaline membrane disease, or respiratory distress syndrome in infants, this condition is characterized by breathing difficulties. [read more]

  • neurocysticercosis
    Neurocysticercosis pertains to an infection of the central nervous system caused by the larva of a pork tapeworm known as Taenia solium. [read more]

  • Neurofibrillary Tangles
    Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within the neurons of patients identified as having Alzheimer's Disease. Hyperphosphorylation of a protein associated with a microtubule is the one responsible for the formation of these tangles; causing it to gather together and accumulate in an insoluble form. Along with Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Supranuclear Palsy are some of the disease that is proven to be having the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. It was Alois Alzheimer, who described neurofibrillary tangles in one of his patients who have Alzheimer's disease. These abnormal structures are found in various parts of the brain and known to be as one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease. [read more]

  • Neurogenic Bladder
    Neurogenic bladder is a disorder of the muscles and nerves of the urinary system. The nerves is unable to carry the message properly that cause abnormal urinary function. [read more]

  • Neurogenic bladder
    Neurogenic bladder is a disorder of the muscles and nerves of the urinary system. The nerves is unable to carry the message properly that cause abnormal urinary function. [read more]

  • Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome
    This condition is also known referred to as Multiple Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome, Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome or Gorlin Syndrome. This condition can be inherited. A person with this disease has multiple defects. Affected areas of the body include the skin, eyes and bones, nervous and endocrine systems. This condition had its very first definition in 1960. It is an autosomal dominant condition that causes unusual appearance of the face and a higher risk for cancer. 1 case per 56,000-164,000 population had been reported to have this condition. A child who had inherited the defective gene from either his mother or father will most likely have NBCCS. [read more]

  • Nicotine, Dependence
    Nicotine dependence is a condition where the person is vulnerable to a rather addicting chemical known as nicotine that is found in cigars and pipes. [read more]

  • Night Blindness
    Night blindness pertains to a difficulty or inability to see well at night or under poor light conditions. Also known as nyctalopia, night blidness is not a disorder in itself, but a symptom of an underlying problem such as untreated nearsightedness. [read more]

  • Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome
    Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome or NBS is also referred to as Berlin Breakage Syndrome and Seemanova Syndrome. This condition is a rare form of disease syndrome. It is mainly characterized by chromosomal instability. Probable reason could be as a result of an abnormality or clinical defect in the Double Holliday junction DNA repair mechanism. Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome is usually manifested by several distinctive characteristics. Major clinical presentation includes microcephaly, distinct appearance and expression of the face, shortness in stature, immunodeficiency and sensitivity to radiation. Patients who are diagnosed with NBS are found to have an increased risk of having lymphoid malignancy. The name, Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome, was derived from the Dutch city, Nijmegen which was where the first description of this disease had been established. Majority of the people afflicted with NBS have origins from the West Slavic. A significant percentage live in Poland. [read more]

  • Nocardiosis
    Nocardiosis is an infectious disease which affects the lungs or the whole body. Affectation of the lungs is termed as Pulmonary Nocardiosis while affectation of the entire body is referred to as Systemic Nocardiosis. Nocardiosis is caused primarily of an infection by bacterium of the genus Nocardia. The common forms are Nocardia asteroides and Nocardia brasiliensis. Men are more commonly affected particularly those whose immune systems are already compromised. Among patients afflicted with brain infection, rate of mortality goes beyond 80%. Among the other forms, mortality rate is at 50% even with therapy. [read more]

  • Non-ketotic Hyperglycinemia
    Non-ketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) more commonly known as Glycine encephalopathy is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. Clinical presentation shows abnormally high level of Glycine which is a form of amino acid. This works as a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger in the brain. Primary cause of non-ketotic hyperglycinemia is insufficient amounts of the enzyme which normally metabolizes the amino acid, glycine, in the body. Shortage or lack of this enzyme allows abnormally high levels of glycine to accumulate in the organs and tissues. Particularly affected is the brain which leads to complicated medical problems. [read more]

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD for brevity, is a medical condition where there is are presence of conditions involving the liver of the person who does not drink or just drink a little. Liver scarring and liver damaging inflammation are the result of a type of NAFLD which is called th e Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis or NASH. [read more]

  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
    Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a chronic increase of fluids in the brain due to dysfunctional glands that produce cerebrospinal fluids. [read more]

  • Norrie Disease
    Norrie Disease is a disorder that affects the eye often leading to blindness. Some patients suffer in hearing loss, while others may be mentally challenged. [read more]

  • Nut Hypersensitivity
    A mild or severe allergic reaction to nuts. [read more]

  • Nystagmus
    Nystagmus is involuntary eye movement that can be part of either the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) or a pathological process. It is characterized by alternating smooth pursuit in one direction and saccadic movement in other direction. [read more]

  • Occupational Asthma
    Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by specific working conditions that results in a limited airflow to the lungs or excessive response of the airway. [read more]

  • Ocular Albinism
    Ocular albinism is a condition in which the iris lacks melanin pigmentation. Persons with ocular albinism inherit their condition from parents. These patients however, retain their normal or near-normal skin and hair color. [read more]

  • Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome
    Ocular histoplasmosis syndrome pertains to an eye disease that causes vision loss due to the spread of fungal spores from the lungs to the eye, where they tend to lodge in a layer of blood vessels known as the choroids, which primarily supplies blood and nutrients to the retina. There, these spores cause the growth of fragile, abnormal blood vessels under the retina, consequently forming a lesion called choroidal neovascularization (CNV). [read more]

  • Ocular Melanoma
    Ocular Melanoma is a condition which occurs in the uvea or the vascular layer of the eye between the retina and the sclera or the white of the eye. It may occur in in the front part of the uvea or the iris and ciliary body or in the choroid layer or the back part of the uvea. [read more]

  • Oculocerebrorenal Syndrome
    Oculocerebrorenal syndrome is a congenital disorder wherein the affected individual has hydrophthalmia, cataracts, mental retardation, aminoaciduria, reduced renal ammonia production, and vitamin D-resistant rickets. It is also called Lowe syndrome. [read more]

  • Ohtahara Syndrome
    Ohtahara syndrome pertains to a neurological disorder characterized by epileptic seizures which affect newborn infants, usually within the first 3 months of life and more commonly within the first 10 days. [read more]

  • Onychomycosis
    Onychomycosis means fungal infection of the nail. It is the very common disease of the nails and constitutes about a half of all nail abnormalities. This condition can affect toe- or fingernails, but toenail infections are particularly common. The prevalence of onychomycosis is about 6-8% in the adult population. Onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes is also called as tinea unguium (tinea of the nails). [read more]

  • Open-Angle Glaucoma
    Open-angle glaucoma pertains to a relatively common, chronic, slowly progressing form of glaucoma that usually affects both eyes. Glaucoma pertains to a group of eye conditions characterized by damage to the nerve at the back of the eye, usually due to increased pressure within the eye, and ultimately resulting in vision loss. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common of all types of glaucoma, and tends to develop very slowly. The term ?open-angle? is used in reference to the relatively normal angle between the iris and the sclera; normal in contrast to other forms of glaucoma. [read more]

  • Ophthalmitis
    Ophthalmitis is a general term encompassing all types of eye inflammation. However, the term is more commonly used in the context of sympathetic ophthalmitis or neonatal ophthalmitis. [read more]

  • Opitz Syndrome
    The Opitz syndrome is a problematic developmental condition that involves various parts of the body. It is mainly characterized by bizarre facial features, abnormally small size of the head, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. [read more]

  • Opththalmoplegia
    Opththalmoplegia pertains an eye abnormality characterized by the paralysis of eye muscles. It may also be spelled alternatively as opththalmoplegia. [read more]

