Health Science 1 disease and disorders review

acne vulgaris

a common and chronic disorder of the sebaceous gland; excessive sebum is secreted and pores fill with leukocytes in response to this which cause an accusation of pus; treatment may include topical medicines that dry up oil and promote skin peeling or antibiotics if the skin becomes inflamed

athlete's foot

a contagious fungal infection characterized by the formation of small blisters forming in between fingers and toes along with cracking and scaling; most commonly contracted in public showers; treatment includes a thorough cleansing of the area and keeping it dry, also anti fungal agents may be applied

dermatitis

a nonspecific inflammation of the skin; to treat, remove the irritant that is causing the problem, wash and apply topical ointments to the area to reduce inflation and itching; cause may also be emotional so avoid stress

eczema

an acute, chronic, noncontagious inflammatory skin disease, skin is dry, red, itchy, and scaly, treatment includes avoiding the causing agent and applying topical medications containing hydrocortisone

impetigo

an acute, inflammatory, and contagious skin disease seen in babies and young children; caused by the staphylococcus organism; characterized by the appearance of vesicles that rupture and develop distinct yellow crusts; treatment is topical antibacterial cream and oral antibiotics

psoriasis

a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the development of dry reddish patches covered with silvery-white scales; seen at the elbows, knees, shins, scalp, and lower back; unknown cause; moisturizers help keep skin soft and reduce both the scales and the pain

ringworm

a highly contagious fungal infection marked by raised, itchy, circular patches with crusts; treated with anti fungal drugs

urticaria or hives

a skin condition recognized by the appearance of intensely itching wheals or welts; welts have an elevated, white center, surrounded by a pink area, these last one to two days; this is generally a response to an allergen; complete avoidance of allergens will alleviate the problem

boils or carbuncles

is a painful bacterial infection of the hair follicles or sebaceous glands caused by the staphylococcus organism; treatments include antibiotics and excision and drainage of area

rosacea

a common inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic redness and irritation to the face; commonly seen in fair skinned adults; treatment includes avoiding triggers and using a topical or oral antibiotic medication prescribed by a doctor

herpes simplex

a viral infection usually seen as a blister;occurs around the mouth; spread through oral contact

genital herpes

a form of the virus that appears as blister in the genital area; spread through sexual contact; treat with antiviral medication; if a woman in labor has this disorder, she must have a c-section to avoid passing this onto the baby

shingles (herpes zoster)

a skin eruption due to a virus infection of the nerve endings; this virus also causes chicken pox in children; treatment includes medication for pain and itching in addition to protecting the area

head lice

parasitic insects found on the head of people; contagious; symptoms are feeling something moving on the head, intense itching, and sores on the head caused by scratching; treatment includes using lotions on shampoos to designed to kill the insects, and the use of a fine tooth comb every few days

ingrown nails

a common nail problem; nail may curve downwards into the skin causing pain and possible infection; often caused by improper nail trimming or tight shoes; treated by a doctor

warts

human papilloma viral infection that affects the skin surrounding or underneath the nail; painful and sometimes cause limited use of finger or toe

skin cancer

associated with exposure to ultraviolet light; most common type of cancer

basal cell carcinoma

squamous cell carcinoma

malignant melanoma

pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers or bedsores

are preventable and primary concern of health care workers; occurs when a person is constantly sitting or lying in the same position without shifting his/her weight; constant pressure against the area causes a decrease in blood supply causing the tissue to decay; best treatment is prevention; frequent turning or relief of pressure is essential

greenstick fracture

simplest type of fracture; bone is partially bent but never completely separates; common among young children

closed/simple fracture

bone is broken but the broken ends do not pierce through the skin

open/compound fracture

most serious fracture; bone ends pierce through the skin which can cause infection

comminuted fracture

when the bone is splintered or broken into many pieces that can become embedded in the surrounding tissue

dislocation

occurs when a bone is displaced from its proper position in a joint

sprain

ligaments are torn; accompanied with swelling and pain; treated with anti-inflammatory drugs

rheumatoid arthritis

a chronic, autoimmune disease which affects the connective tissue and joints; acute inflammation of connective tissue, thickening of the synovial membrane, and ankylosis of joints; joints are badly swollen and painful

osteoarthritis

a degenerative joint disease; occurs with aging; the articular cartilage degenerates and a bony spur formation occurs at the joint; joints enlarge; pain and swelling occurs

gout

a joint disorder characterized by acute inflammation commonly affecting the big toe; pain and swelling is the body's response to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint; uric acid is formed by the breakdown of molecules called purines; treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatiod drugs

