Common Diseases and Disorders

Acne Vulgaris

Chronic inflammatory disease characterized by pustule eruptions of the skin. Overproduction of sebum produced around the roots in the follicle

Seborrhea

Overactivity of the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands becomes infected called Seborrhea dermatitis

Seborrhoeic Keratosis

Benign skin growth. Waxy in appearance

Onychia

Or onychitis, inflammation of the bed of the fingernail or toenail

Onychocryptosis

Commonly called ingrown toenail. The edges of the nail curve inward and cut into the skin resulting in inflammation

Onychomycosis

Fungal infection of the nail and can be caused by several different fungi

Mycosis

Abnormal condition caused by a fungus

Tinea

Infection in the skin, hair, nails and commonly called ringworm

Gangrene

Death of tissue mainly caused by Ioss of circulation to the area

Parasitic infestation

Dwelling of microscopic parasites on the surface of the skin. Parasites live and potentially lay eggs and reproduce on the skin surface

Lesions

Flurd-filled sacs or pockets in the skin

Crust or scab

Collection of dried serum and cellular debris after an injury

Macule

Discolored flat spot less than 1 cm in diameter

Weal

Smooth, slightly elevated, swollen area that is more red or paler then the surrounding skin

Nodule

Solid, raised lesion larger then 0.5 cm in diameter

Exudate

fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound

Psoriasis

Skin disorder resulting in flare-ups which red papules covered with silvery scales occur on the elbows, knees, scalp, back or buttock

Albinism

Genetic condition where there is a deficiency or absence of pigment in the skin, hair and irises of the eyes

Chloasma

Pigmentation disorder characterized by brown spots on the face often occurring in pregnancy after delivery

Vitiligo

Destruction of the melanocytes. Cause is not known. Irregular patches of the white skin

Alopecia

Partial or complete hair loss or baldness. Other types are called by different problems or chemicals

Androgenic alopecia

Most common type and refers to male pattern baldness due to hormones, can be found in females

Folliculitis

Inflammation of the hair follicle. Common location is arms, legs, beards. Common cause is bacteria found in poorly chlorinated hot tubs and whirl pools

Hirsutism

Presence of excessive body and facial hair in women. Usually occur in a male pattern and is hereditary or sometimes caused by a hormone imbalance

Contusion

A bruise caused by a blow or impact, leading to bleeding under the skin.

Ecchymosis

Commonly referred to as a bruise, it is a discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath due to trauma or injury.

Hematoma

Swelling of clotted blood in the tissue is typically caused by a forceful injury to the tissue.

Petechiae

Very small hemorrhages less than 2 mm in diameter. Sometimes occur after a high fever

Purpura

Purple discolorations on the skin caused by bleeding underneath the skin

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin. The skin becomes res, swollen and itchy

Contact dermatitis

Contact with an irritant or allergen

Eczema

Persistent or reoccurring dermatitis resulting in redness, itching, and dryness. Skin can also blister, crack,ooze,bleed

Exfoliative dermatitis

widespread scaling of the skin. Often comes with hair loss, erythroderma (redness)and pruritis (itching)

Lesions

Through the skin

Fissure

Groove or crack in the skin

Ulcer

Open lesion resulting in tissue loss around the edges

Pressure score

Also called decubitus ulcer or bedsore. Open ulcerated wound caused by prolonged pressure on an area of the skin

Fasciitis

Inflammation of the fascia

Fibromyalgia

Debilitating and chronic condition where the person has fatigue, extreme weakness and experiences muscle, joint and bone pain

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendon caused by excessive use or an unusual use

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Disorder that affects many bodily systems and i’d characterized by profound fatigue, extreme weakness and pain in the muscles, joints and bone

Muscle Tone

State of balance of muscle tension caused by muscle contraction and relaxation

Atonic

Lack of normal muscle tone and strength

Dystonia

Abnormal muscle tone that interferes with normal muscle functions

Hypotonia

Diminishing of skeletal muscles. This limits passive movement

Myasthenia gravis

Chronic autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction. This is the place where the neuron activates the muscle to contract. This disorder causes significant weakness of the voluntary muscles, especially muscles that control eye movement, facial expression, chewing, talking and swallowing

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel are overused over time and become inflamed and swollen.