  • Optic Atrophy, Autosomal Dominant
    Optic atrophy, autosomal dominant is also called dominant optic atrophy, Kjer optic atrophy, or Kjer's autosomal dominant optic atrophy. It is a condition that affects the optic nerves of both eyes reducing a person's vision and may lead to blindness. [read more]

  • Optic Neuritis
    Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve, which may cause a complete or partial loss of vision. It is sometimes referred to as retrobulbar neuritis. [read more]

  • Osteoid Osteoma
    Osteoid Osteoma pertains to a type of benign bone tumor often appearing in the long bones of the lower extremities. It most commonly affects the thighbone or femur, although it can also affect the hand bones and sometimes the lower part of the spine. Osteoid Osteoma typically affects teenagers and young adults. [read more]

  • Pachygyria
    Pachygyria is defined as a congenital malformation affecting the cerebral hemisphere. This often results in the unusually thick convolutions that form in the patient's cerebral cortex. Typically, most children with this medical condition may also suffer from developmental delay as well as seizures [read more]

  • Pallister-Hall Syndrome
    Pallister-Hall syndrome is medical disorder that primarily affects the natural development of several parts of the body. Most people suffering this condition may have extra fingers on the toes and fingers as well as skin between the hands and feet. Other patients may suffer severe malformations. [read more]

  • Pancreatoblastoma
    Pancreatoblastoma is also known as the infantile form of pancreatic carcinoma. This medical condition is considered to be one of the extremely rare types of pancreatic tumor that typically develops during early childhood. In comparison to all other carcinomas, PB has been known to be less aggressive in infants as well as children than the cases found in adult. [read more]

  • Papilledema
    Papilledema is characterized as the swelling of the optic nerve. This is the point where the option nerve joins the eye, where the swelling causes a fluid pressure within the patient's skull or what is known as the intracranial pressure. This swelling can be due to an inflammatory illness or infection. [read more]

  • Papilloedema
    Papilloedema is a disease characterized by optic disc swelling, often as a result of increased intracranial pressure. The characteristic swelling frequently occurs bilaterally over a period of hours to weeks. Papilloedema is also alternatively spelled as papilledema. [read more]

  • Parainfluenza
    Parainfluenza viruses are paramyxoviruses, of which there are 4 distinct serotypes. Parainfluenza viruses are the second most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in young children. [read more]

  • Paraomphalocele
    Paraomphalocele is a medical condition that is characterized by a very rare birth anomaly involving a particular defect in the abdominal wall. This disorder causes the contents of the abdomen to be protruded, which typically occurs near the umbilical region. [read more]

  • Parry-Romberg Syndrome
    Parry-Romberg syndrome is also sometimes called Romberg syndrome. This is a rare and incurable craniofacial disorder. The characteristics of which is slow atrophy of the muscle under the skin covering usually half of the face area usually occuring to females between the age group from 5 to 15. [read more]

  • Patau Syndrome
    Patau syndrome is also called trisomy 13. This is an abnormality in the chromosome in which a person has an extra chromosome 13. This condition is often inherited by the sufferers. [read more]

  • Peanut Allergy
    Peanut allergy is identified as one of the most common form of food allergy and is often diagnosed during the first years of life. In most cases, children usually outgrow this condition as they grow older, while there are some who tend to develop serious reactions that require emergency medical attention. [read more]

  • Pectus Excavatum
    Pectus excavatum a Latin term meaning hollowed chest is the most common congenital deformity of the anterior wall of the chest, in which several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally. It produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It is often present at birth and progresses during the time of rapid bone growth in the early teenage years, but in rare cases does not appear until the onset of puberty. [read more]

  • Pemphigus
    Pemphigus is a medical condition used to describe a vesiculobullous disease affecting the skin and the mucous membranes which then causes vesicles or blisters, raw sores, and bullae. An autoimmune disease which is caused when the body's immune system mistook its own tissues to be a foreign tissue and destroys it. Antibodies attacking his very own cells are autoantibodies. The target of the autoantibodies in the pemphigus condition is the desmoglein which is a form of protein. Desmoglein is the "glue" attaching some epidermal cells adjacent to each other by the desmosomes. [read more]

  • Pemphigus Foliaceus
    Pemphigus Foliaceus is the least severe form of the three varieties of Pemphigus. In this case, the antibodies attack Desmoglein 1 protein which is only found in the upper layer of the skin which is usually a dry layer of the skin. Unlike pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus is not as painfull and often times misdiagnosed to be dermatitis or sometimes eczema. [read more]

  • Pemphigus Vulgaris
    The pemphigus vulgaris is the most common form of Pemphigus disorder. Pemphigus vulgaris results when the antibodies attack the Desmoglein 3. It causes sores originating in the mouth and making eating difficult and also uncomfortable for the sufferer. Commonly, it occurs to people who are between the ages of 40 and 60 although it can also affect other people not belonging to that age group. In rare cases though, it is linked with myasthenia gravis. [read more]

  • Pentalogy Of Cantrell
    Pentalogy of Cantrell is a very rare syndrome which causes defects in the diaphragm, heart and lower sternum, abdominal wall, and pericardium. The syndrome are characterized into five findings. This includes Omphalocele, Anterior diaphragmatic hernia, Sternal cleft, Ectopia cordis, and Intracardiac defect which involves a defective ventricular septal or a state called diverticulum of the left ventricle. It is characterized by a combination of very severe defects involving the middle of the chest which does not exclude the sternum, abdominal wall, diaphragm, and heart. [read more]

  • Pertussis
    Pertussis is popularly called whooping cough. This is a very highly contageous disease that caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. Pertusis is one of the top causes of vaccine-preventable deaths with most deaths occuring to very young infants who are unvaccinated or who are not completely vaccinated. [read more]

  • Petit Mal Seizure
    Petit mal seizure, otherwise known as absence seizure, is a condition which occurs mostly in children, and is characterized by episodes of momentary and sudden lapse of conscious activity. [read more]

  • Phaeohyphomycosis
    Phaeohyphomycosis pertains to a group of mycotic (fungal) infection identified by the presence of dematiaceous (brown-pigmented) septate hyphae and, sometimes, yeast, or both in the tissue. The infection can be seen as superficial and deep, and often leads to subcutaneous cyst formations. [read more]

  • Phocomelia Syndrome
    Phocomelia is a malformation of the upper appendage of the arm or the leg is omitted with the hands or the legs directly attached to the body. This is a congenital defect also described as seal's flippers. [read more]

  • Photic Sneezing
    Photic sneezing is a genetic autosomal dominant trait, which causes sneezing when exposed suddenly to bright light, possibly many times consecutively. It is also pertains to photic sneeze response, sun sneezing, photogenic sneezing, the photosternutatory reflex, being photo sensitive, or even whimsically as ACHOO syndrome with its related backronym Autosomal dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst syndrome. The condition affects 17 to 35 percent to humans. [read more]

  • Pica
    Coined after the Latin name of magpie, a bird with an indiscriminating and voracious appetite, the medical disorder pica is characterized by an individual's appetite for non-nutritive substances (such as coal, feces, chalk, paper and soil) including raw food or ingredients (like flour, starch and raw potato). An individual affected with the disorder exhibits the behavior for over a month, at the stage where eating these kinds of objects is not developmentally appropriate. Pica is observed among pregnant women, small children, especially those who are developmentally disabled. [read more]

  • Pickardt Syndrome
    The rare disorder Pickardt syndrome is a type of hypothyroidism which arises when an interruption occurs in the portal vessels linking the hypothalamus to the pituitary. This results to an inadequate supply of TRH in the anterior pituitary lobe, consequently releasing low levels of TSH and leading to the understimulation of thyroid hypothyroidism. [read more]

