Health's Book

Definition

Aseptic meningitis is an illness that appears similar to bacterial meningitis; however, bacteria do not grow in cultures of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid).

See also:

* Meningitis
* Meningitis - cryptococcal
* Meningitis - gram-negative
* Meningitis - H. influenzae
* Meningitis - meningococcal
* Meningitis - pneumococcal
* Meningitis - staphylococcal
* Meningitis - tuberculous

Symptoms

* Abdominal pain
* Abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia)
* Chills
* Confusion
* Drowsiness
* Fever
* General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
* Headache
* Muscle pain
* Nausea and vomiting
* Rash
* Sore throat
* Stiff neck

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Definition

Ascites is excess fluid in the space between the tissues lining the abdomen and abdominal organs (the peritoneal cavity).

Symptoms

Small amounts of fluid in the abdomen do not usually produce symptoms. Massive accumulations may cause:

* rapid weight gain
* abdominal discomfort and distention
* shortness of breath
* swollen ankles

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Definition

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease brought on by inhaling asbestos fibers.

Symptoms

* Chest pain
* Cough
* Shortness of breath on exertion (slowly gets worse over time)
* Tightness in the chest

Possible additional symptoms include the following:

* Nail abnormalities
* Clubbing of fingers

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Definition

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.

See also: Joint pain

Alternative Names

Joint inflammation

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.

You may have joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including:

* An autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself because the immune system believes a body part is foreign)
* Broken bone
* General "wear and tear" on joints
* Infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses)

Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is treated, or the infection has been cleared.

With some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is more likely to occur as you age. You may feel it in any of your joints, but most commonly in your hips, knees or fingers. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:

* Being overweight
* Previously injuring the affected joint
* Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint (baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk)

Arthritis can occur in men and women of all ages. About 37 million people in America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out of every 7 people.

Other types or cause of arthritis include:

* Adult Still's disease
* Ankylosing spondylitis
* Fungal infections such as blastomycosis
* Gonococcal arthritis
* Gout
* Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
* Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
* Psoriatic arthritis
* Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
* Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
* Scleroderma
* Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
* Tertiary Lyme disease
* Tuberculous arthritis
* Viral arthritis

Symptoms

If you have arthritis, you may experience:

* Joint pain
* Joint swelling
* Reduced ability to move the joint
* Redness of the skin around a joint
* Stiffness, especially in the morning
* Warmth around a joint

Signs and tests

First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or another musculoskeletal problem is the likely cause of your symptoms.

Next, a thorough physical examination may show that fluid is collecting in the joint. (This is called an "effusion.") The joint may be tender when it is gently pressed, and may be warm and red (especially in infectious arthritis and autoimmune arthritis). It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some directions. This is known as "limited range-of-motion."

In some autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe, untreated rheumatoid arthritis.

Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They often include blood tests and joint x-rays. To check for infection and other causes of arthritis (like gout caused by crystals), joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle and examined under a microscope. See the specific types of arthritis for further information.

Treatment

Treatment of arthritis depends on the particular cause, which joints are affected, severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan.

If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis. However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and discomfort and preventing further disability.

It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle changes without medications is preferable for osteoarthritis and other forms of joint inflammation. If needed, medications should be used in addition to lifestyle changes.

Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength. Your exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:

* Low-impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)
* Range of motion exercises for flexibility
* Strength training for muscle tone

A physical therapist can apply heat and cold treatments as needed and fit you for splints or orthotic (straightening) devices to support and align joints. This may be particularly necessary for rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical therapist may also consider water therapy, ice massage, or transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS).

Rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8 to 10 hours per night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:

* Avoid holding one position for too long.
* Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.
* Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
* Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.

Other measures to try include:

* Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7 days.
* Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants like vitamin E. These are found in fruits and vegetables. Get selenium from Brewer's yeast, wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts. Get omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish (like salmon, mackerel, and herring), flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
* Taking glucosamine and chondroitin -- these form the building blocks of cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such supplements may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit. However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to try and many patients find their symptoms improve.

MEDICATIONS

Your doctor will choose from a variety of medications as needed. Generally, the first drugs to try are available without a prescription. These include:

* Acetaminophen (Tylenol) -- recommended by the American College of Rheumatology and the American Geriatrics Society as first-line treatment for osteoarthritis. Take up to 4 grams a day (two arthritis-strength Tylenol every 8 hours). This can provide significant relief of arthritis pain without many of the side effects of prescription drugs. DO NOT exceed the recommended doses of acetaminophen or take the drug in combination with large amounts of alcohol. These actions may damage your liver.
* Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen -- these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often effective in combating arthritis pain. However, they have many potential risks, especially if used for a long time. They should not be taken in any amount without consulting your doctor. Potential side effects include heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers, bleeding from the digestive tract, and kidney damage. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked makers of NSAIDs to include a warning label on their product that alerts users of an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding. If you have kidney or liver disease, or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, you should not take these medicines unless your doctor specifically recommends them.

Prescription medicines include:

* Biologics-- these are the most recent breakthrough for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Such medications, including etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), are administered by injection and can dramatically improve your quality of life. Newer biologics include Orencia (abatacept) and Rituxan (rituximab).
* Corticosteroids ("steroids") -- these are medications that suppress the immune system and symptoms of inflammation. They are often injected into painful osteoarthritic joints. Steroids are used to treat autoimmune forms of arthritis but should be avoided in infectious arthritis. Steroids have multiple side effects, including upset stomach and gastrointestinal bleeding, high blood pressure, thinning of bones, cataracts, and increased infections. The risks are most pronounced when steroids are taken for long periods of time or at high doses. Close supervision by a physician is essential.
* Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors -- These drugs block an inflammation-promoting enzyme called COX-2. This class of drugs was initially believed to work as well as traditional NSAIDs, but with fewer stomach problems. However, numerous reports of heart attacks and stroke have prompted the FDA to re-evaluate the risks and benefits of the COX-2s. Celecoxib (Celebrex) is still available, but labeled with strong warnings and a recommendation that it be prescribed at the lowest possible dose for the shortest duration possible. Talk to your doctor about whether COX-2s are right for you.
* Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs -- these have been used traditionally to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune causes of arthritis. These drugs include gold salts, penicillamine, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine. More recently, methotrexate has been shown to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and improve your quality of life. Methotrexate itself can be highly toxic and requires frequent blood tests for patients on the medication.
* Immunosuppressants -- these drugs, like azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, are used for serious cases of rheumatoid arthritis when other medications have failed.

It is very important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. If you are having difficulty doing so (for example, due to intolerable side effects), you should talk to your doctor.

SURGERY AND OTHER APPROACHES

In some cases, surgery to rebuild the joint (arthroplasty) or to replace the joint (such as a total knee joint replacement) may help maintain a more normal lifestyle. The decision to perform joint replacement surgery is normally made when other alternatives, such as lifestyle changes and medications, are no longer effective.

Normal joints contain a lubricant called synovial fluid. In joints with arthritis, this fluid is not produced in adequate amounts. In some cases, a doctor may inject the arthritic joint with a manmade version of joint fluid. The synthetic fluid may postpone the need for surgery at least temporarily and improve the quality of life for persons with arthritis.