rickets

usually found in children and caused by a lack of vitamin D; bones become soft, due to lack of calcification, causing deformities as bowlegs and pigeon breast; may be prevented with sufficient quantities of calcium, vitamin D, and exposure to sunshine

slipped (herniated) disc

a condition where a cartilage disc ruptures or protrudes out of place and puts pressure on the spinal nerve; treated by a chiropractor or with bed rest, traction, or surgery

kyphosis

hunchback; is a humped curvatures in the thoracic area of the spine

lordosis

swayback; is an exaggerated inward curvature in the lumbar region of the spine

scoliosis

a side-to-side or lateral curvature of the spine

osteoporosis

a porous bone disease characterize by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue; mineral density of bone is reduced 65% to 35%; treatment is aimed at preventing or slowing the process

osteosarcoma

bone cancer

strain

tear in a muscle

myalgia

a term used to describe muscle pain

fibromyalgia

most definite symptom is chronic muscle pain; other symptoms include fatigue, headache, feeling of numbness and tingling, and join pain; treatment is directed at pain relief

hernia

an organ protrudes through weak muscle

muscular dystrophy

a group of diseases in which the muscle cells deteriorate

myasthenia gravis

grave muscle weakness; occurs when the connection between the muscle and nerves is lost

meningitis

the inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord; cause may be bacterial or virus;symptoms include headache, fever, and stiff neck; if the cause is bacterial, it may be treated with antibiotics

encephalitis

an inflammation of the brain; may be caused by a virus or may be caused chemically under certain conditions; symptoms are fever, lethargy, extreme weakness, and visual disturbances

epilepsy

a seizure disorder of the brain; characterized by a recurring and excessive discharge of neurons; believed to be a result of uncontrolled and spontaneous cycles of electrical activities of the neurons of the brain; uncertain cause; subject may suffer from hallucinations, seizures, and loss of consciousness; treatment includes anticonvulsants

cerebral palsy

a disturbance in voluntary muscular action due to brain damage; caused by abnormalities in the parts of the brain that cause movements; most pronounced characteristic is spastic quadriplegia; frequently exhibits head rolling, grimacing, and difficulty in speech and swallowing; no impairment of intellect

poliomyelitis

a disease of the nerve pathways of the spinal cord which causes paralysis; Sabin and Sulk vaccines

hydrocephalus

a condition that involves an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain; usually caused by a blockage somewhere between the third or fourth ventricles; enlargement of the head occurs; usually noted at birth; bypass or shunt operation is performed which will prevent a buildup of pressure on brain tissue

parkinson's disease

characterized by tremors, a shuffling gait, pill rolling, and muscle rigidity; difficulty igniting movement; cause may be a decrease in the neurotransmitter dopamine; treated with the drug L-dopa and others to control the symptoms

multiple sclerosis (MS)

a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS in which the immune cells attack the myelin sheath, leaving scar tissue on the nerve cells; unknown cause; diagnosis is symptoms and signs of impairment; symptoms include weakness of extremities, double vision, nystagmus (tremors movement of the eye), speech problems, loss of coordination, and possible paralysis; drugs such as interferon and Avonex are used; adequate rest, exercise, and minimal stress may lessen the effects

West Nile Virus (WNV)

a mosquito borne virus; no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms; treatment is symptomatic

dementia

defined as a loss in at least two areas of complex behavior

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive disease in which the initial symptom is usually a problem with remembering recently learned information; nerve endings of the cortex of the brain degenerate and block the signals passing between neurons, these areas are called plaques; cause is unknown; three stages: first (2-4 years) involves confusion, short-term memory loss, anxiety, and poor judgement; second (2-10 years) increase in memory loss, difficulty in recognizing people, motor problems, logic problems, and loss of social skills; third (1-3 years) inability to recognize oneself, weight loss, seizures, mood swings, and aphasia (loss of speech)

hematoma

a localized mass of blood collection caused by trauma; surgery may be needed in some cases

neuritis

inflammation of the nerve or a nerve trunk; symptoms may be severe pain, hypersensitivity, loss of sensation, muscular atrophy, weakness, and paresthesia (tingling, burning, crawling or the skin); treatment depends on the cause; pain may be relieved by analgesics (painkillers)

peripheral neuropathy

term used to describe damage to the peripheral nerves; painful condition; treat by managing the underlying condition, repairing damage to the nerve, and providing relief for the pain

sciatica

a form of neuritis that affects the sciatic nerve; may be caused by a rupture of a lumbar disc or arthritic changes; most common symptom is pain radiating from the buttocks, behind the knee and through the foot; treatment includes traction, physiotherapy, exercises, and possibly surgery