  • Piebaldism
    Piebaldism is a genetic and rare disorder characterized by the presence of white forelock. Caused by lack of pigmentation, it may also affect the eyebrow, eyelash hair, face, trunk and extremities. It usually manifests at birth and remains throughout a patient's lifetime. [read more]

  • Pinealoma
    Pinealoma is defined as a rare type of tumor that grows at a slow rate in the patient's brain. This disease is often referred to as pineocytoma or pinealocytoma. [read more]

  • Pleural Cancer
    Pleural Cancer is a type of cancer occurring in the layer of tissue covering the lungs and the lining the interior wall of the chest cavity that protects and cushions the lungs. Technically, the pleura is a sac that contains the lungs and a thin membrane called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is cancer of the pleural lining caused by asbestos. [read more]

  • Pleural Effusion
    Pleural effusion is a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity of the lungs, impairing the ability to breath because of the lungs' limited expansion during inhalation. [read more]

  • Pleuritis
    Pleuritis is an inflammation of the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs called pleura that can cause painful respiration and other symptoms. The condition is also called pleurisy. [read more]

  • Pneumoconiosis
    Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease due to dust inhalation. [read more]

  • Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
    Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is a lung disease due to the inhalation of fine silica dust. [read more]

  • Pneumothorax
    Pneumothorax is a type of lung collapse. [read more]

  • Polyendocrine Deficiency
    Polyendocrine Deficiency is a disease of which there are two classifications. These are simply called Type I and Type II. This disease is a heterogeneous group of rare disorders represented by autoimmune activity alongside more than one endocrine organ. [read more]

  • Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome, Lethal Type
    Pterygium Popliteal Lethal Type is a severe form of popliteal pterygium syndrome in which affected individuals often die at the neonatal or intrauterine stages. It is also known as Bartsocas-Papas syndrome. [read more]

  • porencephaly
    Porencephaly is a disorder of the central nervous system due to a cyst or cavity in a cerebral hemisphere that may occur before or after birth. [read more]

  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
    Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), is a disease characterized by having low levels of the enzyme used in producing heme, a molecule vital to all organs of the body. There are basically two types of PCT, the familial type and the sporadic type. The main difference between the two is that, as its name suggests, the familial type PCT is inherited. [read more]

  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Familial Type
    Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), familial type, is the type of PCT that is inheritted. It constitutes 20% of all cases of the disease. In general, PCT is a disease characterized by having low levels of the enzyme used in producing heme, a molecule vital to all organs of the body. [read more]

  • Portal Hypertension
    Portal hypertension is called as such because it is a type high blood pressure condition that occurs in the portal vein and its branches. The condition is often defined by the difference in pressure between the portal vein and the hepatic veins, which is known as the portal pressure gradient, of 5 mm HG or higher. [read more]

  • Post Polio Syndrome
    Post Polio syndrome (PPS) is a disorder that is experienced by individuals who have suffered from an initial paralytic attack of poliomyelitis, a viral infection that affects the nervous system. [read more]

  • Post-Vietnam Syndrome
    Post-Vietnam syndrome is a kind of post-traumatic stress disorder experienced by the veterans of the Vietnam War. This is commonly characterized by anxiety attacks, depression and hallucinations wherein patients relive their memories of the event. [read more]

  • Posterior Uveitis
    Posterior uveitis is a sub-class of uveitis, a condition characterized by an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which is called the uvea. Simply put, it is an inflammatory process involving the interior of the eye. Posterior uveitis refers to the inflammation of the retina and choroid. In the United States, 10% of the blindness cases are attributed to uveitis. Posterior uveitis is the rarer kind of uveitis. [read more]

  • Postpartum Psychosis
    Postpartum psychosis is an extremely rare condition, which develops and occurs within the first 5 to 6 weeks after delivery. Compared to postpartum depression, signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis are more severe. [read more]

  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
    Premenstrual dysphoric disorder also known as PMDD is a condition characterized by severe emotional and physical troubles that are associated closely with the menstrual cycle. Symptoms usually appear during the second half of the cycle and ceases as soon as the menstrual period starts or right after. [read more]

  • Presbyopia
    Presbyopia is the condition of the eyes in which they gradually lose their ability to focus actively on nearby objects. [read more]

  • Priapism
    Priapism is considered to be a medical condition that is harmful due to the fact that an erect penis does not return to its normal size or form in a span of at least four hours. This condition is often painful though this condition is not accompanied by any sexual arousal. The condition is considered to be an emergency condition because it needs immediate medical attention. [read more]

  • Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
    Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a rare congenital disorder, which causes defect in the action of the tiny hair-like structures that lines the respiratory tract and fallopian tube. The disease is also known as immotile ciliary syndrome or Kartagener syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting to reduced or absent mucus clearance from the lungs increasing susceptibility to long-term respiratory infections. [read more]

  • Primordial Microcephalic Dwarfism Crachami Type
    Primordial microcephalic dwarfism Crachami type is a type of primordial microcephalic dwarfism, which is a rare syndrome characterized mainly by dwarfism. Physical features include extremely small head (microcephaly), large eyes, narrow face, and malformed ears. [read more]

  • Prinzmetal's Variant Angina
    Prinzmetal's variant angina also known as variant angina, Prinzmetal's angina or angina inversa is a syndrome characterized by cardiac chest pain at rest usually when lying in bed, which usually occurs in cycles. [read more]

  • Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia
    Progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a disorder of the mitochondria marked by multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in the skeletal muscle. The condition is characterized by progressive paralysis of the extraocular muscles resulting to bilateral, proportioned, progressive ptosis leading to ophthalmoparesis later on. The most familiar clinical presentations of progressive external ophthalmoplegia include weakness of the external eye muscles and intolerance to exercise. Other symptoms may include opacity in the lenses of the eyes (cataract), sensory axonal neuropathy, loss of hearing, complete loss of coordination in muscle movements, lack of the function of gonads (hypogonadism); rigidity, tremor, and postural instability (parkinsonism); and clinical depression. Neurologists can diagnose the disorder. [read more]

  • Progressive Multifocal Encephalopathy
    Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease; an opportunistic infection occurring in individuals with deficient and ineffective immune response and individuals going through long-term chemotherapy for cancer. [read more]

  • Prolidase Deficiency
    Prolidase deficiency is a rare inborn disorder of collagen metabolism characterized by severe ulcerations in the skin, characteristic facial abnormalities, unrelieved joint dislocations, mental retardation, and bacterial infections. [read more]

  • Prurigo Nodularis
    Prurigo nodularis is a skin disease that consists of itchy nodules on the arms and legs. Patients often incur excoriated lesion because of scratching. [read more]

  • Pseudogout
    Pseudogout, also known as calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease is a rheumatologic disorder that consists of red, swollen joints that resemble gouty arthritis and acute synovitis. [read more]

  • Pseudopapilledema
    Pseudopapilledema is an atypical elevation of the eye's optic disc. It consists of acid mucopolysaccharides. Pseudopapilledema develops in severe cases of hyperopia and optic nerve drusden. [read more]

  • Pseudovaginal Perineoscrotal Hypospadias
    Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias (PPSH) is a abnormal configuration of an infant's external genitalia. The genitalia then appears to be a midway between a male's scrotum and a female's vagina. [read more]

  • Psittacosis
    Psittacosis is a contagious disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci, which can be transmitted from infected birds. It is also called parrot disease, chlamydiosis, or ornithosis. [read more]