Expectations (prognosis)

A few arthritis-related disorders can be completely cured with treatment. Most are chronic (long-term) conditions, however, and the goal of treatment is to control the pain and minimize joint damage. Chronic arthritis frequently goes in and out of remission.

Complications

* Chronic pain
* Lifestyle restrictions or disability

Calling your health care provider

Call your doctor if:

* Your joint pain persists beyond 3 days.
* You have severe unexplained joint pain.
* The affected joint is significantly swollen.
* You have a hard time moving the joint.
* Your skin around the joint is red or hot to the touch.
* You have a fever or have lost weight unintentionally.

Prevention

If arthritis is diagnosed and treated early, you can prevent joint damage. Find out if you have a family history of arthritis and share this information with your doctor, even if you have no joint symptoms.

Osteoarthritis may be more likely to develop if you abuse your joints (injure them many times or over-use them while injured). Take care not to overwork a damaged or sore joint. Similarly, avoid excessive repetitive motions.

Excess weight also increases the risk for developing osteoarthritis in the knees and possibly in the hips. See the article on body mass index to learn whether your weight is healthy.

References

D'Cruz DP, Khamashta MA, Hughes GR. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet. 2007;369(9561):587-96.

Glass GG. Osteoarthritis. Dis Mon. 2006;52:343-362.

Gregory PJ, Sperry M, Wilson AF. Dietary supplements for osteoarthritis. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:177-184.

Smolen JS, Aletaha D, Koeller M, Weisman MH, Emery P. New therapies for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2007;270(9602):1861-74.

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Definition

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens (forms calcium deposits), and may eventually block the arteries.

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis. The two terms are often used to mean the same thing.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually do not occur until blood flow becomes restricted or blocked.

See the specific condition for more details on symptoms:

* Abdominal aortic aneurysm
* Coronary artery disease
* Kidney disease
* Mesenteric artery ischemia
* Peripheral artery disease
* Renal artery stenosis
* Hypertension
* Stroke (cerebrovascular disease)
* Thoracic aortic aneurysm

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Definition

Arterial embolism is a sudden interruption of blood flow to an organ or body part due to a clot (embolus).

Symptoms

Symptoms may begin quickly or slowly depending on the size of the embolus and how much it blocks the blood flow.

Symptoms of an arterial embolism in the arms or legs may include:

* Cold arm or leg
* Decreased or no pulse in an arm or leg
* Fingers or hands feel cool
* Lack of movement in the arm or leg
* Muscle pain in the affected area
* Muscle spasm in the affected area
* Numbness and tingling in the arm or leg
* Pale color of the arm or leg (pallor)
* Weakness of an arm or leg

Later symptoms:

* Blisters of the skin fed by the affected artery
* Shedding (sloughing) of skin
* Skin erosion (ulcer)
* Tissue death (necrosis; skin is dark and damaged)

Symptoms of a clot in an organ vary with the organ involved but may include:

* Pain in the part of the body that is involved
* Temporarily decreased organ function

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Definition

An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.

Symptoms

• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Fast or slow heartbeat (palpitations)
• Light-headedness, dizziness
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath
• Skipping beats - changes in the pattern of the pulse
• Sweating

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Definition

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of your large intestine.

Symptoms

The symptoms of appendicitis vary. It can be hard to diagnose appendicitis in young children, the elderly, and women of childbearing age.

Typically, the first symptom is pain around your belly button. (See: Abdominal pain) The pain may be vague at first, but becomes increasingly sharp and severe. You may have reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a low-grade fever.

As the inflammation in the appendix increases, the pain tends to move into your right lower abdomen and focuses directly above the appendix at a place called McBurney's point.

If your appendix ruptures, the pain may lessen briefly and you may feel better. However, once the lining of your abdominal cavity becomes inflamed and infected (a condition called peritonitis), the pain gets worse and you become sicker.

Your abdominal pain may be worse when walking or coughing. You may prefer to lie still because sudden movement causes pain.
Later symptoms include:

• Chills
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Vomiting

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Definition

The aorta is the main artery leaving the heart. When blood leaves the heart, it flows from the lower chamber (the left ventricle), through the aortic valve, into the aorta. In aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open fully. This restricts blood flow.

Symptoms

People with aortic stenosis may have no symptoms at all until late in the course of the disease. The diagnosis may have been made when the healthcare provider heard a heart murmur and then performed additional tests.

Symptoms of aortic stenosis include:

• Breathlessness with activity
• Chest pain, angina-type
• Crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness
• Pain increases with exercise, relieved with rest
• Under the chest bone, may move to other areas
• Fainting, weakness, or dizziness with activity
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)

  In infants and children, symptoms include:

• Becoming tired or fatigued with exertion more easily than others (in mild cases)
• Serious breathing problems that develop within days or weeks of birth (in severe cases)

Children with mild or moderate aortic stenosis may get worse as they get older. They also run the risk of developing a heart infection (bacterial endocarditis).

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Definition

Aortic insufficiency is a heart valve disease in which the aortic valve weakens or balloons, preventing the valve from closing tightly. This leads to backward flow of blood from the aorta (the largest blood vessel) into the left ventricle (the left lower chamber of the heart.

Symptoms

• Bounding pulse
• Chest pain, angina type (rare)
• Under the chest bone; pain may move to other areas of the body
• Crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness
• Pain increases with exercise, and goes away with rest
• Fainting
• Fatigue, excessive tiredness
• Irregular, rapid, racing, pounding, or fluttering pulse
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down
• Weakness, particularly with activity.

Note: Aortic insufficiency commonly shows no symptoms for many years. Symptoms may then occur gradually or suddenly.

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Definition

Aortic dissection is a potentially life-threatening condition in which there is bleeding into and along the wall of the aorta, the major artery leaving the heart.

Symptoms

The symptoms usually begin suddenly, and include severe chest pain. The pain may:

• Be described as sharp, stabbing, tearing, or ripping
• Be felt below the chest bone, then moves under the shoulder blades or to the back
• Move to shoulder, neck, arm, jaw, abdomen, or hips
• Change position -- pain typically moves to the arms and legs as the aortic dissection gets worse

Other symptoms may include:

• Changes in thought ability, confusion, disorientation
• Decreased movement, any part of the body
• Decreased sensation, any part of the body
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Dry skin
• Fainting
• Intense anxiety, anguish
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pallor
• Profuse sweating (clammy skin)
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Shortness of breath -- difficulty breathing when lying flat (orthopnea)
• Thirst

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Definition

Aortic coarctation is a narrowing of part of the aorta (the major artery leading out of the heart). It is a type of birth defect. Coarctation means narrowing.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on how much blood can flow through the artery. Other heart defects may also play a role.
Around half of newborns with this problem will have symptoms in the first few days of life.In milder cases, symptoms may not develop until the child has reached adolescence. Symptoms include:

• Dizziness or fainting
• Shortness of breath
• Pounding headache
• Chest pain
• Cold feet or legs
• Nosebleed
• Leg cramps with exercise
• High blood pressure (hypertension) with exercise
• Decreased ability to exercise
• Failure to thrive
• Poor growt

        Note: There may be no symptom

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Definition

The anxiety disorders are a group of mental disturbances characterized by anxiety as a central or core symptom. Although anxiety is a commonplace experience, not everyone who experiences it has an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is associated with a wide range of physical illnesses, medication side effects, and other psychiatric disorders.

The revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) that took place after 1980 brought major changes in the classification of the anxiety disorders. Prior to 1980, psychiatrists classified patients on the basis of a theory of causality that defined anxiety as the outcome of unconscious conflicts in the patient's mind. DSM-III (1980), DSM-III-R (1987), and DSM-IV (1994) introduced and refined a new classification that took into consideration recent discoveries about the biochemical and post-traumatic origins of some types of anxiety. The present definitions are based on the external and reported symptom patterns of the disorders rather than on theories about their origins.

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Anxiety

Definition

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another.

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. The source of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can add to the distress you feel.

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Definition


Antisocial personality disorder is a psychiatric condition in which a person manipulates, exploits, or violates the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.

Symptoms

A person with antisocial personality disorder:

• Breaks the law repeatedly
• Lies, steals, and fights often
• Disregards the safety of self and others
• Does not show any guilt

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Definition

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves limiting the amount of food a person eats. It results in starvation and an inability to stay at the minimum body weight considered healthy for the person's age and height.

Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. Not eating enough food or exercising too much results in severe weight loss.

See also:

Bulimia
Intentional weight loss

Symptoms

People with anorexia may severely limit the amount of food they eat, or eat and then make themselves throw up. They may also use water pills (diuretics) and laxatives to lose weight.

Most individuals with anorexia nervosa do not recognize that they have an eating disorder.

Behaviors that may be noticed in a person with anorexia include:

• Cutting food into small pieces
• Exercising compulsively
• Going to the bathroom right after meals
• Quickly eating large amounts of food
• Restricting the amount of food eaten
• Using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics inappropriately in an effort to lose weight

Symptoms may include:

• Blotchy or yellow skin
• Confused or slow thinking
• Dental cavities due to self-induced vomiting
• Depression
• Dry mouth
• Extreme sensitivity to cold (wearing several layers of clothing to stay warm)
• Fine hair
• Low blood pressure
• No menstruation
• Poor memory or poor judgement
• Significant weight loss (15% or greater below normal weight)
• Wasting away of muscle and loss of body fat

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Definition

Ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis. It eventually causes the affected spinal bones to join together.

See also: Arthritis

Symptoms

The disease starts with low back pain that comes and goes.

• Pain and stiffness are worse at night, in the morning, or when you are not active. It may wake you from your sleep.
• The pain typically gets better with activity or exercise.
• Back pain may begin in the sacroiliac joints (between the pelvis and the spine). Over time, it may involve all or part of the spine.

You may lose motion or mobility in the lower spine. You may not be able to fully expand your chest because the joints between the ribs are involved.Fatigue is also a common symptom.Other, less common symptoms include:

• Eye inflammation or uveitis
• Heel pain
• Hip pain and stiffness
• Joint pain and joint swelling in the shoulders, knees, and ankles
• Loss of appetite
• Slight fever
• Weight loss

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Definition

An animal bite can result in a break in the skin, a bruise, or a puncture wound.

Symptoms

Possible symptoms include:

• Break or major cuts in the skin with or without bleeding
• Bruising
• Crushing injuries
• Puncture-type wound

Certain diseases can also be spread through bites from various animals. These diseases may cause flu-like symptoms, headache, and fever.

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Definition

Angina is a type of chest discomfort caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium).

Related topics:

• Chest pain
• Stable angina
• Unstable angina
• Variant angina

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Definition

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Infection in humans most often involves the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, or the lungs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of anthrax differ depending on the type of anthrax.
Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax:

• Blister or ulcer that later forms a black scab
• Blister or ulcer is usually surrounded by a lot of swelling

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax:

• Begins with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
• Shock may occur later

Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax usually develop within one week and can affect the mouth, esophagus, intestines, and colon. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea and vomiting (the vomit may include blood)
• Anorexia
• Bloody diarrhea

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Anaphylaxis

Definition

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction.

Symptoms

Symptoms develop rapidly, often within seconds or minutes. They may include the following:

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Abnormal (high-pitched) breathing sounds
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting, light-headedness, dizziness
• Hives, itchiness
• Nasal congestion
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• Skin redness
• Slurred speech
• Wheezing

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Definition

An anal fissure is a small split or tear in the thin moist tissue (mucosa) lining the lower rectum (anus).

Symptoms

Anal fissures may cause painful bowel movements and bleeding. There may be blood on the outside of the stool or on the toilet tissue (or baby wipes) following a bowel movement.

Other symptoms may include:

• A crack in the skin that can be seen when the area is stretched slightly (the fissure is almost always in the middle)
• Constipation

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Definition

Anal cancer is an uncommon cancer occurring in the tissues that make up the opening through which stool passes out of the body.

Symptoms

The previously-held belief that anal cancer is caused by the chronic irritation associated with cracks (fissures), hemorrhoids, and abnormal passageways (fistulae), is falling out of favor. It is now believed that most cases of anal cancer are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus that can cause genital warts. Cancer is caused when the normal mechanisms that control cell growth become disturbed, causing the cells to grow continually without stopping. This may be the result of damage to the DNA in the cell or viral infection.

Symptoms of anal cancer may include:

• bleeding from the anus
• pain around the anus
• the sensation of anal pressure or a mass
• anal itching
• anal discharge
• straining to pass stool (rectal tenesmus)

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Definition

An anorectal abscess is a collection of pus in the area of the anus and rectum.

Symptoms

• Constipation (may occur)
• Discharge of pus from the rectum
• Fever
• Lump or nodule, swollen, red, tender at edge of anus
• Pain associated with bowel movements
• Painful, hardened tissue

In infants, the abscess often appears as a swollen, red, tender lump at the edge of the anus. The infant may be fussy from discomfort, but there are generally no other symptoms.

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Definition

Amphetamines are a group of powerful and highly addictive substances that dramatically affect the central nervous system. They induce a feeling of well-being and improve alertness, attention, and performance on various cognitive and motor tasks. Closely related are the socalled "designer amphetamines," the most well known of which is the "club drug" MDMA, best known as "ecstasy." Finally, some over-the-counter drugs used as appetite suppressants also have amphetamine-like action. Amphetamine-related disorders refer to the effects of abuse, dependence, and acute intoxication stemming from inappropriate amphetamine and amphetamine-related drug usage.

Symptoms

CLASSIC AMPHETAMINES.According to the DSM-IVTR, symptoms of heavy, chronic, or episodic use of amphetamine, known as amphetamine dependence, can be very serious. Amphetamine dependence is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use leading to functional and molecular changes in the brain. Aggressive or violent behavior may occur, especially when high doses are ingested. The individual may develop anxiety or paranoid ideas, also with the possibility of experiencing terrifying psychotic episodes that resemble schizophrenia, with visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions such as the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, known as "formication." hyperactivity, hypersexuality, confusion, and incoherence. Amphetamine-induced psychosis differs from true psychosis in that despite other symptoms, the disorganized thinking that is a hallmark of schizophrenia tends to be absent. Amphetamine dependence consistently affects relationships at home, school and/or work.