Sprain

Injury to a joint (wrist, ankle, knee, etc) caused by a wrenching or tearing of the ligament in the joint

Strain

Injury to a muscle or the attached tendons usually associated with overuse or stretching or tearing of the muscle or tendon

Tendonitis

Inflammation of a specific tendon caused by overuse or severe stretching. A name for a specific tendon is Achilles tendonitis

IT band syndrome (ITBS)

IT called iliotibial, runs from hip bone across the leg to the tibia. ITBS is caused by overuse when the IT band rubs across the bone

Shin Splints

Condition in which the muscle tears away from the tibia or shin bone causing significant pain . Repeated stress on hard surfaces like running or jumping

Atropphy

Wearing away of the muscle fibers because of disuse causing fatigue and weakness. When the muscle are not used over a long time

Myalgia

Muscle pain and tenderness

Myolysis

Degeneration or breakdown of the muscle tissue

Polymyositis

Muscle disease in which there is inflammation and weakening of voluntary muscles in parts of the body. Affected typically closest to the trunk or torso

Sarcopenia

The loss of muscle mass, strength and function that come with aging

Ataxia

Lack of coordination of voluntary movement. Movement is unsteady and shaky and is typically caused by dysfunction in the brain

Contracture

Permanent tightening of fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or skin that occurs when non-elastic fibrous tissues replaces the normally elastic connective tissue

Muscle Spasm

Is a sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more muscles. A tic is a spasm that repeats often typically involving the eyelids and face

Cramp

Localized muscle spasm that is painful. Charley horse is a commonly name for cramp in the leg

Muscular dystrophy

(often referred to muscular dystrophies, or MD) group of over 30 genetic diseases causing progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles. Nervous system is not typically involved

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)

Most common type of muscular dystrophy in children is DMD. Affects mainly boys with onset between the ages of 3 and 5 years. By age 12, with condition are unable to walk and later they develop breathing difficulties and heat disease

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)

Very similar to, but less severe than, Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Paralysis

Loss of both sensation and voluntary muscle movement because of damage to the nerves controlling the muscles

Myoparesis

Slight muscle paralysis or muscle weakness. Caused by a stroke or brain injury to the spinal cord

Hemiparesis

Slight muscle paralysis or muscle weakness occurring on only one side of the body. Caused by a stroke or brain injury or injury to the spinal cord

Hemiplegia

Total paralysis on one side of the body commonly caused by a stroke or brain injury or injury to the spinal cord

Paraplegia

Complete paralysis of the lower part of the body and legs typically caused by damage to the spinal cord

Quadriplegia

Complete paralysis of the upper extremities and body and lower extremities and body. Typically caused by spinal cord injury

Repetitive stress disorders

(Repetitive use, often called repetitive motion disorders) Muscular conditions that result from repeated motions performed as one does normal work, daily activities, recreation movements etc.

Compartment syndrome

Compression of nerves and blood vessels caused by swelling within the enclosed space created by the fascia separating groups of muscles. Caused by trauma, tight bandages tight casts, or repetitive activities that cause compression

Overuse injuries

Tissue injuries that do not have time to rest and heal

Overuse tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendons caused by overuse or unusual use of a joint

Ankylosis

Loss or absence of mobility in a joint because of disease, injury, or a surgical procedure

Arthrosclerosis

Stiffness of the joint and is common in the elderly

Bursitis

Inflammation of a bursa, or cushioning sac in the joint, causing pain

Chondromalacia

Abnormal softening of the cartilage in a joint causing pain with movement

Sprian

Occurs when a ligament that connects bones together is stretched beyond its limits or torn

Synovitis

Inflammation that synovial membrane of a joint resulting in pain and swelling

Luxation

Also called dislocation. Occurs when there is total displacement of a bone from its joint

Subluxation

Dislocation is only partial displacement of a bone from its joint

Arthritis

Inflammation condition of a joint. There are over 100 types

Osteoarthitis

Associated with wear-and-tear because of overuse, sports or aging

Spondylosis

Commonly called spinal osteoarthritis and describes the loss of normal spinal structure and function

Gout

(gouty arthritis) Caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in a joint which can make the joint painful, red and warm. Begins in the big toe

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Chronic autoimmune disorder attacking not only the joint but other organs as well

Ankylosing spondylitis

Rheumatoid arthritis leading to inflammation of the joint between the vertebrae

Juvenile rheumatoid arthitis

Autoimmune disorder affects children age 16 or younger. Symptoms include pain, swelling at the joint, stiffness, rash, fever, fatigue and stunted growth

Herniated disk

Referred to as a slipped or ruptured disk. Intervertebral disk breaks apart resulting in pressure on the associated spinal nerve

Lumbago

Lower back pain or pain in the lumbar region of the spine.

Spondylolisthesis

Slipping movement of the body of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the vertebra or sacrum in the forward direction

Spina bifida

Congenital defect that occurs early in pregnancy. Spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord resulting in a lack of protection

Scoliosis

Abnormal lateral, or sideways, curvature of the spine

Lordosis

Abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine. commonly called swayback

Kyphosis

Abnormal increase in the outward curvature if the thoracic spine if viewed from the side. Also called humpback or dowager’s hump

Craniostenosis

Problem with the formation of the skull where there is a premature closure of the cranial sutures after birth

Osteitis

Inflammation of a bone, also known as ostitis

Periostitis

Inflammation of the periosteum of the bone. Periosteum is the surrounding lining if the bone

Rickets

Deficiency of vitamin D required to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in the bone resulting in problematic bone growth