  • Psoriatic Arthritis
    Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that spawns out of psoriasis. When a psoriasis-infected patient suffers from arthritis and joint pain, psoriatic arthritis has become present. It has five types, symmetric, assymetric, arthritis mutilans, spondylitis, and distal interphalengeal predominant. [read more]

  • Pterygium Of The Conjunctiva
    Pterygium of the conjunctiva refers to a small growth in they eye due to the ultraviolet-light exposure. It can also develop in the nasal area when the sun's ray refract when they hit the cornea and become focused on the limbic area. [read more]

  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
    Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a lung disease where the abnormal accumulation of surfactants inside the alveoli interfere with respiration. The disease can occur with respect to other diseases such as pulmonary infection, myeloid leukemia and exposure to harmful chemicals. [read more]

  • Pulmonary Anthrax
    Pulmonary anthrax is inhaled lung anthrax. Among the different degrees of sickness, pulmonary anthrax is the most severe. Anthrax is a highly dangerous bacterial infection, ans is most often fatal. Other names of pulmonary anthrax include: Lung Anthrax, Inhaled anthrax, and Inhalation anthrax. [read more]

  • Pulmonary Edema
    Pulmonary edema is the abnormal build up of fluid in the lungs or increased blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs that forces fluids into the airs sacs. [read more]

  • Q Fever
    Q fever is an infectious disease spread by infected cattle and other animals. It is caused by specie of bacteria named Coxiella burnetti. It first became known in the United States in 1999. When cultured, the bacteria can be a potential form of biological warfare, just like anthrax. [read more]

  • Query Fever
    Query fever or Q fever is an acute or chronic infectious disease caused by a species of bacteria often found in sheep, goats, and cattle. [read more]

  • Rabies
    Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuro-invasive infection that often causes an inflammation of the brain (a condition known as acute encephalitis). Rabies is from the Latin word ?rabies? meaning ?rage, fury, or madness?. Rabies can be fatal when affecting non-vaccinated humans, especially after neurological symptoms have occurred. However, the effects can be curbed if the patient is promptly vaccinated shortly after exposure to the virus. When the disease becomes symptomatic, however, it becomes invariably fatal. [read more]

  • Rabson-Mendenhall Syndrome
    Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome is characterized by severe resistance to insulin, abnormal growth and development, acanthosis nigricans, and, in some cases, a hypertrophic pineal gland. In this rare insulin receptor disorder, the patient's body suffers from a disability to use insulin which is needed to control blood sugar levels. [read more]

  • Raine Syndrome
    Raine syndrome is a rare disease in newborn infants characterized by intracranial calcification, or an abnormal increase in bone density, which can prove ultimately fatal. Raine syndrome is also alternatively called osteosclerotic bone dysplasia. [read more]

  • Rapadilino Syndrome
    Rapadilino syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, inherited via autosomal recessive trait, characterized by short stature, radial and patellar aplasia, cleft or arched palate, limb malformation, radial ray defects, and dislocated joints. [read more]

  • Rasmussen's Encephalitis
    Also known as Chronic Focal Encephalitis (CFE), Rasmussen's encephalitis is a rare, progressive neurological disorder affecting a single cerebral hemisphere and usually occurring in children under the age of ten. [read more]

  • Raynaud's Disease Phenomenon
    Raynaud's phenomenon, or Raynaud's disease, is a vasospastic disorder characterized by a discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other extremities. Named after 19th century French physician Maurice Raynaud, Raynaud's disease occurs more commonly in women than in men. When Raynaud's disease occurs without any underlying associated disease, it is known as primary Raynaud's (or simply, Raynaud's disease). If it appears as part of another disease, it is known as secondary Raynaud's or Raynaud's phenomenon. [read more]

  • Relapsing Fever
    Relapsing fever is a type of fever that keeps recurring. It is often joined by headaches, muscle pain, joint aches and nausea. There are two kinds: tick-borne (TBRF) and louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF). [read more]

  • Restless Legs Syndrome
    Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome, is a progressive neurological disease characterized by an irresistible urge to move one's body to halt odd or uncomfortable sensations. This condition usually affects the legs, but can also affect the arms and torso. [read more]

  • Retinal Degeneration
    Retinal degeneration refers to the deterioration of the retinal tissue. The degeneration of the retina may occur as a consequence of a number of factors, including vein or artery occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, and hereditary RLF/ROP disease, among others. Several types of progressive retinal degeneration exist in varying degrees or severities. Examples are retinoschisis, retinitis pigmentosa, lattic degeneration, and macular degeneration. [read more]

  • Retinoblastoma
    Retinoblastoma pertains to cancer of the retina that affects children. If untreated, retinoblastoma is almost invariably fatal. [read more]

  • Retrolental Fibroplasia
    Also known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), is an eye disease that primarily affects prematurely born babies. [read more]

  • Rett Syndrome
    Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder mostly affecting females. This disease is categorized as a pervasive development disorder by the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). [read more]

  • Rhabdoid Tumor
    Rhabdoid tumor pertains to a very rare and extremely aggressive tumor commonly occurring in children ages 2 to 13 years. Initially, rhabdoid tumor was believed to be a variant of Wilms' tumor. However, recent studies have shown that rhabdoid tumor is an entirely separate entity. The location of this highly malignant tumor may be intraventicular, supratentorial, or infratentorial. [read more]

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, potentially disabling autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks the joints, causing an inflammation in the joints (i.e. arthritis) as well as in other parts of the body (commonly in the lungs and the skin). [read more]

  • Ricin Poisoning
    Ricin poisoning is a toxic effect experience by a person due to inhalation or intake of ricin, a protein toxin found in castor beans. It can be potentially painful when taken in large doses. [read more]

  • Rickets
    Rickets is a disease characterized by the softening of the bones in children, which can potentially lead to fractures and deformity. Although rickets can affect adults, most documented cases are those of malnourished or undernourished children living in developing countries. [read more]

  • Rift Valley Fever
    Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a type of viral zoonosis; meaning, it primarily affects domestic livestock, but can be transmitted to humans. It is most commonly spread among humans through bites of infected mosquitoes or direct contact with infected animals. [read more]

  • Riley-Day Syndrome
    Riley-Day syndrome, more commonly known as familiar dysautonomia (FD), is characterized by a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. Riley-Day syndrome commonly affects the survival and development of sympathetic, (some) parasympathetic, and sensory neurons of the autonomic and sensory nervous system. [read more]

  • Romano-Ward Syndrome
    Romano-Ward syndrome is a major variant of a heart condition known as long QT syndrome, a condition that causes the cardiac muscle to take abnormally longer to recharge between beats. Romano-Ward syndrome is characterized by a disruption of the heart's normal rhythm. [read more]

  • Rubella, Congenital
    Congenital rubella syndrome (or CRS) can affect a developing fetus of a pregnant woman who has been infected by rubella during the first trimester of her pregnancy. If the mother is infected 0-28 days before conception, there is a 43% risk of the fetus being affected. If infection occurs 0-12 days after conception, chances of CRS affecting the infant are 51%. If the infection occurs 13-26 weeks after conception, the chances of CRS affecting the fetus are 23%. However, if the infection occurs in the last trimester, specifically in the 26th to 20th week after conception, the infants are not generally affected. [read more]

  • Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (Gene Promoter Involvement)
    Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, also called Broad Thumb-Hallux syndrome, is a condition characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation, short stature, broad thumbs and first toes, distinctive facial features, and short stature. A distinction can be made between Rubinstein-Taybi like syndrome and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome; the latter has gene promoter involvement. [read more]