Amphetamine abuse is less serious than dependence, but can cause milder versions of the symptoms described above, as well as problems with family, school, and work. Legal problems may stem from aggressive behavior while using, or from obtaining drugs illegally. Individuals may continue to use despite the awareness that usage negatively impacts all areas of their lives.

Acute amphetamine intoxication begins with a "high" feeling which may be followed by feelings of euphoria. The user experiences enhanced energy, becoming more outgoing and talkative, and more alert. Other symptoms include anxiety, tension, grandiosity, repetitive behavior, anger, fighting, and impaired judgment.

In both acute and chronic intoxication, the individual may experience dulled feelings, along with fatigue or sadness, and social withdrawal. These behavioral and psychological changes are accompanied by other signs and symptoms including increased or irregular heartbeat, dilation of the pupils, elevated or lowered blood pressure, heavy perspiring or chills, nausea and/or vomiting, motor agitation or retardation, muscle weakness, respiratory depression, chest pain, and eventually confusion, seizures, coma, or a variety of cardiovascular problems, including stroke. With amphetamine overdoses, death can result if treatment is not received immediately. Long-term abuse can lead to memory loss as well, and contributes to increased transmission of hepatitis and HIV/AIDs. Impaired social and work functioning is another hallmark of both acute and chronic intoxication.

Following amphetamine intoxication, a "crash" occurs with symptoms of anxiety, shakiness, depressed mood, lethargy, fatigue, nightmares, headache, perspiring, muscle cramps, stomach cramps, and increased appetite. Withdrawal symptoms usually peak in two to four days and are gone within one week. The most serious withdrawal symptom is depression, possibly very severe and leading to suicidal thoughts.

DESIGNER AMPHETAMINES.Use of so-called designer amphetamines, the best-known of which is MDMA, leads to symptoms of classic amphetamine use. Users report a sense of feeling unusual closeness with other people and enhanced personal comfort. They describe seeing an increased luminescence of objects in the environment, although these hallucinogenic effects are less than those caused by other hallucinogens, such as LSD. Some psychotherapists have suggested further research into the possible use of designer amphetamines in conjunction with psychotherapy. This idea is highly controversial, however.

Like classic amphetamines, use of MDMA produces cardiovascular effects of increased blood pressure, heart rate, and heart oxygen consumption. People with preexisting heart disease are at increased risk of cardiovascular catastrophe resulting from MDMA use. MDMA is not processed and removed from the body quickly, and remains active for a long period of time. As a result, toxicity may rise dramatically when users take multiple doses over brief time periods, leading to harmful reactions such as dehydration, hyperthermia, and seizures.

MDMA tablets often contain other drugs, such as ephedrine, a stimulant, and dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant with PCP-like effects at high doses. These additives increase the harmful effects of MDMA. It appears also to have toxic effects on the brain's serotonin system. In tests of learning and memory, MDMA users perform more poorly than nonusers. Research with primates show that MDMA can cause long-lasting brain damage. Exposure to MDMA during the period of pregnancy in which the fetal brain is developing is associated with learning deficits that last into adulthood.

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Definition

Amebiasis is an infection of the intestines caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

Symptoms

Usually, the illness lasts about 2 weeks, but it can come back if treatment is not given.

Mild symptoms:

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Passage of 3 - 8 semiformed stools per day
• Passage of soft stools with mucus and occasional blood
• Fatigue
• Intestinal gas (excessive flatus)
• Rectal pain while having a bowel movement (tenesmus)
• Unintentional weight loss
• Severe symptoms:
• Abdominal tenderness
• Bloody stools
• Passage of liquid stools with streaks of blood
• Passage of 10 - 20 stools per day
• Fever
• Vomiting

Note: In 90% of people with amebiasis there are no symptoms.

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Definition

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Memory impairment, as well as problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality, are necessary features for the diagnosis.

Symptoms

Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:

• Language
• Memory
• Perception
• Emotional behavior or personality
• Cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstract thinking, or judgment

Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.

Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging, and the development of AD. People with MCI have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with everyday activities. They are often aware of the forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops AD.

Symptoms of MCI include:

• Forgetting recent events or conversations
• Difficulty performing more than one task at a time
• Difficulty solving problems
• Taking longer to perform more difficult activities

The early symptoms of AD can include:

• Language problems, such as trouble finding the name of familiar objects
• Misplacing items
• Getting lost on familiar routes
• Personality changes and loss of social skills
• Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood
• Difficulty performing tasks that take some thought, but used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing complex games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines

As the AD becomes worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with your ability to take care of yourself. Symptoms can include:

• Forgetting details about current events
• Forgetting events in your own life history, losing awareness of who you are
• Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night
• Difficulty reading or writing
• Poor judgment and loss of ability to recognize danger
• Using the wrong word, mispronouncing words, speaking in confusing sentences
• Withdrawing from social contact
• Having hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior
• Having delusions, depression, agitation
• Difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, and driving

People with severe AD can no longer:

• Understand language
• Recognize family members
• Perform basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing

Other symptoms that may occur with AD:

• Incontinence
• Swallowing problems

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Definition

Alopecia areata is a condition that causes round patches of hair loss.

Symptoms

• Loss of all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis)
• Loss of all scalp hair (alopecia totalis)
• Roundish patches of hair loss on the head
• Smooth, hairless scalp in the affected areas

Hairs that look like exclamation points are sometimes seen at the edges of a bald patch.

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Definition

Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that involves scaly and itchy rashes.

Symptoms

• Blisters with oozing and crusting
• Dry, leathery skin areas
• Ear discharge or bleeding
• Intense itching
• Rash
• In children younger than age 2, skin lesions begin on the cheeks, elbows, or knees
• In adults, the rash is more commonly seen on the inside of the knees and elbows
• Raw areas of the skin from scratching
• Skin coloring changes -- more or less coloring than the normal skin tone (See: Skin abnormally dark or light)
• Skin redness or inflammation around the blisters

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Definition

Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the tissue lining the eyelids (conjuctiva) due to a reaction from allergy-causing substances such as pollen and dander.

See also: Conjunctivitis

Symptoms

Symptoms may be seasonal and can include:

• Red eyes
• Dilated vessels in the clear tissue covering white of the eye
• Intense itching or burning eyes
• Puffy eyelids, especially in the morning
• Tearing (watery eyes)
• Stringy eye discharge

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Definition

Pulmonary aspergillosis is an allergic reaction to a fungus called aspergillus, which causes inflammation of the airways and air sacs of the lungs.

Symptoms

• Cough may produce brownish plugs or bloody sputum
• Fever
• Generalized weakness
• Wheezing
• Worsening symptoms of asthma

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Definition

Alcoholism is drinking alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities.

Symptoms

Alcohol affects the central nervous system as a depressant. This leads to a decrease in:

• Activity
• Anxiety
• Inhibitions
• Tension

Even a few drinks can change behavior, slow motor skills, and decrease the ability to think clearly. Alcohol can impair concentration and judgment. Drinking a lot of alcohol can cause drunkenness (intoxication).

