Definition This syndrome includes a group of disorders characterized by blood and protein in the urine and by damage to the kidney glomeruli (filtering structures) that may lead to kidney failure. Description This syndrome, also known as Berger's disease or IgA nephropathy, arises when internal kidney structures called glomeruli...

Definition The term idiopathic means "cause unknown." The idiopathic infiltrative lung diseases, also known as interstitial lung diseases, are a group of more than a hundred disorders seen in both adults and (less often) in children, whose cause is unknown but which tend to spread, or "infiltrate" through much or all of the lung tissue. They...

Definition Derived from two Greek words meaning "fish" and "disease," ichthyosis is a congenital (meaning present at birth) dermatological (skin) disease that is represented by thick, scaly skin. Description The ichthyoses are a group of skin diseases caused by an abnormality in skin growth that results in drying and scaling. There are at least 20 types of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis can...

Some people lie awake for a long time after retiring, but when they do go to sleep, they sleep soundly. Some waken early and cannot go back to sleep. Others waken repeatedly during the night.  Sleep requirements vary from person to person. A few people seem to get along well on five or six hours per night. Others need nine or ten in order to maintain strength, energy, and alertness. It is wise, therefore,...

In alcoholic intoxication perceptual capacities are dulled, judgment impaired, comprehension of reality distorted. An intoxicated person's skin becomes flushed, his reflexes sluggish, and his muscular coordination poor. He may experience double vision, ringing in the ears, and numbness. His condition may deteriorate to a state of coma. The stupor of alcoholic intoxication is easily confused with that caused...

Sexual intercourse is a complex function, with physical, ethical, and moral components. When any of these is less than satisfying to the individual, the function becomes disappointing. When all three blend in a manner consistent with the individual's codes and personal expectations, sexual intercourse provides a gratifying reassurance of personal adequacy. The sexual reflexes which by their response to...

(See also Bed-wetting.) A. Urinary Incontinence. Involuntary passage of urine occurs when the bladder or urethra is infected. There is a sudden urgency to empty the bladder, and, if the desire is not gratified, urine may escape. It occurs in older men with enlarged prostate gland. It occurs in women who have suffered lacerations from childbirth. Loss of bladder control occurs when the nerves to the bladder...

Paralytic ileus; Intestinal volvulus; Bowel obstruction; Ileus; Pseudo-obstruction – intestinal; Colonic ileus Definition of Intestinal obstruction: Intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel that results in the failure of the intestinal contents to pass through. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Obstruction of the bowel may due to:  * A mechanical cause, which simply...

Nervous indigestion; Spastic colon; Intestinal neurosis; Functional colitis; Irritable colon; Mucous colitis; Laxative colitis; IBS Definition of Irritable bowel syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a disorder of the lower intestinal tract. It involves abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements. Emotional stress often makes the symptoms worse. It is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease...

It is important to carry out a program of immunization, beginning in infancy, so that a child will be protected against the common contagious diseases. Each doctor has his own preferences for the methods and timing sequence to be used. Read and learn more about  Immunizations from the CDC