  • Sakati Syndrome
    Sakati syndrome encompasses a group of rare genetic diseases collectively known as Acrocephalopolysyndactyly or ACPS. Sakati syndrome, along with all known types of ACPS, is characterized by the premature closure of the cranial sutures (fibrous joints) between certain bones of the skull. This premature closure, known as craniosynostosis, leads to: acrocephaly (pointed appearance of the top of the head); syndactyly (webbing or fusion) of digits; and appearance of more than normal digits (polydactyly). In addition, Sakati syndrome is linked to defects in the bones of the legs, congenital heart defects, as well as other complications. The disease is speculated to develop as a consequence of a sporadic mutation that occurs randomly for unknown reasons. [read more]

  • San Joaquin Valley Fever
    San Joaquin Valley fever is an alternative name for coccidiodomydiosis. This is a fungal infection that once became endemic in the areas of California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico. [read more]

  • Say Meyer Syndrome
    Say Meyer syndrome is a familial condition characterized by short stature, trigonocephaly, motor impairment, and mental retardation. Say Meyer syndrome is named after Burhan Say, a Turkish medical geneticist, and Julia Meyer, an American physician, who both discovered the disorder. [read more]

  • Scabies
    Scabies is a contagious ectoparasite infection of the skin characterized by intense itching, superficial burrows, and secondary infections. The term comes from the Latin word ?scabere? which literally means ?scratch?. [read more]

  • SCAD Deficiency
    SCAD deficiency (short-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency) pertains to a defect in the oxidation of fatty acids in the body. This disorder affects enzymes that are necessary in breaking down a group of fats known as short-chain fatty acids. [read more]

  • Scarlatina
    Scarlatina or scarlet fever covers the body with rashes, turns the tough into a strawberry-like appearance, and results in high fever. [read more]

  • Scheuermann's Disease
    Scheuermann's disease is a disease that is a type of juvenile osteochondrosis or disorder of the spine. [read more]

  • Schizencephaly
    Schizencephaly is a rare cephalic disease characterized by anomalous clefts (or slits) in the cerebral hemispheres. [read more]

  • Schizophrenia
    Schizophrenia is a psychiatric term used in reference to a mental disorder characterized by an impaired perception of reality. [read more]

  • Schmitt Gillenwater Kelly Syndrome
    Schmitt Gillenwater Kelly Syndrome is a rare disease classified as an autosomal dominant syndrome. This rare syndrome is characterized by radial hypoplasia, triphalangeal thumbs, hypospadias, and maxillary diastema. Individuals afflicted with Schmitt Gillenwater Kelly Syndrome usually have thumbs that look like a finger and short radial bone. Males suffering from this syndrome have an abnormally positioned urethral opening. Other afflicted patients may exhibit the presence of a condition known as Prognathism, wherein one jaw is larger than the other, which eventually causes the other jaw to protrude in front of the other one. [read more]

  • Scleritis
    Scleritis is an inflammatory disease that usually targets and affect the sclera or the outer coating of the eye. [read more]

  • Scrapie
    Scrapie is a fatal and degenerative disease involving the nervous systems of goats and sheep. It is a contagious form of spongiform encephalopathy associated with chronic wasting disease of deer and mad cow disease. This contagious disorder can't infect humans. Scrapie is somehow similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru in humans. This communicable disease predominantly affecting goats and sheep have a very long incubation period. [read more]

  • Seckel Syndrome
    Seckel syndrome is a rare medical condition marked by fetal and postnatal growth retardation, mental retardation and characteristic or distinguishing facial features. [read more]

  • Seizure, Temporal Lobe
    Temporal lobe seizure is a type of complex partial seizure that is usually localized to one part of the brain. [read more]

  • Semantic Pragmatic Disorder
    Semantic-pragmatic disorder is a developmental language speech disorder in which children have difficulties in using language in appropriate instances, as well as with the semantic use of language. This disorder is believed to be linked with Asperger's syndrome and autism. [read more]

  • Sensory Integration Dysfunction
    Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) is the inability of the brain to accurately process information conveyed by the senses. It is also referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder. In this medical condition, the sensory information sensed by the person with SID tends to be analyzed by the brain in a different manner causing upset and confusion. [read more]

  • Serious Digitalis Intoxication
    Serious Digitalis Intoxication is adverse reaction to a drug medically known as digitalis or digoxin; a medicine that slows heart rate, improves contraction and helps eliminate fluids from body tissues. Serious digitalis intoxication can result to more heart complications and may even lead to death if left undistinguished. Serious Digitalis Intoxication is one of the most serious and dangerous adverse drug reactions recorded in clinical medicine. [read more]

  • Shellfish allergy
    Shellfish allergy is known to be one of the most common forms of food allergies and typically found in most adults. The allergic reactions to shellfish allergy can range from mild to severe and possible fatal symptoms. Shellfish are known as animals with shells such as clams, shrimp, lobster and even squid. General avoidance to shellfish is the most effective preventative treatment of this type of allergy. [read more]

  • Shock
    Shock is a serious and life-threatening medical condition that happens when the body does not receive sufficient amount of blood causing the cells of the body to receive inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Medical shock is a critical medical emergency and has been reported as one of the leading causes of death for seriously-ill patients. There are four types of shock namely: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive and distributive shock. The most recent type of shock classified is endocrine shock, which is based on endocrine disruptions. [read more]

  • Silent Sinus Syndrome
    Silent sinus syndrome is a spontaneous, asymptomatic collapse of the largest paranasal sinus (maxillary sinus) and orbital floor linked with negative sinus pressure; which can often result to painless facial irregularity, double vision (diplopia) and recession of the eyeball within the orbit known as enophthalmos. Diagnosis of silent sinus syndrome can be confirmed radiologically through distinctive and characteristic features of images. This would include obstruction or blockage in the maxillary sinus outlet, sinus opacification, and sinus volume loss due to the retraction of the sinus toward the inside. Surgical treatment is an option, which involves creation of mucous drainage outlet from the blockage in the sinus. [read more]

  • Silicosis
    Silicosis is an occupational lung disease due to inhalation of silica dust. The disease is characterized by inflamed and nodular lesion scars in the upper lung lobes. Silicosis was first described in 1705 and is also known by other names like Grinder's disease and Potter's rot. Silicosis is the most common occupational lung disease in the world. [read more]

  • Sin Nombre Virus Infection
    Sin nombre virus infection or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a disease causing flu-like symptoms that may be severe and pose life-threatening breathing problems. [read more]

  • Sinus Infection
    This condition is also referred to as Sinusitis. It is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses which can be a result of infection from fungal, bacterial, viral allergic or autoimmune issues. [read more]

  • Sleep Paralysis
    It is a condition distinguished by momentary paralysis of the body shortly after waking up. The condition is related to the paralysis that happens as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep also referred to as REM atonia. The condition happens when the brain awakes from a state of REM though the bodily paralysis persist which leaves the person consciously awake but is unable to move. [read more]

  • Sleep Paralysis
    It is a condition distinguished by momentary paralysis of the body shortly after waking up. The condition is related to the paralysis that happens as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep also referred to as REM atonia. The condition happens when the brain awakes from a state of REM though the bodily paralysis persist which leaves the person consciously awake but is unable to move. [read more]

  • Sly Syndrome
    Sly syndrome is a Mucopolysaccharidosis storage disorder due to deficiency of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase leading to accumulated deposits of dermatan, heparan, and chondroitin sulfates in most tissues and organs of the body including the central nervous system. [read more]

  • Smith-Magenis Syndrome
    Smith-Magenis syndrome is a unique and clinically identifiable genetic medical condition marked by a specific pattern of physical, behavioral and developmental characteristics and presentations. It is a rare disorder estimated to occur in roughly one out of every 25,000 births. [read more]