Some of the symptoms of alcoholism include:

• Abdominal pain
• Confusion
• Drinking alone
• Episodes of violence with drinking
• Hostility when confronted about drinking
• Lack of control over drinking -- being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake
• Making excuses to drink
• Nausea and vomiting
• Need for daily or regular alcohol use to function
• Neglecting to eat
• Not caring for physical appearance
• Numbness and tingling
• Secretive behavior to hide alcohol use
• Shaking in the morning

Alcohol withdrawal develops because the brain adapts to the alcohol and cannot function well without the drug. Symptoms of withdrawal may include:

• Anxiety
• Confusion or seeing and hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
• Death (rarely)
• Increased blood pressure
• Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Psychosis
• Raised temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Restlessness or nervousness
• Seizures
• Tremors

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Alcoholic Neuropathy

Definition

Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.

Symptoms

• Numbness in the arms and legs
• Abnormal sensations; "pins and needles"
• Painful sensations in the arms and legs
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle cramps or muscle aches
• Heat intolerance, especially after exercise
• Impotence (in men)
• Problems urinating
• Incontinence (leaking urine)
• Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
• Difficulty beginning to urinate
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea, vomiting
• Additional symptoms that may occur with this disease:
• Swallowing difficulty
• Speech impairment
• Loss of muscle function or feeling
• Muscle contractions or spasm
• Muscle atrophy
• Problems with movements

Note: Changes in muscle strength or sensation usually occur on both sides of the body and are more common in the legs than in the arms. Symptoms usually develop gradually and slowly become worse over time.

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Definition

Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver and its function due to alcohol abuse.
See also:

• Ascites
• Cirrhosis
• Alcoholism
• Bleeding varices
• Hepatic encelphalopathy

Symptoms

Symptoms vary based on the severity of the disease. They are usually worse after a recent period of heavy drinking. Disease changes start in the liver as inflammation (hepatitis) and lead to fatty liver and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease.

Symptoms may not be present until the disease is advanced, and may include:

• Abdominal pain and tenderness
• Dry mouth
• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Fluid collection in the abdomen (ascites)
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Mental confusion
• Nausea
• Unintentional weight gain (because of fluid collection)

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

• Abnormally dark or light skin
• Agitation
• Bloody, dark black, or tarry bowel movements (melena)
• Breast development in males
• Changing mood
• Confusion (encephalopathy)
• Changed level of consciousness
• Hallucinations
• Impaired short- or long-term memory
• Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
• Impaired ability to concentrate
• Impaired judgment
• Light-headedness or fainting, especially when standing
• Paleness
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) when rising to standing position
• Redness on feet or hands
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

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Definition

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms may develop gradually, or there may be no symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they can include:

• Abdominal indigestion or pain
• Confusion or problems thinking
• Impotence, loss of interest in sex, and breast development (gynecomastia) in men
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Swelling or fluid buildup of the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Vomiting blood or blood in stools
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes (jaundice)

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Definition

Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol every day suddenly stops drinking alcohol.

Symptoms

Mild-to-moderate psychological symptoms:

• Jumpiness or nervousness
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Irritability or easy excitability
• Rapid emotional changes
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Bad dreams

Mild-to-moderate physical symptoms:

• Headache -- general, pulsating
• Sweating -- especially the palms of the hands or the face
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia (sleeping difficulty)
• Pallor
• Rapid heart rate
• Eye pupils enlarged(dilated pupils)
• Clammy skin
• Tremor of the hands
• Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Severe symptoms:

• Delirium tremens -- a state of confusion and visual hallucinations
• Agitation
• Fever
• Convulsions
• Black outs -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode

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Definition

Delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that involves sudden and severe mental or neurological changes.

Symptoms

Symptoms most commonly occur within 72 hours after the last drink, but may occur up to 7 - 10 days after the last drink. Symptoms may get worse rapidly, and can include:

• Body tremors
• Mental status changes
• Agitation, irritability
• Confusion, disorientation
• Decreased attention span
• Decreased mental status
• Deep sleep that persists for a day or longer
• Stupor, sleepiness, lethargy
• Usually occurs after acute symptoms
• Delirium (severe, acute loss of mental functions)
• Excitement
• Fear
• Hallucinations (such as seeing or feeling things that are not present are most common)
• Highly sensitive to light, sound, touch
• Increased activity
• Mood changes rapidly
• Restlessness, excitement
• Seizures
• Most common in first 24 - 48 hours after last drink
• Most common in people with previous complications from alcohol withdrawal
• Usually generalized tonic-clonic seizures
• Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Fatigue
• Feeling jumpy or nervous
• Feeling shaky
• Headache, general, pulsating
• Insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep)
• Irritability or easily excited
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Pale skin
• Palpitations (sensation of feeling the heart beat)
• Rapid emotional changes
• Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
• Vomiting

Additional symptoms that may occur:

• Chest pain
• Fever
• Stomach pain

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Definition

Albinism is a defect of melanin production that results in little or no color (pigment) in the skin, hair, and eyes.

Symptoms

A person with albinism will have one of the following symptoms:

• Absence of color in the hair, skin, or iris of the eye
• Lighter-than-normal skin and hair
• Patchy, missing skin color

Many forms of albinism are associated with the following symptoms:

• Crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Rapid eye movements (nystagmus)
• Vision problems, or functional blindness

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Definition

Agoraphobia is a fear of being in places where help might not be available. It usually involves fear of crowds, bridges, or of being outside alone.

Symptoms

• Anxiety or panic attack (acute severe anxiety)
• Becoming housebound for prolonged periods of time
• Dependence on others
• Fear of being alone
• Fear of being in places where escape might be difficult
• Fear of losing control in a public place
• Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
• Feelings of helplessness
• Feeling that the body is unreal
• Feeling that the environment is unreal
• Unusual temper or agitation with trembling or twitching
• Additional symptoms that may occur:
• Abdominal distress that occurs when upset
• Breathing difficulty
• Chest pain
• Confused or disordered thoughts
• Intense fear of dying
• Intense fear of going crazy
• Dizziness
• Excessive sweating
• Heartbeat sensations
• Lightheadedness, near fainting
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness and tingling
• Skin flushing

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Definition

Agammaglobulinemia is an inherited disorder in which there are very low levels of protective immune proteins called immunoglobulins. People with this disorder develop repeated infections.

Symptoms

The person may have a family history of agammaglobulinemia (or other immune disorder).

Symptoms include frequent episodes of:

• Bronchitis
• Chronic diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Other respiratory infections
• Pneumonia
• Sinusitis
• Skin infections

Infections typically appear in the first four years of life.

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Definition

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting into the blood.

See also: Infant respiratory distress syndrome

Symptoms

• Labored, rapid breathing
• Low blood pressure and organ failure
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms usually develop within 24 to 48 hours of the original injury or illness. Often, people with ARDS are so sick they are unable to complain of symptoms.

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Definition

A primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain. This article focuses on primary brain tumors in adults.

See also:

Brain tumor - metastatic (cancer that has spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body)
Brain tumor - children

Symptoms

A doctor can often identify signs and symptoms that are specific to the tumor location. Some tumors may not cause symptoms until they are very large. Then they can lead to a rapid decline in the person's health. Other tumors have symptoms that develop slowly.

