Conditions & Diseases, ATR-CER

Whether we like it or not, living things are susceptible to any number of illnesses and conditions that can threaten or harm the health of those afflicted. Bacteria, viruses, and other microbiological agents are obvious challenges to health. Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting. Additionally, diseases may be communicable (contagious) or noncommunicable; of the latter, the four major types identified by the World Health Organization are cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes mellitus.
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Conditions & Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title

atrophy
atrophy, decrease in size of a body part, cell, organ, or other tissue. The term implies that the atrophied part......
attack rate
attack rate, in epidemiology, the proportion of people who become ill with (or who die from) a disease in a population......
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a behavioral syndrome characterized by inattention and distractibility,......
autoimmune disease
autoimmune disease, any of a group of conditions or disorders that result from malfunction of the immune system,......
avascular necrosis
avascular necrosis, death of bone tissue caused by a lack of blood supply to the affected area. Avascular necrosis......
avian malaria
avian malaria, infectious disease of birds that is known particularly for its devastation of native bird populations......
avoidant personality disorder
avoidant personality disorder (AVPD), mental disorder characterized by the intentional avoidance of social situations......
babesiosis
babesiosis, any of a group of tick-borne diseases of humans and other animals caused by species of Babesia, protozoans......
bacteremia
bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, whether associated with active disease or not. The transient......
bacterial disease
bacterial disease, any of a variety of illnesses caused by bacteria. Until the mid-20th century, bacterial pneumonia......
baldness
baldness, the lack or loss of hair. Two primary types of baldness can be distinguished: permanent hair loss, arising......
barotrauma
barotrauma, any of several injuries arising from changes in pressure upon the body. Humans are adapted to live......
Bartter syndrome
Bartter syndrome, any of several rare disorders affecting the kidneys and characterized primarily by the excessive......
Batten disease
Batten disease, rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that begins in childhood. The disease is named for British......
bedsore
bedsore, an ulceration of skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure that limits the blood supply to the affected......
bejel
bejel, chronic infection characterized by eruptions initially in the mouth and on the skin and typically later......
beriberi
beriberi, nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamin (vitamin B1) and characterized by impairment of......
berylliosis
berylliosis, systemic industrial disease caused by poisoning with beryllium, usually involving the lungs but occasionally......
biliary dyskinesia
biliary dyskinesia, obscure functional disorder related in some way to the workings of the biliary tract, the structures......
bipolar disorder
bipolar disorder, mental disorder characterized by recurrent depression or mania with abrupt or gradual onsets......
bird flu
bird flu, a viral respiratory disease mainly of poultry and certain other bird species, including migratory waterbirds,......
blackhead
blackhead, acute liver and intestinal disease of turkeys, chickens, and other game birds, caused by the protozoan......
blackwater fever
blackwater fever, rare, yet dangerous, complication of malaria. It occurs almost exclusively with infection from......
bladder cancer
bladder cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells within the urinary bladder, the organ responsible......
blast injury
blast injury, any injury caused by a pressure wave, resulting primarily from exposure to an explosion. Blast injuries......
blastomycosis
blastomycosis, infection of the lungs with fungal organisms of the genus Blastomyces. Blastomyces occur in the......
blepharitis
blepharitis, common inflammation of the eyelids that is marked by red, scaly, crusting eyelids and a burning, itching,......
blind, history of the
history of the blind, the experience of persons affected by blindness and the development of blind education and......
blindness
blindness, transient or permanent inability to see any light at all (total blindness) or to retain any useful vision......
blister
blister, a rounded elevation of the skin containing clear fluid, caused by a separation either between layers of......
blister rust
blister rust, any of several diseases of pine trees caused by rust fungi of the genus Cronartium. Blister rust......
blood doping
blood doping, use of substances or techniques that increase the number of circulating red blood cells (erythrocytes)......
bloodborne disease
bloodborne disease, any of a group of diseases caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria that are carried......
body dysmorphic disorder
body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), preoccupation with one or more perceived or imagined flaws in one’s physical appearance,......
boil
boil, a staphylococcus skin infection characterized by an inflamed nodular swelling filled with pus, located at......
bone cancer
bone cancer, disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells of the bone. Primary bone cancer—that is, cancer......
bone cyst
bone cyst, benign bone tumour that is usually saclike and filled with fluid. Unicameral bone cysts affect the long......
borderline personality disorder
borderline personality disorder (BPD), mental illness characterized by chronic instability in the affected individual’s......
Borna disease
Borna disease, a viral disease of warm-blooded animals, notably horses and sheep, characterized by inflammation......
botulinum toxin
botulinum toxin, poisonous protein made by Clostridium botulinum and several closely related species of bacteria......
botulism
botulism, paralytic syndrome caused by poisoning by botulinum toxin, a substance produced by Clostridium botulinum......
boutonneuse fever
boutonneuse fever, a mild typhuslike fever caused by the bacterium Rickettsia conorii conorii and transmitted by......
bradycardia
bradycardia, type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) characterized by slowing of the heart rate to 60 beats......
brain cancer
brain cancer, the uncontrolled growth of cells in the brain. The term brain cancer refers to any of a variety of......
breast cancer
breast cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells in the mammary glands. Breast cancer can......
Breckinridge, Madeline McDowell