  • Spina Bifida
    Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the brain spinal cord and their protective coverings. This neural tube defect occurs at the end of the first month of pregnancy when the two sides of the embryo's spine were unable to join together, which leaves an open area. This medical condition is one of the most common congenital defects. [read more]

  • Splenomegaly
    Splenomegaly is enlargement of the spleen afar from its regular size. The spleen is an organ that plays an important role in the production and maintenance of red blood cells and in the production of some circulating white blood cells. The spleen is also part of two systems in the human body; the immune and lymph systems. [read more]

  • Spongiform Encephalopathy
    Spongiform encephalopathy is a rare inherited prion disease with a wide range of symptoms which are actual results of degeneration of the nervous system. [read more]

  • Spotted Fever
    Spotted fever can refer to two types which are Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediterranean spotted fever. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsi, which are transmitted by ticks. Mediterranean spotted fever is a bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia conorii usually transmitted by ticks of dogs known as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is widespread among countries located along the Mediterranean Sea. [read more]

  • St. Anthony's Fire
    St. Anthony's fire is a very painful burning sensation in the arms and legs due to excessive exposure to ergotamines. Ergotamines are produced by particular fungi known as Claviceps purpurea, which usually contaminates rye and wheat. Ergotamines is a drug used for controlling migraine and in inducing abortion. Ergotamines are nerve toxins and can cause blood vessel constriction resulting in tissue death (gangrene). [read more]

  • St. Louis Encephalitis
    St. Louis Encephalitis is defined as a disorder caused by the St. Louis Encephalitis virus borne by mosquitoes. This disease mainly affects the United States, but there were also a few reported cases from Canada and Mexico. [read more]

  • Stein-Leventhal Syndrome
    Stein-Leventhal syndrome is the clinical name for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a disorder of the endocrine affecting approximately 10% of all women. Stein-Leventhal syndrome is the most common hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age and has been associated as the leading cause of infertility. [read more]

  • Stickler Syndrome
    Stickler syndrome (also known as David-Stickler syndrome or Stickler-Wagner syndrome) is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. Stickler syndrome is marked by a distinctive facial appearance, eye abnormalities, hearing loss, and joint problems. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [read more]

  • Stickler Syndrome Type 2
    Stickler syndrome (also known as David-Stickler syndrome or Stickler-Wagner syndrome) is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. Stickler syndrome is marked by a distinctive facial appearance, eye abnormalities, hearing loss, and joint problems. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [read more]

  • Stickler Syndrome Type 3
    Stickler syndrome (also known as David-Stickler syndrome or Stickler-Wagner syndrome) is a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue, specifically collagen. Stickler syndrome is marked by a distinctive facial appearance, eye abnormalities, hearing loss, and joint problems. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [read more]

  • Stickler Syndrome, Type I
    Stickler syndrome, type I also known as David-Stickler syndrome and Stickler-Wagner syndrome is a group of rare genetically inherited disorders, which affect connective tissue particularly collagen. Distinctive facial features, aye anomalies, loss of hearing, and joint problems are the main traits of Stickler syndrome. [read more]

  • Strabismus
    Strabismus is a condition where one's eyes are not able to properly align under normal conditions.One eye is misaligned in relation to the other when focusing on a a subject. Both eyes are not able to focus in unison, in the same direction, at the same point, at the same time. [read more]

  • Stroke
    The quick developing failure of brain functions because of a disturbance in the blood vessels that provide blood to the brain. This may happen because of ischemia which is caused by thrombosis or embolism or because of hemorrhage. Medically, stroke can be referred to as ictus which means ?to strike? in Latin. [read more]

  • Sturge-Weber Syndrome
    Sturge-Weber syndrome, sometimes known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, is an extremely rare congenital neurological and skin disorder. [read more]

  • Sty
    Sty or hordeolum is a painful, red bump located on the edge or inside of the eyelid that may also look like a pimple or boil. Sty is usually filled with pus. If several sties appear it may cause a swelling of the eyelid known as blepharitis but fortunately sty disappears after a few days. [read more]

  • Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that mainly affects children and young adults, caused by a persistent infection of immune resistant measles virus. [read more]

  • Sudden Adult Death Syndrome
    Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) is an unexpected halt in the body systems leading to immediate death. There are no symptoms of death but warning signs include sudden loss of consciousness while in the middle of strenuous activities. Cardiac arrhythmias usually are the cause of SADS. Prevention can be done by taking meta-blocker medications to reduce the onset of cardiac arhrythmias. [read more]

  • Supranuclear Ocular Palsy
    Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), also called Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects cognition, eye movements, and posture. [read more]

  • Susac's Syndrome
    Susac's syndrome (Retinocochleocerebral Vasculopathy) is a microangiopathy marked by encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusions and hearing loss. [read more]

  • Systemic Carnitine Deficiency
    Carnitine deficiency is a metabolic state in which carnitine concentrations in plasma and tissues are less than the levels needed for normal function of the organism. Biologic effects of low carnitine levels may not be clinically significant until they reach less than 10-20% of the norm. [read more]

  • Tay-Sachs Disease
    Tay-Sachs disease (TSD, also known as GM2 gangliosidosis, Hexosaminidase A deficiency or Sphingolipidosis) is a genetic disorder, fatal in its most common variant known as Infantile Tay-Sachs disease. [read more]

  • Temporal Epilepsy, Familial
    Temporal lobe epilepsy is a form of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition marked by recurrent seizures. [read more]

  • Temporal Lobe Seizure
    Temporal lobe seizure is a type of complex partial seizure that is usually localized to one part of the brain. [read more]

  • Testotoxicosis
    Familial male precocious puberty (also called testotoxicosis) is a form of gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty in which boys experience early onset and progression of puberty. Signs of puberty can start as early as an age of 1 year. [read more]

  • Thalassemia
    Thalassemia, also called as Mediterranean Anemia, Cooley's Anemia or Homozygous Beta Thalassemia, is a group of inherited disorders in which there is a fault in the production of hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying pigment found in red blood cells). [read more]

  • Thalassemia Major
    Thalassemia major is an inherited form of hemolytic anemia, marked by red blood cell (hemoglobin) production abnormalities. This is the most extreme form of anemia, and the oxygen depletion in the body becomes apparent within the first 6 months of life. If left untreated, death generally results within a few years. [read more]

  • Thalassemia Minor
    Thalassemia minor is an inherited form of hemolytic anemia that is less extreme than thalassemia major. These small red blood cells (RBCs) carry less oxygen than normal RBCs. [read more]

  • Thallium Poisoning
    Thallium Poisoning is a medical condition caused by exposure and ingestion of thallium which is a soft and malleable metal that was usually used to poison rats. [read more]

  • Tick-borne Encephalitis
    Tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, is a human viral infectious disease concrened with the central nervous system. The disease most often manifests as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or meningoencephalitis (inflammation of both the brain and meninges). Although TBE is most commonly recognized as a neurologic disease, mild febrile illnesses can also arise. [read more]

  • Tietz Syndrome
    Tietz syndrome is a condition marked by deafness and albinism. [read more]

  • Togaviridae Disease
    Togaviridae disease is an infection with any of a number of togaviridae viruses which can cause conditions such as Equine encephalitis, Ross River virus and Rubella virus. Symptoms are determined by the type of virus concerned. Togaviridae are arboviruses and are passed on by arthropods. [read more]

  • Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome
    Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is a rare disorder marked by severe and unilateral headaches with extraocular palsies, usually involving the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cranial nerves, and pain around the sides and back of the eye, along with weakness and paralysis (ophthalmoplegia) of certain eye muscles. [read more]