The specific symptoms depend on the tumor's size, location, how far it has spread, and related swelling. The most common symptoms are:

• Headaches
• Seizures (especially in older adults)
• Weakness in one part of the body
• Changes in the person's mental functions

Headaches caused by brain tumors may:

• Be worse when the person wakes up in the morning, and clear up in a few hours
• Occur during sleep
• Be accompanied by vomiting, confusion, double vision, weakness, or numbness
• Get worse with coughing or exercise, or with a change in body position

Other symptoms may include:

• Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma)
• Changes in hearing
• Changes in taste or smell
• Changes that affect touch and the ability to feel pain, pressure, different temperatures, or other stimuli
• Clumsiness
• Confusion or memory loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty writing or reading
• Dizziness or abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
• Eye abnormalities
• Eyelid drooping
• Pupils different sizes
• Uncontrollable movements
• Hand tremor
• Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
• Loss of balance
• Loss of coordination
• Muscle weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on just one side)
• Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
• Personality, mood, behavioral, or emotional changes
• Problems with eyesight, including decreased vision, double vision, or total loss of vision
• Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
• Trouble walking

Other symptoms that may occur with a pituitary tumor:

• Abnormal nipple discharge
• Absent menstruation (periods)
• Breast development in men
• Enlarged hands, feet
• Excessive body hair
• Facial changes
• Low blood pressure
• Obesity
• Sensitivity to heat or cold

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Definition

Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red lesions (papules, pustules, and cysts) to form. These growths are commonly called pimples or "zits."

Symptoms

• Blackheads
• Crusting of skin eruptions
• Cysts
• Pustules
• Redness around the skin eruptions
• Scarring of the skin
• Whiteheads

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Definition

Adrenoleukodystrophy describes several closely related inherited disorders that disrupt the breakdown (metabolism) of certain fats (very-long-chain fatty acids).

Symptoms

Childhood cerebral type:

• Changes in muscle tone, especially muscle spasms and spasticity
• Crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Decreased understanding of verbal communication (aphasia)
• Deterioration of handwriting
• Difficulty at school
• Difficulty understanding spoken material
• Hearing loss
• Hyperactivity
• Worsening nervous system deterioration
• Coma
• Decreased fine motor control
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Swallowing difficulties
• Visual impairment or blindness
• Adrenomyelopathy:
• Difficulty controlling urination
• Possible worsening muscle weakness or leg stiffness
• Problems with thinking speed and visual memory

Adrenal gland failure (Addison type):

• Coma
• Decreased appetite
• Increased skin color (pigmentation)
• Loss of weight, muscle mass (wasting)
• Muscle weakness
• Vomiting

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Definition

Adrenal gland cancers are rare cancers occuring in the endocrine tissue of the adrenals. They are characterized by overproduction of adrenal gland hormones.

Symptoms

It is not known what causes adrenal gland cancer, but some cases are associated with hereditary diseases. Symptoms of adrenal cancer are related to the specific hormones produced by that tumor. An adrenocortical carcinoma typically secretes high amounts of cortisol, producing Cushing's Syndrome. This syndrome produces progressive weight gain, rounding of the face, and increased blood pressure. Women can experience menstrual cycle alterations and men can experience feminization. The symptoms for pheochromocytoma include hypertension, acidosis, unexplained fever and weight loss. Because of the hormones produced by this type of tumor, anxiety is often a feature also

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Definition

Adjustment disorder is an abnormal and excessive reaction to a life stress, such as starting school, getting divorced, or experiencing grief.
Symptoms

For a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, a person's symptoms must be severe enough to affect his or her work or social life. Some of the symptoms include:

• Agitation
• Conduct disturbances
• Depression
• Palpitations
• Physical complaints
• Trembling or twitching

Symptoms of adjustment disorder typically begin within 3 months of the stressor, and usually do not last longer than 6 months.

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Definition

Addison's disease is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of their hormones.

Symptoms

• Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• Chronic diarrhea
• Darkening of the skin - patchy skin color
• Unnaturally dark color in some places
• Paleness
• Extreme weakness
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth lesions on the inside of a cheek (buccal mucosa)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Salt craving
• Slow, sluggish movement
• Unintentional weight loss

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Definition

The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms. Over 200 viruses can cause a cold.

Symptoms

The three most frequent symptoms of a cold are:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Adults and older children with colds generally have a low fever or no fever. Young children, however, often run a fever around 100-102°F.

Once you have "caught" a cold, the symptoms usually begin in 2 or 3 days, though it may take a week. Typically, an irritated nose or scratchy throat is the first sign, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.

Within 1 to 3 days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green. This is a normal part of the common cold and not a reason for antibiotics.

Depending on which virus is causing the symptoms, the virus might also cause:

• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Postnasal drip
• Sore throat

Still, if it is indeed a cold, the main symptoms will be in the nose.

For children with asthma, colds are the most common trigger of asthma symptoms.

Colds are commonly seen before ear infections. However, a child's eardrums are usually congested during a cold, and it's possible to have fluid buildup without a bacterial infection (caled serous otitis media).

The entire cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (such as cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, see your doctor to rule out another problem such as a sinus infection or allergies.

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Definition

Acute tubular necrosis is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, resulting in acute kidney failure.

Symptoms

• Decreased consciousness
• Coma
• Delirium or confusion
• Drowsy, lethargic, hard to arouse
• Decreased urine output or no urine output
• General swelling, fluid retention
• Nausea, vomiting

Note: Other symptoms of acute kidney failure may also be present.

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Definition

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by a cluster of dissociative and anxiety symptoms occurring within one month of a traumatic event. (Dissociation is a psychological reaction to trauma in which the mind tries to cope by "sealing off" some features of the trauma from conscious awareness).

Symptoms

Acute stress disorder is caused by exposure to trauma, which is defined as a stressor that causes intense fear and, usually, involves threats to life or serious injury to oneself or others. Examples are rape, mugging, combat, natural disasters, etc.

The symptoms of stress disorder include a combining of one or more dissociative and anxiety symptoms with the avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event. Dissociative symptoms include emotional detachment, temporary loss of memory, depersonalization, and derealization.

Anxiety symptoms connected with acute stress disorder include irritability, physical restlessness, sleep problems, inability to concentrate, and being easily startled.

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Definition

Silicosis is a progressive disease that belongs to a group of lung disorders called pneumoconioses. Silicosis is marked by the formation of lumps (nodules) and fibrous scar tissue in the lungs. It is the oldest known occupational lung disease, and is caused by exposure to inhaled particles of silica, mostly from quartz in rocks, sand, and similar substances.

Symptoms

The precise mechanism that triggers the development of silicosis is still unclear. What is known is that particles of silica dust get trapped in the tiny sacs (alveoli) in the lungs where air exchange takes place. White blood cells called macrophages in the alveoli ingest the silica and die. The resulting inflammation attracts other macrophages to the region. The nodule forms when the immune system forms fibrous tissue to seal off the reactive area. The disease process may stop at this point, or speed up and destroy large areas of the lung. The fibrosis may continue even after the worker is no longer exposed to silica.

Early symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath after exercising and a harsh, dry cough. Patients may have more trouble breathing and cough up blood as the disease progresses. Congestive heart failure can give their nails a bluish tint. Patients with advanced silicosis may have trouble sleeping and experience chest pain, hoarseness, and loss of appetite. Silicosis patients are at high risk for TB, and should be checked for the disease during the doctor's examination.

