Pathophysiology and Disease Processes

autoimmune

a condition of or related to the immune response of an organism against substances naturally present in the body

curettage

the removal of tissue or growths from a body cavity, such as the uterus, by scraping with a curette

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

dyspnea

difficulty breathing

electrodessication

the drying of tissue by a high-frequency electric current applied with a needle-shaped electrode (also called fulguration)

etiology

the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition

hypoxia

lacking oxygen in the body

idiopathic

of unknown origin

incidence

the rate of new (or newly diagnosed) cases of a disease or injury

lithotripsy

destruction of kidney stones using shock waves

Mohs surgery

a method of excising skin cancers and microscopically examining each layer until the entire tumor is removed

NSAID

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication

orthopnea

difficulty breathing in any position other than standing or sitting

Pathophysiology

the study of physical manifestations of illnesses and disease

peripheral edema

accumulation of fluid causing swelling in tissues, usually in the lower extremities

prevalence

the number of active cases of a disease or injury

rhinorrhea

runny nose

RICE

the treatment for many musculoskeletal system injuries (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

tachycardia

heart rate greater than 100/min

what causes diabetes mellitus type 1?

unknown (possible autoimmune, genetic, or environmental)

what are the symptoms for diabetes mellitus type 1?

polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, blurry vision, weight loss, elevated blood glucose

what are the treatments for diabetes mellitus type 1?

insulin therapy

diabetes mellitus type 2 causes

obesity, inactivity, genetics

diabetes mellitus type 2 symptoms

polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, elevated blood glucose

diabetes mellitus type 2 treatments

diet modification, exercise, medication, insulin therapy

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes:

unknown (possibly genetic, excessive insulin)

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms:

irregular menstrual cycles, elevated hormone levels, multiple cysts on ovaries

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treatments:

weight loss, estrogen and progestin

Hypothyroidism causes:

autoimmune disease, medications, thyroid surgery

Hypothyroidism symptoms:

fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, bradycardia, depression, elevated cholesterol, dry skin

Hypothyroidism treatments:

synthetic thyroid hormone medication (levothyroxine)

Hyperthyroidism causes:

Graves disease, thyroiditis, Plummer's disease

Hyperthyroidism symptoms:

weight loss, tachycardia, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disruption, goiter

Hyperthyroidism treatments:

radioactive iodine, antithyroid medication, beta blockers, thyroidectomy

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) causes:

light/fair skin, sun exposure

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) symptoms:

new growth or sore that does not heal

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatments:

curettage and electrodessication, Mohs surgery, cryosurgery, laser therapy

squamous cell carcinoma causes:

light/fair skin, sun exposure, less common than BCC

squamous cell carcinoma symptoms:

spreads to surrounding tissues, most common on face and head

squamous cell carcinoma treatments:

curettage and electrodessication, Mohs surgery, cryosurgery, laser therapy

malignant carcinoma causes:

light/fair skin, sun exposure

malignant carcinoma symptoms:

itchy/bleeding mole, new mole, mole with changes

malignant carcinoma treatments:

depends on stage of lesion, surgery, lymph node biopsy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy

acne vulgaris causes:

surge of sex hormones during puberty, excess sebum on skin surface

acne vulgaris symptoms:

black heads, white heads (comedos), papules, pustules

acne vulgaris treatment:

regular cleansing of affected area, OTC benzoyl peroxide products, prescription medication (topical or oral)

alopecia causes:

often hereditary, hormone changes, chemotherapy, stress, burns, fungal skin infections

alopecia symptoms:

Loss or lack of hair anywhere on the body, typically on the scalp. Can include eyebrows/eyelashes.

