Health Info |
Articles 1-25 of 154 currently displayed. Use the Search, Topic and A-Z options below to refine your search further.
All
[0-9] A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Aarskog syndrome 05/17/2010
Facial-digital-genital syndrome Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Aarskog syndrome is a genetic disorder that is linked to the X chromosome. It affects mainly males, but females may have a milder form. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in a gene called "faciogenital dysplasia" ( FGDY1 ).
|
|
Aase syndrome 08/11/2009
Aase-Smith syndrome; Hypoplastic anemia/Triphalangeal thumb syndrome Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Most cases of Aase syndrome occur without a known reason and are not passed down through families (inherited). However, some cases have been shown to be inherited. The anemia in Aase syndrome is caused by poor development of the bone marrow, which is where blood cells are formed.
|
|
Abdominal aortic aneurysm 08/21/2009
Aneurysm - aortic; AAA Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include: Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Male gender Emphysema Genetic factors Obesity An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone, but is most often seen in males over 60 who have one or more risk factors.
|
|
ABO incompatibility 05/13/2008
ABO incompatibility is a reaction of the immune system that occurs if two different and not compatible blood types are mixed together. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: A, B, and O are the three major blood types. The types are based on small substances (molecules) on the surface of the blood cells. In people who have different blood types, these molecules act as immune system triggers (antigens). Each person has a combination of two of these surface molecules.
|
|
Abscess 08/14/2010
An abscess is a collection of pus in any part of the body that, in most cases, causes swelling and inflammation around it. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Abscesses occur when an area of tissue becomes infected and the body's immune system tries to fight it. White blood cells move through the walls of the blood vessels into the area of the infection and collect within the damaged tissue. During this process, pus forms. Pus is the buildup of fluid, living and dead white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other foreign substances.
|
|
Absent pulmonary valve 02/05/2010
Absent pulmonary valve syndrome; Congenital absence of the pulmonary valve; Pulmonary valve agenesis Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Absent pulmonary valve occurs when the pulmonary valve doesn’t form or develop properly while the baby is in the mother’s womb.
|
|
Acanthosis nigricans 09/11/2010
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder in which there is darker, thick, velvety skin in body folds and creases. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acanthosis nigricans can affect otherwise healthy people, or it can be related to medical problems. Some cases are genetically inherited. The condition is most commonly seen among people of African descent, in part because it is easier to see in darker skin. Obesity can lead to acanthosis nigricans, as can some endocrine disorders.
|
|
Achalasia 01/20/2010
Esophageal achalasia Causes, incidence, and risk factors: A muscular ring at the point where the esophagus and stomach come together (lower esophageal sphincter) normally relaxes during swallowing. In people with achalasia, this muscle ring does not relax as well. The reason for this problem is damage to the nerves of the esophagus.
|
|
Achilles tendinitis 10/31/2010
Tendinitis of the heel Causes, incidence, and risk factors: There are two large muscles in the calf: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. These muscles create the power needed to push off with the foot or go up on the toes.
|
|
Achondrogenesis 08/02/2009
Achondrogenesis is a rare type of growth hormone deficiency in which there is a defect in the development of bone and cartilage. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Achondrogenesis is inherited, which means it is passed down through families. Some types are known to be recessive, meaning both parents carry the defective gene and the chance for a subsequent child to be affected is about 25%. Symptoms: Very short trunk, arms, legs and neck Head appears large in relation to the trunk Small lower jaw Narrow chest Signs and tests: X-rays show bone problems associated with the condition.
|
|
Achondroplasia 11/02/2009
Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of dwarfism. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Achondroplasia is one of a group of disorders called chondrodystrophies or osteochondrodysplasias. Achondroplasia may be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, which means that if a child gets the defective gene from one parent, the child will have the disorder. If one parent has achondroplasia, the infant has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder.
|
|
Acidosis 11/15/2009
Acidosis is a condition in which there is excessive acid in the body fluids. It is the opposite of alkalosis (a condition in which there is excessive base in the body fluids). Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The kidneys and lungs maintain the balance (proper pH level) of chemicals called acids and bases in the body. Acidosis occurs when acid builds up or when bicarbonate (a base) is lost. Acidosis is classified as either respiratory acidosis or metabolic acidosis .
|
|
Acne 12/11/2009
Acne vulgaris; Cystic acne; Pimples; Zits Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells.
