for family physicians and you
General Illness Information Medical Term: FIBROID TUMORS OF THE UTERUS Common Name: None Specified Description: A fibroid is a benign growth of cells in the muscular wall of the uterus. Cells are composed of mainly muscle cells, but with varying amounts of fibrous connective tissue. They may be present as solitary or multiple tumors. The size of the tumor may range from size of a pea to as large as…
General Illness Information Medical Term: FIBROMYALGIA (FIBROSITIS) Common Name: Fibromyalgia (Fibromyositis) Description: Fibrositis (fibromyalgia syndromes, myofascial pain syndromes) are a group of disorders characterized by chronic widespread aches and pains in the muscles, muscle sheath and connective tissues of tendons, muscles, bones and joints, with associated tenderness. The pain and stiffness (fibromyalgia) may affect the whole body or may be restricted to certain parts of the body, as in myofascial…
General Illness Information Medical Term: IMPOTENCE, MALE SEXUAL (ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION) Common Name: None Specified Description: A consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Impotence is not inevitable with aging. The capacity for erection is retained, though a man may need more stimulation to achieve erection and more time between erections than in the past. Causes: Psychological causes include: Guilt feelings. A poor relationship with the sexual partner. Psychological disorders,…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ESOPHAGUS CANCER Common Name: None Specified Description: Malignant growth in the esophagus (food pipe) ,in which cells multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Usually develops in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years of age. The overall ratio of men to women is 3:1. There are 2 types of cancer – squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In the United States, squamous cell carcinoma is…
General Illness Information Medical Term: FAILURE TO THRIVE Common Name: None Specified Description: This term is usually reserved for children, who for various reasons, fail to gain weight. Length and head circumference may also be affected in which case, the underlying condition may be more severe. Most commonly affected children are between ages of 3-6 months and almost all are under 3-5 years. It is more predominant in males than…
General Illness Information Medical Term: ENDOMETRIOSIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium (i.e. the inner lining of the uterus) which is normally found only in the uterus, grows in and around the pelvic organs e.g. the fallopian tubes, ovaries, pelvic cavity and also around other abdominal organs like the bowels, kidneys and rarely the lung. Most commonly found in women between the ages…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EPIDIDYMITIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Infection or inflammation of the epididymis, which is a tubular structure attached to the upper posterior part of each testicle, and results in scrotal pain. Causes: Causes depend on the age of the patient: In younger men ( less than 35 ) – Sexually transmitted disease e.g.. Chlamydia or Gonorrhea and E. coli infection, associated with anogenital sex –…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EPIGLOTTITIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Epiglottitis represents a true medical emergency. It is a life-threatening childhood infection of the epiglottis. Epiglottis is the structure that closes the entrance to the voice box and the wind pipe (larynx and trachea ) during swallowing. Epiglottitis is contagious. It can lead to upper airway obstruction. It is rare under the age of two years, commonest between the…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EPILEPSY Common Name: Seizures Description: Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. These are attacks of abnormal brain function characterized years. by brief periods of altered consciousness, motor activity or inappropriate behavior. A seizure (or a fit) is an abnormal focus of sudden electrical activity in the brain. It affects approximately 0.5% of the population in the United States and Canada and affects males…
General Illness Information Medical Term: EPISTAXIS Common Name: Nosebleeds Description: Epistaxis is bleeding from the nostril, nasal cavity or from the nasopharynx (back part of the nose). Most common site of bleeding is from the Little’s area (Kiesselbach’s plexus) which is located in the front part of the nasal septum and contains many blood vessels. Second most common site is the anterior end of the inferior nasal turbinate. Less commonly…