neuralgia

sudden, severe, sharp, stabbing pain along the pathway of a nerve; pain is often very brief and it may be a symptom of another disease

trigeminal neuralgia

a condition that involves the fifth cranial nerve; unknown cause; rapid onset; severe pain; treatment may be algesics or partial removal of the fifth cranial nerve

bell's palsy

a condition that involves the seventh cranial nerve (facial); affects one side of the face, eye won't close properly, mouth droops, numbness in affected area; unknown cause; no standard treatment

carpal tunnel syndrome

a condition affecting the median nerve and the flexor tendons that attach to the bones of the wrist; develops due to repetitive movement of the wrist while the hands are held in an unusual position; swelling, pain, muscle weakness, and tingling occur; diagnosis test is an electromyograph (EMG); treatment includes immobilizing the wrist joint or surgery if the treatment is not effective

conjunctivitis or "pink eye"

an inflammation of the conjunctival membranes; redness, pain, swelling, and discharge of mucous occur; extremely contagious; do not share washcloths of towels with affected person; treatment includes eye washes of eye irrigations, if bacterial, treat with antibiotic drugs

glaucoma

a condition of excessive intraocular pressure resulting in the destruction of the retina and the atrophy of the optic nerve; caused by the overproduction of aqueous humor or the obstruction of its outflow; symptoms are gradual; symptoms are mild aching, loss of peripheral vision, and a halo around light; treatment involves antibiotic drugs which constrict the pupil thus increasing the outflow of aqueous humor or drugs that reduce the amount of aqueous humor produced

cataracts

a condition where the lens of the eye gradually becomes cloudy; causes a painless, gradual blurring and loss of vision; pupil changes from black to a milky white; treated by laser surgery or the surgical removal of the lens and postoperative substitution of contact lenses or eyeglasses

macular degeneration

an eye disorder that occurs as a person ages; symptoms include a dimming or distortion of vision that is most noticeable when reading; straight lines look wavy and blind spots may develop; laser treatment

detached retina

occurs with aging or as a result of a traumatic accident; vitreous fluid contracts as it ages and pulls on the retina, causing a tear; symptoms include a loss of peripheral vision and then a loss of central vision; can be repaired with a laser or freezing technique

diabetic retinopathy

caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina; if it advances, patient may see red spots if bleeding occurs; treatment is laser surgery

sty (hordeolum)

a tiny abscess at the base of an eyelash; eye is red, painful, and swollen; causes by the inflammation of the sebaceous gland in the eyelid; treatment includes placing a warm, moist compress to relief pain and increase drainage

eyestrain

experienced as burning, tightness, sharp or dull pain, watery, blurry vision, and headaches; if a person has any discomfort when viewing something, it is called this; the most common cause is too much use of a computer; another cause is dry eyes which is cause by staring at something and forgetting to blink

night blindness

a condition that makes it difficult to see at night; rod cells in retina are affected

color blindness

the inability to distinguish color; cones cells in the retina are affected; identified as a hereditary characteristic

presbyopia

a condition in which the lens lose their elasticity resulting in a decreased ability to focus on close objects; can be corrected by glasses or contact lenses

hyperopia

farsightedness; a condition in which the focal point is beyond the retina because the eyeball is shorter than normal; objects that are farther away can be seen more clearly; convex lenses help to correct this

myopia

nearsightedness; a condition in which the focal point is in front of the retina because the eyeball is elongated; closer objects are seen clearly; concave lenses help to correct this

amblyopia

is a reduction or dimness of vision

astigmatism

a condition in which there is an abnormal curvature of the cornea or the lens which causes blurred vision and eyestrain; a special prescription eyeglass helps this condition

diplopia

blurred vision

strabismus

cross-eyes; a condition in which the muscles of the eyeball do not coordinated their actions; can be corrected by eye exercises or surgery

otitis media

an infection of the middle ear; causes ear ache; treat with antibiotics

otosclerosis

an inherited disorder in which the bone stapes of the middle ear becomes spongy then hardens causing it to become immovable; can cause deafness; treatment is stapedectomy which is replacing the stapes

tinnitus

ringing sound in the ears; caused by the hairs of the auditory cells being bent or broken; damage is commonly caused by loud noises; treat the underlying cause if possible

presbycusis

deafness due to aging; use hearing aides

meniere's disease

condition that affects the semicircular canals of the inner ear causing vertigo accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and tinnitus

conductive hearing loss

occurs when sounds to the inner ear are blocked by earwax or there is fluid in the inner ear or abnormal bone growth

sensorineural hearing loss

damage to the nerves of the inner ear or auditory canal causing complete or partial deafness; cochlear implants improve hearing