|
|
Acoustic neuroma 05/24/2010
Vestibular schwannoma; Tumor - acoustic; Cerebellopontine angle tumor; Angle tumor Causes, incidence, and risk factors: An acoustic neuroma is believed to occur when there is a defect in a gene that normally prevents tumors from forming.
|
|
Acoustic trauma 08/04/2010
Injury - inner ear; Trauma - inner ear; Ear injury Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acoustic trauma is a common cause of sensory hearing loss . Damage to the hearing mechanisms within the inner ear may be caused by: An explosion near the ear Gunshots Long-term exposure to loud noises (such as loud music or machinery) Symptoms: Hearing loss Usually partial and involving high-pitched sounds May slowly get worse Noises, ringing in the ear ( tinnitus ) Signs and tests: The health care provider will usually suspect acoustic trauma if hearing loss occurs after noise exposure.
|
|
Acquired platelet function defect 03/02/2009
Acquired qualitative platelet disorders; Acquired disorders of platelet function Causes, incidence, and risk factors: With platelet disorders, there may be too many or too few platelets, or platelets that do not function well.
|
|
Acrodermatitis 08/26/2009
Papular acrodermatitis of childhood; Gianotti-Crosti syndrome; Acrodermatitis - infantile lichenoid; Acrodermatitis - papular infantile; Papulovesicular acro-located syndrome Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The cause of acrodermatitis is poorly understood, but its link with other infections is well- documented.
|
|
Acrodysostosis 11/01/2010
Arkless-Graham; Acrodysplasia; Maroteaux-Malamut Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Most patients with acrodysostosis have no family history of the disease. However, sometimes the condition is passed down from parent to child. Parents with the condition have a 1 in 2 chance of passing the disorder to their children.
|
|
Acromegaly 11/25/2009
Somatotroph adenoma; Growth hormone excess; Pituitary giant Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acromegaly occurs in about 6 of every 100,000 adults. It is caused by abnormal production of growth hormone after the skeleton and other organs finish growing. Excessive production of growth hormone in children causes gigantism rather than acromegaly.
|
|
Actinic keratosis 12/11/2009
Solar keratosis; Sun-induced skin changes - keratosis; Keratosis - actinic (solar) Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Actinic keratosis is caused by sun exposure. Risk factors for actinic keratosis include: Having fair skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair Long-term, daily sun exposure (for example, if you work outdoors) Multiple, severe sunburns early in life Older age Symptoms: Rough and dry skin lesion Patch or growth on the skin Limited to one area (localized) Located on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest, or other sun-exposed areas Gray, pink, red (erythematous), or the same color as the skin Begins as flat and scaly areas Later develops a hard and wart-like or gritty, rough, and "sandpapery" surface -- may develop a horn-like texture The skin lesion may be easier to feel than to see.
|
|
Actinomycosis 12/01/2009
Lumpy jaw Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Actinomycosis is usually caused by an anaerobic bacteria called Actinomyces israelii , which is a common and normally not disease-causing (nonpathogenic) organism found in the nose and throat. Because of the bacteria's normal location in the nose and throat, actinomycosis most commonly appears in the face and neck.
|
|
Acute adrenal crisis 11/23/2009
Adrenal crisis; Addisonian crisis; Acute adrenal insufficiency Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The two adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. They consist of the outer portion, called the cortex, and the inner portion, called the medulla. The cortex produces three types of hormones, all of which are called corticosteroids.
|
|
Acute arterial occlusion - kidney 05/20/2009
Acute renal arterial thrombosis; Renal artery embolism; Acute renal artery occlusion; Embolism - renal artery Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The kidneys are very sensitive to the amount of blood that flows through them. Any reduction of blood flow through the renal artery can impair kidney function.
|
|
Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy 03/22/2010
Urethral obstruction; Acute urethral obstruction; Obstructive uropathy - bilateral - acute Causes, incidence, and risk factors: In men, acute bilateral obstructive uropathy is most often a result of an enlarged prostate.
|
|
Acute cerebellar ataxia 03/26/2009
Cerebellar ataxia; Ataxia - acute cerebellar; Cerebellitis Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acute cerebellar ataxia is most common in children, especially those younger than age 3. It often occurs several weeks after a viral illness. Viral infections that may cause this include chickenpox , Coxsackie disease, Epstein-Barr, and mycoplasma pneumonia .
|
|
Result Pages:
|
|
|