  • Tonic-clonic Seizure
    Tonic-clonic seizure, also known as grand mal seizure, is a condition in which an individual lose consciousness and experience violent muscle contractions. [read more]

  • Toxic Shock Syndrome
    Toxic shock syndrome is a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection that has been most often linked with the use of superabsorbent tampons and occasionally with the use of contraceptive sponges. [read more]

  • Toxoplasmosis Songenital
    Congenital toxoplasmosis is the infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii that is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. [read more]

  • Transient Ischemic Attack
    Transient ischemic attack is a temporary or intermittent neurological event, which serves as a warning of an impending stroke. [read more]

  • Transitional Cell Carcinoma
    Originating in the kidney, bladder or ureter, Transitional cell carcinoma is a type of cancer and is the most common type of bladder cancer. The disease arises from the transitional epithelium lining found in said organs. [read more]

  • Tremor Hereditary Essential
    Also known as essential tremor or ET, Tremor hereditary essential is a neurological disorder characterized by shaking of hands and sometimes the other parts of the body such as the head, induced by intentional movements. Though the exact incident is unknown, ET is presumed to be the most common type of tremor and also the most commonly observed movement disorder. The disease was also previously known as ?benign essential tremor? but the ?benign? was removed due to the sometimes disabling nature of the disorder. [read more]

  • Trigger Thumb
    Trigger finger or trigger thumb is a stenosing tenosynovitis disorder where the sheath around the tendon in a thumb or finger becomes swollen, or nodules from on the tendon. Though it usually affects the thumb, more than one finger may be affected at a time including the middle finger or ring finger. [read more]

  • Triple A Syndrome
    Triple-A syndrome or Allgrove syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder discovered by Jeremy Allgrove and colleagues in 1978. The name Triple A stands for achalasia-addisonianism-alacrima syndrome. This means that affected individuals have adrenal insufficiency, alacrima (absence of tear secretion), and achalasia. The latter means failure of a ring of muscle fibers such as the sphincter, to relax. [read more]

  • Triploid Syndrome
    This disorder is an extremely rare chromosomal disorder. Affected individuals have 3 chromosomes for a total of sixty-nine rather than the normal 46 chromosomes. Unborn children with Triploid syndrome are usually lost through early miscarriage but those who make it survive for as long as five months. [read more]

  • Triploidy
    This disorder is a rare lethal chromosome abnormality caused by the presence of an entire extra set of chromosomes. Unborn children with triploidy has 69 chromosomes rather than 46. Most fetuses are miscarried during pregnancy and those that survive usually have severe growth retardation and multiple birth defects. [read more]

  • Trisomy
    This disorder is a form of aneuploidy that has a presence of 3 copies instead of the normal 2, of a particular chromosome. An extra chromosome 21, found in Down syndrome, is called trisomy 21. [read more]

  • Trypanophobia
    Called Trypanophobia, this disorder is the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. It is occasionally referred to as aichmophobia, belonephobia, or enetophobia but are technically incorrect because they simply denote a ?fear of pins/needles? and do not refer to the medical aspect of trypanophobia. The most commonly used name is simply needle phobia. There are four types of Trypanophobia namely vaso-vagal, associative, resistive, and hyperalgesic. [read more]

  • Tuberculosis
    TB or Disseminated tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection that has spread from the lungs to other organs of the body through the blood or the lymph system. [read more]

  • Ulcer, Pressure
    Pressure ulcer or bedsores are the areas of damaged skin and tissue due to sustained pressure. [read more]

  • Urachal Cancer
    Urachal Cancer is a rare form of bladder cancer that can occur at any site along the urachal tract. First described in 1863 by Hue and Jaequin, the most common locations of the cancer are the umbilicus and the dome of the bladder. The urachus develops inside the womb and after birth, it is no longer needed and normally closes off. Though sometimes there are still traces of it from the bladder to the umbilicus, there is often a small bit left at the bladder end. [read more]

  • Urachal Cyst
    Urachal cyst is a sinus that remains from the allantois during embryogenesis. [read more]

  • Urethritis
    Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra that manifest through the painful and often difficult urination. [read more]

  • Urticaria
    The skin disorder physical urticaria (or urticaria) usually results from allergic reactions to certain substances. It is characterized by the swelling of the skin, called welts or uredo, on different parts of the body, such as the face, throat, ears, lips, and tongue. The welts, whose sizes may grow up to that of one dinner plate, commonly itch severely, burn or sting. [read more]

  • Uveitis-Posterior
    Also known as PU, retinitis, Choroidoretinitis, or Choroiditis, posterior Uveitis is the inflammation of the choroids and the retinal layer leading to vision problems. [read more]

  • Varicella-Zoster Virus
    Varicella-zoster virus is known as a perpetrator for both herpes zoster or shingles and chicken pox, following exposure to the said virus. However, in certain cases, a patient may develop an acute neurological condition called VZV encephalitis that usually comes with some potentially severe and fatal complications. [read more]

  • Variegate Porphyria
    An autosomal dominant porphyria, Variegate porphyria can have severe, but usually not long-lasting symptoms along with symptoms that affect the skin. [read more]

  • Ventricular Fibrillation, Idiopathic
    Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation or V-fiB or VF, for brevity, is a term which is most frequently used to describe the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation in the intact heart (Aliot, E., Clement, J., Prystowsky, E. (2008). Fighting Sudden Cardiac Death: A World Wide Challenge, Blackwell Publishing, p.240). It is characterized by the uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles located in the heart. It usually causes cessation of blood circulation which eventually leads to death. [read more]

  • Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
    Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is the recurrent, bilateral, interstitial inflammation of the conjunctive that occurs more frequently in warm or dry climates. [read more]

  • Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers
    Viral haemorrhagic fevers is actually categorized as a group of illnesses that are primary caused by a number of highly distinct virus families that includes filoviruses, arenaviruses, , flaviviruses and bunyaviruses. Some of these virus may cause some relatively mild illnesses, while others can result to life-threatening diseases. [read more]

  • Vitamin A Deficiency
    In developing countries Vitamin A deficiency is common and often seen in developed countries. This deficiency contributes to blindness because it can make the cornea very dry and destroying the retina and cornea. Pregnant women are at risk because there is a high possibility that they acquire this deficiency. [read more]

  • Vitamin D Resistant Rickets
    Vitamin D Resistant Rickets is the clinical condition characterized by the person's prevalent body resistance to the vitamin D treatment generally used in deficiency rickets. [read more]

  • VLCAD Deficiency
    Very long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency or VLCAD for brevity is a disorder of the fatty acid oxidation disorder that hinders the normal conversion of certain fats to energy by the body especially during period without food intake. [read more]

  • Waardenburg Syndrome Pierpoint
    Waardenburg Syndrome Pierpoint is one of the variation in the name used to refer to the Waardenburg Syndrome or the Klein-Waardenburg syndrome, Van der Hoeve-Halbertsma-Waardenburg syndrome, Mende's syndrome II, Ptosis-Epicanthus syndrome,Van der Hoeve-Waardenburg-Klein syndrome, Van der Hoeve-Halbertsma-Gualdi syndrome, or the Vogt's syndrome, is an unusual disorder of the gene where it is characterized by moderate to severe impairment in the sense of hearing, defects or abnormalities which usually due from the neutral crest and anomalies in the pigmentation of the skin. It is first defined in 1951 by a Dutch Opthalmologist Petrus Johannes Waardenburg (Waardenburg PJ (1951) "A new syndrome combining developmental anomalies of the eyelids, eyebrows and nose root with pigmentary defects of the iris and head hair and with congenital deafness". Am J Hum Genet 1951; 3: 195-253). [read more]

