Viral hemorrhagic fevers

Viral hemorrhagic fevers Definition: Viral hemorrhagic (hem-uh-RAJ-ik) fevers are infectious diseases that interfere with the blood's natural ability to clot. These diseases can also damage the walls of tiny blood vessels, making them leaky. The internal bleeding that results can range from relatively minor to life-threatening. Some viral hemorrhagic fevers include: Dengue Ebola Lassa Marburg Yellow fever These diseases most commonly...

Read more...

Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) Definition: Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person or ingestion of contaminated food or water. If you're otherwise healthy, you'll likely recover without complications. But for infants,...

Read more...

Trench mouth

Trench mouth Definition  : Trench mouth is a severe form of gingivitis that causes painful, infected, bleeding gums and ulcerations. Although trench mouth is rare today in developed nations, it's common in developing countries that have poor nutrition and poor living conditions. Trench mouth is formally known as Vincent's stomatitis, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) and necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG). Trench...

Read more...

Vesicoureteral reflux

Vesicoureteral reflux Definition: Vesicoureteral (ves-ih-koe-yoo-REE-ter-ul) reflux is the abnormal flow of urine from your bladder back up the tubes (ureters) that connect your kidneys to your bladder. Normally, urine flows only down from your kidneys to your bladder. Vesicoureteral reflux is usually diagnosed in infants and children. The disorder increases the risk of urinary tract infections, which, if left untreated, can lead to kidney...

Read more...

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) Definition: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo — the sudden sensation that you're spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. Symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are triggered by specific changes in the position of your...

Read more...

Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) Definition: A ventricular septal defect (VSD), also called a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that's present at birth (congenital). The defect involves an opening (hole) in the heart forming between the heart's lower chambers, allowing oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix. A baby with a small ventricular septal defect may have no problems. A baby with a larger ventricular septal defect or associated...

Read more...

Endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer Definition: Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ in women where fetal development occurs. Endometrial cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer. Other types of cancer can form in the uterus, but they are much less common than endometrial cancer. Endometrial...

Read more...

Chronic hives (urticaria)

Chronic hives (urticaria) Definition  : Chronic hives, also known as urticaria, are batches of raised, red or white itchy welts (wheals) of various sizes that appear and disappear. While most cases of hives go away within a few weeks or less, for some people they are a long-term problem. Chronic hives are defined as hives that last more than six weeks or hives that go away, but recur frequently. In most cases of chronic hives, a cause...

Read more...

Hives and angioedema

Hives and angioedema Definition  : Hives — also known as urticaria (ur-tih-KAR-e-uh) — is a skin reaction that causes raised, red, itchy welts (wheals, or swellings) in sizes ranging from small spots to large blotches several inches in diameter. Individual welts appear and fade as the reaction runs its course. Angioedema is a related type of swelling that affects deeper layers in your skin, often around your eyes and lips. In most...

Read more...

Blood in urine (hematuria)

Blood in urine (hematuria) Definition  : Seeing blood in your urine can cause more than a little anxiety. Yet blood in urine — known medically as hematuria — isn't always a matter for concern. Strenuous exercise can cause blood in urine, for instance. So can a number of common drugs, including aspirin. But urinary bleeding can also indicate a serious disorder. There are two types of blood in urine. Blood that you can see is called gross...

Read more...

Urine color

Urine color Definition  : Normal urine color ranges from pale yellow to deep amber — the result of a pigment called urochrome and how diluted or concentrated the urine is. Pigments and other compounds in certain foods and medications may change your urine color. Beets, berries and fava beans are among the foods most likely to affect urine color. Many over-the-counter and prescription medications give urine more-vivid tones — raspberry...

Read more...

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection (UTI) Definition  : Add caption A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than men are. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI...

Read more...

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence Definition  : Urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine. Stress incontinence is prompted by a physical movement or activity — such as coughing, sneezing or heavy lifting — that puts pressure (stress) on your bladder. Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress. Stress incontinence is much more common in women. If you have stress incontinence, you may feel embarrassed, isolate yourself,...

Read more...