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Definition

Acute pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon as well as substances that help you digest food.

Symptoms

The main symptoms is abdominal pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the belly area (abdomen).

The pain:

• Is persistent or chronic
• May be worse lying flat on the back
• May spread (radiate) to the back or below the left shoulder blade
• May be worse after eating or drinking (occurs within minutes following meals), especially foods with a high fat content
• May be worse after drinking alcohol

Other common symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Fever
• Mild yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease include:

• Indigestion
• Clay-colored stools
• Gaseous abdominal fullness
• Hiccups
• Skin rash or lesion
• Swollen abdomen

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Definition

Acute mitral regurgitation is a disorder in which the heart's mitral valve suddenly does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward (leak) into the upper heart chamber when the left lower heart chamber contracts.

See also: Chronic mitral regurgitation

Symptoms

• Chest pain -- unrelated to coronary artery disease or a heart attack
• Cough
• Rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath that increases when lying flat (orthopnea)
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)

Note: Symptoms may start suddenly.

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Definition

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is cancer that starts inside bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. The cancer grows from cells that would normally turn into white blood cells.

Acute means the disease develops quickly.

See also:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Leukemia

Symptoms

• Abnormal menstrual periods
• Bleeding from the nose
• Bleeding gums
• Bruising
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath (gets worse with exercise)
• Skin rash or lesion
• Swollen gums (rare)
• Weight loss

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Definition

Acute mountain sickness is an illness that can affect mountain climbers, hikers, skiers, or travelers at high altitude (typically above 8,000 feet or 2,400 meters).

Symptoms

Symptoms generally associated with mild to moderate altitude illness include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid pulse (heart rate)
• Shortness of breath with exertion

Symptoms generally associated with more severe altitude illness include:

• Bluish discoloration of the skin (cyanosis)
• Chest tightness or congestion
• Confusion
• Cough
• Coughing up blood
• Decreased consciousness or withdrawal from social interaction
• Gray or pale complexion
• Inability to walk in a straight line, or to walk at all
• Shortness of breath at rest

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Definition

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer in which the body produces a large number of immature white blood cells (lymphocytes). These cells are found in the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs.

Symptoms

• Bleeding gums
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Easy bruising
• Excessive or prolonged bleeding
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Infection
• Menstrual irregularities
• Nosebleeds
• Paleness
• Palpitations
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin (petechiae)
• Shortness of breath (made worse by exercise)
• Swollen glands (lymphadenopathy)
• Swollen gums
• Unintentional weight loss

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Definition

Acute mitral regurgitation is a disorder in which the heart's mitral valve suddenly does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward (leak) into the upper heart chamber when the left lower heart chamber contracts.

See also: Chronic mitral regurgitation

Symptoms

Chest pain -- unrelated to coronary artery disease or a heart attack
Cough
Rapid breathing
Shortness of breath that increases when lying flat (orthopnea)
Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)

Note: Symptoms may start suddenly.

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Definition

Acute HIV infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a virus that gradually destroys the immune system.

Symptoms

Note: At the time of diagnosis with HIV, many people have not experienced any symptoms.

Acute HIV infection can appear like infectious mononucleosis, flu, or other viral illnesses.

Any of the following symptoms can occur:

* Decreased appetite
* Fatigue
* Fever
* Headache
* Malaise
* Swollen lymph glands
* Muscle stiffness or aching
* Rash
* Sore throat
* Ulcers of the mouth and esophagus

These symptoms can last from a few days to 4 weeks, and then subside.

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Definition

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Definition

Bronchitis is inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis may be short-lived (acute) or chronic, meaning that it lasts a long time and often recurs.

See also: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Symptoms

The symptoms of either type of bronchitis may include:

• Chest discomfort
• Cough that produces mucus; if it's yellow-green, you are more likely to have a bacterial infection
• Fatigue
• Fever -- usually low
• Shortness of breath worsened by exertion or mild activity
• Wheezing

Even after acute bronchitis has cleared, you may have a dry, nagging cough that lingers for several weeks.

Additional symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:

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• Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
• Blue-colored lips from low levels of oxygen
• Frequent respiratory infections (such as colds or the flu)

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Definition

Actinomycosis is a long-term (chronic) bacterial infection that commonly affects the face and neck.

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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

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Symptoms

• Body odor
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Decreased muscle strength (weakness)
• Easy fatigue
• Enlarged bones of the face
• Enlarged feet
• Enlarged hands
• Enlarged glands in the skin (sebaceous glands)
• Enlarged jaw (prognathism) and tongue
• Excessive height (when excess growth hormone production begins in childhood)
• Excessive sweating
• Headache
• Hoarseness
• Joint pain
• Limited joint movement
• Sleep apnea
• Swelling of the bony areas around a joint
• Thickening of the skin, skin tags
• Widely spaced teeth
• Widened fingers or toes due to skin overgrowth with swelling, redness, and pain

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

• Excess hair growth in females
• Weight gain (unintentional)

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Acrodermatitis is a childhood skin condition that may be accompanied by mild symptoms of fever and malaise. It may also be associated with hepatitis B and other viral infections.

• Rash or patch on skin
• Brownish-red or copper-colored patch that is firm and flat on top
• String of bumps may appear in a line
• Generally not itchy
• Rash looks the same on both sides of the body
• Rash may appear on the palms and soles -- it does not occur on the back, chest, or belly area (this is one of the ways it is identified -- by the absence of the rash from the trunk of the body)

Other symptoms that may appear include:

• Swollen abdomen
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Tender lymph nodes

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Definition

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final and most serious stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system.

Symptoms

The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of infections that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. These are called opportunistic infections.

People with AIDS have had their immune system depleted by HIV and are very susceptible to these opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen lymph glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss.

See the signs and tests section below for a list of common opportunistic infections and major symptoms associated with them.

Note: Initial infection with HIV may produce no symptoms. Some people, however, do experience flu-like symptoms with fever, rash, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, usually 2 weeks after contracting the virus. Some people with HIV infection remain without symptoms for years between the time they are exposed to the virus and when they develop AIDS.

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Definition

An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous (benign), often slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It is located behind the ear right under the brain.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary based on the size and location of the tumor. Because the tumor grows so slowly, symptoms usually start after the age of 30.

Common symptoms include:

* Abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
* Hearing loss in the affected ear that makes it hard to hear conversations
* Ringing (tinnitus) in the affected ear

Less common symptoms include:

* Difficulty understanding speech
* Dizziness
* Headache
o Upon waking up in the morning
o Wakes you from sleep
o Worse when lying down
o Worse when standing up
o Worse when coughing, sneezing, straining, or lifting (Valsalva maneuver)
o With nausea or vomiting
* Loss of balance
* Numbness in the face or one ear
* Pain in the face or one ear
* Sleepiness
* Vision problems
* Weakness of the face

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Definition

Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red lesions (papules, pustules, and cysts) to form. These growths are commonly called pimples or "zits."

Alternative Names

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. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.

The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. Three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil production. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:

* Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
* Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
* Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)
* High levels of humidity and sweating

Despite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and other foods cause acne, research does not confirm this idea.