rhinitis

inflammation of the lining of the nose which may cause nasal congestion, nasal drainage, and sneezing; the cause may be allergies or infection or other factors; treatment includes limiting exposure to allergens or using antihistamines

nasal polyps

growths in the nasal cavity associated with rhinitis; in severe cases, surgery may be necessary

deviated nasal septum

a condition in which there is a bend in the cartilage structure of the nasal septum; symptoms are blockage of airflow, difficulty sleeping, headaches, loud breathing or snoring, dry nose, and nose bleeds; as external adhesive strip can be places across the nose of temporary relief by reducing nasal airflow resistance

gigantism

caused by hyper function of the pituitary gland during preadolescence; and overgrowth of the long bones resulting excessive tallness

acromegaly

caused by hyper function of the pituitary gland during adulthood; an overdevelopment of the face, hands, and feet; in adults whose bones have already matured, the growth hormone attacks the cartilaginous regions the joints causing the chin to protrude and the lips, nose, and extremities to enlarge disproportionately

dwarfism

caused by the hypo functioning of the pituitary gland during childhood; growth of bones is abnormally deceased by an inadequate production of the growth hormone; the body is normally proportioned and intelligence is not affected; treatment involves early diagnosis and injection of the growth hormone

diabetes insipidus

disorder caused by posterior lobe dysfunction; there is a drop in the amount of ADH which causes excessive loss of water and electrolytes; affected person complains of excessive thirst (polydyspia)

hyperthyroidism

caused by the overactivity of the thyroid gland; too much thyroxin is secreted causing the gland to become enlarged; affected people consume large amounts of food but still lose weight and body fat; symptoms include feeling too hot, faster growing and rougher fingernails, weakened muscles, increased blood pressure and heart beat, hand tremors, perspiration, irritability, and increased blood sugar levels; most pronounced system is engagement of the thyroid gland (goiter), bulging of the eyeballs (exophthalmos), dilation of the pupils, and wide opened eyelids; treatment is total or partial removal of the thyroid gland and the administration of drugs to decrease thyroid secretion

hypothyroidism

a condition in which the thyroid gland does not secrete enough thyroxin; may occur due to an iodine deficiency; a goiter may indicate this condition; another cause is the inflammation of the thyroid gland which stops it form secreting thyroxin; two types can occur: myxedema and cretinism

tetany

hypo functioning of the parathyroid gland; diminished levels of calcium affect the normal function of nerves; convulsive twitching develops; treatment consists of administering vitamin D, calcium, and parathormone

cushing's syndrome

results from the hyper secretion of the glucocorticoid hormones from the adrenal cortex; symptoms include high blood pressure, muscular weakness, obesity, poor healing of skin lesions, a tendency to bruise easily, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), menstrual disorders (in women), and hyperglycemia; more noticeably the rounded "moon" face and a "buffalo hump" that develops from the redistribution of fat; treatment is the surgical removal of the adrenal cortex tumor

addison's disease

caused by the hypo functioning of the adrenal cortex; symptoms include excessive pigmentation or "bronzing" of the skin, decreased levels of blood glucose, hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, muscle weakness and fatigue, diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, and an imbalance of electrolytes; treatment is focused on replacing the deficient hormones

diabetes mellitus

caused by decreased secretion of insulin from the inlets of langerhans cells of the pancreas or by the ineffective use of insulin; two types (I and II); treatment is focused on diet, weight loss, glucose monitoring, and medication

anemia

deficiency in the number or percentage of RBC and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood; results from a large or chronic loss of blood or from extreme RBC destruction and malformation of hemoglobin; because this condition affects hemoglobin, there is never enough oxygen getting to cells around the body, resulting in not enough energy being release; this condition is characterized by dyspnea, pallor, palpitation, and fatigue

iron deficiency anemia

caused by a deficiency in adequate amounts of iron in the diet leading to insufficient amounts of hemoglobin being produced; treat with iron supplements and eat lots of leafy, green veggies containing iron

pernicious anemia

a form of anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B 12 or a lack of the intrinsic factor; symptoms include dyspnea, pallor, and fatigue; treatment is injections of vitamin B 12

aplastic anemia

disease caused by the suppression of bone marrow; has multiple causes; some of which are idiopathic, meaning that they occur randomly with no known cause; other causes are secondary, meaning they are the results of some other illness; acquired causes may be toxins, drugs, exposure to radiation, inheriting the disease, or having history of autoimmune disorders; in this condition, bone marrow does not produce enough RBC; treatment is to remove the toxic substance or to discontinue the drugs or radiation causing it or, in severe cases, a bone marrow transplant may be necessary