  • Waardenburg Syndrome Type 2A
    Waardenburg Syndrome type 2 or WS2A for brevity, is a subtype of Waardenburg Syndrome 2 where the variation in the gene involves the MITF or the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor located at the 3p14.1-p12.3. It is also manifest by hearing impairment. It is also said to be an autosomal recessive inasmuch as it need two copies of altered gene to make a person affected with the disorder. [read more]

  • Wagner's Disease
    Wagner's Disease is rare familial eye disease or disorder of the connective tissue in the eye that eventually causes blindness. It is frequently confused with the Sticler's syndrome but just lacks the feature of high incidence of retinal detachments. [read more]

  • Wagner-Stickler Syndrome
    Wagner-Stickler Syndrome or Srickler Syndrome or David-Stickler syndrome, is a genetic disorder which primarily affect the connective tissue particularly the collagen. It is characterized by distinctive facial appearance, eye abnormalities and loss of hearing and problems in the joint areas. [read more]

  • WAGR Syndrome
    WAGR syndrome otherwise known as the WAGR complex, Wilms tumor-aniridia syndrome, aniridia-Wilms tumor syndrome, is a genetic disorder which affect children and made them to developed Wilms tumor, Aniridi, Genitourinary disorders and mental retardation. (Fischbach BV, Trout KL, Lewis J, Luis CA, Sika M (2005). "WAGR syndrome: a clinical review of 54 cases". Pediatrics 116 (4): 984-8). [read more]

  • Wallis Zief Goldblatt Syndrome
    Wallis Zieff Goldblatt syndrome otherwise known as the cleidorhizomelic syndrome is a medical condition which can be described as an inherited skeletal disorders which is manifest mainly through the rhizomelic short stature and defects in the lateral clavicular of the person affected (Wallis C, Zieff S, Goldblatt J (1988). "Newly recognized autosomal dominant syndrome of rhizomelic shortness with clavicular defect". Am J Med Genet 31 (4): 881-5). [read more]

  • Wandering Spleen
    Wandering spleen otherwise known as the Pelvic spleen is a rare medical disease that is often linked to the loss or the weakening of the ligaments that help hold the spleen. [read more]

  • Weber Sturge Dimitri Syndrome
    Weber Sturge Dimitri Syndrome otherwise known as the encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis is a rare congenital neurological and skin disorder. It is a phakomatoses and usually associated with port-wine stains on the face, glaucoma, seizures, ipsilateral leptomeningeal angioma and mental retardation. [read more]

  • Weber-Christian Disease
    Weber Christian Disease or otherwise known as the idiopathic lobular panniculitis is a disorder affecting the skin whereby there is a recurring inflammation of the fat layer of the skin. [read more]

  • Weissenbacher Zweymuller Syndrome
    Weissenbacher Zweymuller Syndrome is a genetic disorder where there is abnormalities in the skeletal system of the person. [read more]

  • Wernicke's Encephalopathy
    Wernicke's encephalopathy is a medical condition that is caused thiamine or vitamin B-1 deficiency. [read more]

  • West Nile Encephalitis
    West Nile encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain. This disease causes great damages to the central nervous system and can lead to paralysis or even death. [read more]

  • West Nile Virus
    West Nile virus is an RNA virus which is also a member of the Flaviviridae family that is transmitted through culicine mosquitoes which usually bite birds and infect horses and humans (Guharoy R. Noviasky JA, et al. (2004) West Nile Virus Infection, AmJ Health Syst. Pharm. Jun 15:61 (12). [read more]

  • Western Equine Encephalitis
    Western equine encephalitis or WEE is a viral disease which is caused by western equine encephalitis virus which is an arbovirus that is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genre Culex and Culiseta (Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology, 4th ed., McGraw Hill). [read more]

  • Westphall Disease
    Westphall disease otherwise known as the Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare channelopathy where there is weakness in the muscle and even cause paralysis accompanying a fall in the level of potassium in the blood. It often begins in adolescence and is usually triggered of strenuous exercise followed by rest, high carbohydrate meals and sudden changes in the temperature. [read more]

  • Wheat Hypersensitivity
    Wheat Hypersensitivity otherwise known as the Wheat allergy is a kind of food allergy which involves IgE and mast cell response. [read more]

  • Whipple Disease
    Whipple disease is a systematic and rare disease which is often described as a gastrointestinal disorder that causes mal-absorption and affect other part of the including the heart, lungs, brain and eyes. [read more]

  • Whitlow
    Whitlow otherwise known as the Herpetic whitlow, is a medical condition that is usually characterized by a severe painful infection of the hand which usually involves one or more fingers that is most often affects the terminal phalanx. [read more]

  • Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
    Whooping Cough otherwise known as the Pertussis is a higly contagious diseased that is said to be caused by a bacteria named Bordetella Pertussis. The disease is often described as the whooping which is generally on high-pitched that usually occur in the case of infected babies and children only (Finger H, von Koenig CHW (1996). Bordetella-Clinical Manifestations. In:Barron's Medical Microbiology (Barron S et al. Eds.) 4th., Univ of Texas Medical Branch). [read more]

  • Wilms Tumor-Aniridia Syndrome
    Wilms tumor-aniridia syndrome otherwise known as the WAGR complex, aniridia-Wilms tumor syndrome, is a genetic disorder which affect children and made them to developed Wilms tumor, Aniridi, Genitourinary disorders and mental retardation. (Fischbach BV, Trout KL, Lewis J, Luis CA, Sika M (2005). "WAGR syndrome: a clinical review of 54 cases". Pediatrics 116 (4): 984-8). [read more]

  • Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
    Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome otherwise known as the deletion 4p and 4p- syndrome was first studied in 1961 by H. Cooper and U. Wolf (Cooper H., Hirschhhorn K.(1961). Apparent deletion of short arms of one Chromosome (4 or 5) in a child with Defects of Midline Fusion. Mammalian Chrom Nwsl.4:14) It is said to be a phenotype resulting from a deletion of chromosomal material of the short arm of the 4th chromosome. [read more]

  • Wooly Hair Syndrome
    Woolly hair syndrome is a condition that is characterized by frizzy and wiry hair that looks like a wool. It affects some percentage of Caucasian and Asian, [read more]

  • X-Linked Alpha Thalassemia Mental Retardation Syndrome (ATR-X)
    6.X-linked alpha thalassemia mental retardation syndrome or ATR-X for brevity is a disorder that is caused by the mutation of the ATR X gene which affects the 3D structure of the chromatin located in the cell nucleus. It is manifest through severe learning difficulties, an unusual facial appearance, unusual genitalia and alpha thalassemia. [read more]

  • Xanthomatosis Cerebrotendinous
    Cerebrotendineous xanthomatosis otherwise known as the cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, or Van Bogaert-Scherer-Epstein syndrome, or the cerebrotendinous cholesterosis, is a kind of xanthomatosis that isassociated with the CYP27A1 geneon the 2nd Chromosome. [read more]

  • Xerophthalmia
    Xerophthalmia, a Greek term used to refer to Dry Eyes, is a condition whereby there is an unusal failure of the eye to produce tears. [read more]

  • Zadik Barak Levin Syndrome
    Zadik Barak Levin Syndrome is a congenital disorder resulting from a defect in the mesodermal-ectodermal midline development of the embryo. [read more]

  • Zori Stalker Williams Syndrome
    It is a rare condition related with a variety of disease and symptoms like Pectus excavatum, macrocephaly and dysplastic nails, familial short stature, delay in development and distinctive facies. The name of the syndrome came from the researchers who first described and determined the syndrome and its clinical signs. It is also believed that the syndrome is inherited in a pattern known as autosomal dominant and there are no new researches regarding this disease. [read more]

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