Madeline McDowell Breckinridge was an American social reformer whose efforts focused on child welfare, health issues,......
Bright disease
Bright disease, inflammation of the structures in the kidney that produce urine: the glomeruli and the nephrons.......
brucellosis
brucellosis, infectious disease of humans and domestic animals characterized by an insidious onset of fever, chills,......
brucellosis spondylitis
brucellosis spondylitis, arthritis of the spine caused by infection with the bacterium Brucella, which spreads......
bruise
bruise, a visible bluish or purplish mark or patch occurring beneath the surface of unbroken skin, resulting from......
bubonic plague
bubonic plague, one of three clinical forms of plague, an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.......
Buerger’s disease
Buerger’s disease, inflammation of the peripheral arteries primarily, which occurs chiefly in men from adolescence......
bufotoxin
bufotoxin, a moderately potent poison secreted in the skin of many anuran amphibians, especially the typical toads......
bulimia nervosa
bulimia nervosa, eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by inappropriate attempts to compensate......
bullous pemphigoid
bullous pemphigoid, a chronic, generalized skin disorder characterized by an eruption of serum-filled vesicles......
bunion
bunion, type of bursitis that appears as a bulge covered by thickened skin occurring at the base of the big toe,......
Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that has an especially high incidence in equatorial Africa among......
burn
burn, damage caused to the body by contact with flames, hot substances, certain chemicals, radiation (sunlight,......
bursitis
bursitis, inflammation of a synovial bursa, the lubricating sac located around joints or between tendons and muscles......
cadmium poisoning
cadmium poisoning, toxic effects of cadmium or its compounds on body tissues and functions. Poisoning may result......
Caffey syndrome
Caffey syndrome, a hereditary disease of infants, characterized by swellings of the periosteum (the bone layer......
calcium deficiency
calcium deficiency, condition in which calcium is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Calcium is the mineral......
callus
callus, in osteology, bony and cartilaginous material forming a connecting bridge across a bone fracture during......
campylobacteriosis
campylobacteriosis, a disease of cattle, sheep, and humans caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. Vaccines......
cancer of unknown primary
cancer of unknown primary (CUP), rare condition in which the initial site of cancer development in a patient’s......
candidiasis
candidiasis, infectious disease produced by the yeastlike fungus Candida albicans and closely related species.......
canine distemper
canine distemper, an acute, highly contagious, disease affecting dogs, foxes, wolves, mink, raccoons, and ferrets.......
canine parvovirus disease
canine parvovirus disease, acute viral infection in dogs characterized by a severe enteritis that is associated......
canker sore
canker sore, a small, painful ulcer of the oral cavity. Canker sores are round, shallow, white ulcers on the inner......
Cannon, Walter Bradford
Walter Bradford Cannon was an American neurologist and physiologist who coined the terms homeostasis and fight-or-flight......
carbon monoxide poisoning
carbon monoxide poisoning, often fatal condition resulting from inhalation of carbon monoxide, frequently occurring......
carcinogen
carcinogen, any of a number of agents that can cause cancer in humans. They can be divided into three major categories:......
carcinoma
carcinoma, a cancerous growth of surface (epithelial) tissues of the skin, digestive tract, blood vessels, and......
cardiac arrest
cardiac arrest, sudden loss of heart function, in which the regular contraction of the heart muscle unexpectedly......
cardiomyopathy
cardiomyopathy, any cardiac disease process that results in heart failure due to a decrease in the pumping power......
caries
caries, cavity or decay of a tooth, a localized disease that begins at the surface of the tooth and may progress......
carotenemia
carotenemia, yellow skin discoloration caused by excess blood carotene; it may follow overeating of such carotenoid-rich......
carpal tunnel syndrome
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), condition of numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist caused by repetitive flexing......
Carrión disease
Carrión disease, rickettsial infection limited to South America, caused by the bacterium Bartonella bacilliformis......
case fatality rate
case fatality rate, in epidemiology, the proportion of people who die from a specified disease among all individuals......
cat scratch disease
cat scratch disease, bacterial infection in human beings caused by Bartonella henselae, which is transmitted by......
cataplexy
cataplexy, a sudden brief impairment of muscle tone, such as a limpness of the arms or legs, that is often precipitated......
cataract
cataract, opacity of the crystalline lens of the eye. Cataracts occur in 50 percent of people between the ages......
catatonia
catatonia, psychomotor syndrome in which an affected individual is unresponsive and immobile or occasionally hyperactive,......
catatonic schizophrenia
catatonic schizophrenia, rare severe mental disorder characterized by striking motor behaviour, typically involving......
cauliflower ear
cauliflower ear, distortion of the cartilage of the outer ear as the result of an injury. If the injury causes......
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F., case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 3, 1999, ruled......
celiac disease
celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune digestive disorder in which affected individuals cannot tolerate gluten,......
cellulitis
cellulitis, bacterial infection of the skin. Cellulitis can be caused by any bacteria that enters a superficial......
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Aulus Cornelius Celsus was one of the greatest Roman medical writers, author of an encyclopaedia dealing with agriculture,......
cephalic disorder
cephalic disorder, any of several conditions affecting the structure and function of the human brain and central......
cerebral edema
cerebral edema, swelling of part or all of the brain, caused by the presence of excess fluid within either the......
cerebral palsy
cerebral palsy, a group of neurological disorders characterized by paralysis resulting from abnormal development......
cervical cancer
cervical cancer, disease characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix, the region of the uterus......
cervical erosion
cervical erosion, ulceration of the lining of the uterine cervix made evident by bright red or pink spots around......

Conditions & Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title