alopecia treatment:

no cure, hair transplants and medications can slow progression

cellulitis cause:

staphylococcal and streptococcal bacterial infections

cellulitis symptoms:

red, tight skin, pain in inflamed area, fever

cellulitis treatments:

oral/topical antibiotics, hospitalization if at risk for developing systemic infection

dermatitis cause:

multiple causative agents, contact with irritants

dermatitis symptoms:

inflammation of skin resulting in rash and pruritus

dermatitis treatments:

treatment is based on cause, corticosteroid creams, oral steroids

eczema cause:

unknown (possible allergy or inflammatory condition)

eczema symptoms:

chronic dermatitis with vesicular eruptions developing into itchy, red, scaly rash

eczema treatments:

topical or systemic steroids, NSAIDs for discomfort

folliculitis cause:

shaving or repeated rubbing of shaved area, bacteria or fungi

folliculitis symptoms:

red, itchy hair follicles (pimple appearance)

folliculitis treatment:

regular cleansing of affected area, topical antibiotics, electric shaver instead of razor

herpes simplex cause:

contact with herpes simplex virus

herpes simplex symptoms:

Type I: Painful blisters on lips, mouth, and face. Type II: Similar lesions, located in genital area.

herpes simplex treatment:

no cure, antiviral medication to decrease frequency of outbreaks

impetigo cause:

staphylococcal and streptococcal bacteria

impetigo symptoms:

itchy, oozing skin lesions with honey-like appearing crust

impetigo treatment:

antibiotics, frequent cleansing of area

pediculosis cause:

parasitic lice infestation

pediculosis symptoms:

skin itching, nits (eggs) in hair, particularly near roots

pediculosis treatment:

prescription or OTC lice treatments/shampoos

psoriasis cause:

inherited autoimmune disorder

psoriasis symptoms:

silvery, scaly, severely itchy skin lesions, can cause systemic symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation (psoriatic arthritis)

psoriasis treatments:

oral NSAIDS, topical creams containing vitamins A and D, hydrocortisone cream, UV treatments

ringworm cause:

contact with causative fungus

ringworm symptoms:

flat, circular lesions (dry/scaly or moist/crusty)

ringworm treatments:

Topical and oral antifungal medication

rosacea cause:

dilation of small facial blood vessels, cause of dilation unknown

rosacea symptoms:

redness, acne-like eruptions on face

rosacea treatments:

topical cortisones, antibiotics, vascular laser therapy

Osteoarthritis cause:

inflammatory processes, metabolic disorders

Osteoarthritis symptoms:

joint stiffness and pain, fluid surrounding the joint, grating sound with joint movement

Osteoarthritis treatment:

NSAIDs, intra-articular injections, arthroscopy, joint replacement surgery

rheumatoid arthritis cause:

autoimmune

rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:

destruction of the joint capsule causing scar tissue to form, visible joint deformity, loss of joint mobility

rheumatoid arthritis treatments:

NSAIDs, exercise, heat and cold therapies, cortisone injections, surgery to remove scar tissue

bursitis cause:

overuse, joint trauma, bacterial infection

bursitis symptoms:

joint pain and swelling

bursitis treatments:

rest, pain medication, steroid injection, aspiration of joint fluid, antibiotics

Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors cause:

unknown, age 10 - 20 years, old, male sex

Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors symptoms:

fever, pain at tumor site, fractures, bruising

Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors treatments:

surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant

gout cause:

deposits of uric acid crystals accumulate in joint spaces

gout symptoms:

joint pain, common in big toe and knee joints, stiffness, swelling

gout treatments:

dietary changes (avoidance of rich, fatty foods), pain medication, medications to aid in elimination of uric acid in kidneys during urine formation

kyphosis causes:

growth retardation or improper development of growth plates, aging and degenerative disk disease contribute to adult onset

kyphosis symptoms:

visible upper back curvature (humpback)

kyphosis treatments:

exercise, back bracing, harrington rod, spinal fusion in extreme cases

lordosis cause:

injury, poor posture, wearing high heels(inward positioning of back when balancing on balls of feet)

lordosis symptoms:

inward curvature of the lower back (swayback)

lordosis treatments:

corrective shoes, exercise