Symptoms

* Blackheads
* Crusting of skin eruptions
* Cysts
* Pustules
* Redness around the skin eruptions
* Scarring of the skin
* Whiteheads

Signs and tests

Your doctor can diagnose acne based on the appearance of the skin. Testing is usually not required.

Treatment

Take the following self-care steps to lessen the effects of acne:

* Clean your skin gently with a mild, non-drying soap (such as Dove, Neutrogena, or Basics). Remove all dirt or make-up. Wash once or twice a day, including after exercising. However, avoid excessive or repeated skin washing.
* Shampoo your hair daily, especially if it's oily. Comb or pull your hair back to keep the hair out of your face. Avoid tight headbands.
* Try not to squeeze, scratch, pick, or rub the pimples. Although it might be tempting to do this, it can lead to skin infections and scarring.
* Avoid touching your face with your hands or fingers.
* Avoid greasy cosmetics or creams. Look for water-based or "non-comedogenic" formulas. Take make-up off at night. Non-comedogenic products have been tested and proven not to clog pores and cause acne.

If these steps do not clear up the blemishes to an acceptable level, try over-the-counter acne medications. These products are applied directly to the skin. They may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. They work by killing bacteria, drying up the oil, and causing the top layer of your skin to peel. They may cause redness or peeling of the skin.

If pimples are still a problem, a dermatologist can prescribe stronger medications and discuss other options with you.

Prescription medicines include:

* Oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) such as minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, and amoxicillin
* Topical antibiotics (applied to the skin) such as clindamycin, erythromycinm or dapsone
* Retinoic acid cream or gel (Retin-A) and isotretinoin pills (Accutane) -- pregnant women and sexually active adolescent females should NOT take Accutane, as it causes severe birth defects. Women taking Accutane must use two forms of birth control before starting the drug and enroll in the iPledge program.
* Prescription formulas of benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid
* A pill called spironolactone may help women with hormonally controlled acne.
* A laser procedure called photodynamic therapy may also be helpful.

Birth control pills can sometimes help clear up acne. (In some cases, though, they may make it worse.)

Your doctor may also suggest chemical skin peeling, removal of scars by dermabrasion, or removal, drainage, or injection of cysts.

A small amount of sun exposure may improve acne. However, excessive exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays is not recommended because it increases the risk of skin cancer.

Expectations (prognosis)

Acne usually subsides after adolescence, but may last into middle age. The condition generally responds well to treatment after 6 - 8 weeks, but may flare up from time to time. Scarring may occur if severe acne is not treated. Some people, especially teenagers, can become significantly depressed if acne is not treated.

Complications

Possible complications include:

* Changes in skin color
* Cysts
* Damage to self-esteem, confidence, personality, and social life
* Permanent facial scars
* Side effects of Accutane (including very dry skin and mucus membranes, high triglyceride levels, liver damage, and birth defects in an unborn baby; call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug)
* Side effects of other medications

Calling your health care provider

Call your doctor or a dermatologist if:

* Self-care measures and over-the-counter medicine have not helped after several months
* Your acne is severe (for example, you have lots of redness around the pimples or you have cysts) or getting worse
* You develop scars as your acne clears up

Call your pediatrician if your baby has acne that does not clear up on its own within 3 months.

References

Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 7.

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Definition

Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of dwarfism.

Symptoms

The typical appearance of achondroplastic dwarfism can be seen at birth. Symptoms may include:

* Abnormal hand appearance with persistent space between the long and ring fingers
* Bowed legs
* Decreased muscle tone
* Disproportionately large head-to-body size difference
* Prominent forehead (frontal bossing)
* Shortened arms and legs (especially the upper arm and thigh)
* Short stature (significantly below the average height for a person of the same age and sex)
* Spinal stenosis
* Spine curvatures called kyphosis and lordosis

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Definition

Achilles tendinitis is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of the Achilles tendon (the tendon that connects the muscles of the calf to the heel).

Symptoms

Symptoms usually include pain in the heel when walking or running. The tendon is usually painful to touch and the skin over the tendon may be swollen and warm.

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Definition

Achalasia is a disorder of the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach (esophagus), which affects the ability of the esophagus to move food toward the stomach

Symptoms

* Backflow (regurgitation) of food
* Chest pain, which may increase after eating or may radiate to the back, neck, and arms
* Cough
* Difficulty swallowing liquids and solids
* Heartburn
* Unintentional weight loss

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Definition

ABO incompatibility is a reaction of the immune system that occurs if two different and not compatible blood types are mixed together.
Symptoms

The following are symptoms of transfusion reactions:

Back pain
Blood in urine
Feeling of "impending doom"
Fever
Yellow skin (jaundice)

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Definition

Acetone is a chemical used in many household products. This article discusses poisoning from swallowing acetone-based products.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Symptoms

* Cardiovascular system

o Low blood pressure

* Gastrointestinal system

o Nausea
o Pain in belly area (abdomen)
o Person may have a fruity odor
o Sweet taste in mouth
o Vomiting

* Nervous system

o Acting as if drunk
o Coma
o Drowsiness
o Stupor

* Respiratory system

o Difficulty breathing
o Slowed breathing rate
o Shortness of breath

* Urinary system

o Increased need to urinate

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Definition

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder characterized by dark, thick, velvety skin in body folds and creases.

Symptoms

Acanthosis nigricans usually appears slowly and doesn't cause any symptoms other than skin changes.

Eventually, dark, velvety skin with very visible markings and creases appears in the armpits, groin, and neck. Sometimes, the lips, palms, soles of feet, or other areas may be affected.

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Definition

Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome is a rare, inherited disease in which a person is unable to fully absorb dietary fats through the intestines.

Symptoms

* Balance and coordination difficulties
* Curvature of spine
* Decreased vision that gets worse over time
* Developmental delay
* Failure to thrive (grow) in infancy
* Muscle weakness
* Poor muscle coordination that usually develops after age 10
* Protruding abdomen
* Slurred speech
* Stool abnormalities, including:
o Fatty stools that appear pale in color
o Frothy stools
o Abnormally foul-smelling stools

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Definition

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.
Symptoms

Aneurysms develop slowly over many years and often have no symptoms. If an aneurysm expands rapidly, tears open (ruptured aneurysm), or blood leaks along the wall of the vessel (aortic dissection), symptoms may develop suddenly.


The symptoms of rupture include:

* Pain in the abdomen or back -- severe, sudden, persistent, or constant. The pain may radiate to the groin, buttocks, or legs.
* Clammy skin
* Nausea and vomiting
* Rapid heart rate
* Shock

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Definition

Aase syndrome is a rare disorder that involves anemia and certain joint and skeletal deformities.

Symptoms

* Absent or small knuckles
* Cleft palate
* Decreased skin creases at finger joints
* Deformed ears
* Droopy eyelids
* Inability to fully extend the joints from birth (contracture deformity)
* Narrow shoulders
* Pale skin
* Triple-jointed thumbs

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Definition

An anterior cruciate ligament injury is the over-stretching or tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. A tear may be partial or complete.

Symptoms

Early symptoms:

* A "popping" sound at the time of injury
* Knee swelling within 6 hours of injury
* Pain, especially when you try to put weight on the injured leg

Those who have only a mild injury may notice that the knee feels unstable or seems to "give way" when using it.

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