Lifestyle/Medicine
Drugs
ACE inhibitors – or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, are a group of drugs that are used primarily in treatment of hypertension and heart failure
Analgesic – drug used to relieve pain
Anti-emetic drugs – used to treat vomiting and nausea
Anti-muscarinic drugs – block the transmission of impulses along parts of the nervous system. Used to treat Parkinson’s disease
Anti-pruritic drugs – relieve itching
Anti-pyretic drug – reduces temperature or fever
Artesunate – drug used primarily as treatment for malaria
Aspirin – first extracted from bark of willow tree. Felix Hoffmann discovered aspirin in 1899 working for Bayer
Aspirin – an analgesic (pain reliever)
Atropine – produced from Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)
Avandia – diabetes drug that has adverse effects
Azidothymidine (AZT) – or Zidovudine is a type of antiretroviral drug used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS infection
Beta blockers – a class of blood pressure medications that ease the heart's pumping action and widen the blood vessels. Drugs that antagonize the action of adrenaline. Used to treat angina, heart failure, high blood pressure and some abnormal heart rhythms. Developed by James Black
Biosimilar – a biologic medical product which is copy of an original product that is manufactured by a different company, e.g. when the original patent on a drug expires
Bronchodilator drugs – used to treat asthma and bronchitis, by widening the airways to the lungs
Curare – a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles
Diazepam (valium) – launched in 1963 by Hoffman-La Roche
Digitalin – used to treat heart disease. Extracted from foxglove leaves
Diuretic – a drug that elevates the rate of urination
Exenatide (marketed as Byetta) – a drug used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. It is a synthetic version of a hormone found in the saliva of the Gila monster
Herceptin – made by Roche
Heroin (diacetylmorphine) was originally synthesized by Charles Wright in 1874. Felix Hoffmann later synthesized heroin, working for Bayer
Hypoglycaemic drugs – are used to lower levels of glucose in the blood
Ibuprofen – a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) originally marketed as Brufen, and since then under various other trademarks, notably Nurofen and Advil
Leuproreine – drug that reduces testosterone levels, used for ‘chemical castration’
Lipitor – a drug used for the treatment of high cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and prevention of heart attack. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is a statin made by Pfizer. Best selling drug of all time
Methaqualone (brand name Quaalude) – a sedative-hypnotic drug that acts as a general central nervous system depressant
Morphine – named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. First isolated by Friedrich Serturter in 1804
Neomycin – antibiotic discovered in 1949
Nootropics – also referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, cognitive enhancers, and intelligence enhancers, are drugs that improve mental functions
Paracetamol – a widely used analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer) e.g. Tylenol. Also known as acetaminophen
Paroxetine or seroxat – an SSRI antidepressant. It was released in 1992 by the GlaxoSmithKline and has since become one of the most prescribed antidepressants on the market due to its apparent efficacy in treating depression as well as a spectrum of anxiety disorders ranging from panic attacks to phobias
Penicillin – inhibits synthesis of cell walls of bacteria
Penicillin discovered in a dish of staphylococcus by Fleming in 1928
Prontosil – the first commercially available antibacterial antibiotic. Developed in 1930s by Bayer
Prozac (Fluoxetine hydrochloride) – an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Developed by Eli Lilly in 1986
Quinine – an alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona as a bitter white crystalline substance. Used to combat malaria
Relenza – used in the treatment of influenza caused by influenza A and B viruses
Ritalin – used to treat ADHD
Rohypnol – date-rape drug
Sartans – drugs that reduce blood pressure
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SSRI) – used as antidepressants
Statin – a class of drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver
Streptomycin – an antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis
Tamiflu – trade name of Oseltamivir. It was developed by Gilead Sciences and is currently marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche)
Tetracycline – a broad-spectrum antibiotic produced by the Streptomyces genus of Actinobacteria, indicated for use against many bacterial infections
Thalidomide was developed by German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal. It was sold from 1957 until 1961, when it was withdrawn after being found to be a cause of birth defects
Warfarin – an anticoagulant normally used in the prevention of thrombosis
Zantac – drug commonly used in treatment of peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease
ZMapp – an experimental biopharmaceutical drug comprising three humanized monoclonal antibodies under development as a treatment for Ebola virus disease
Tropical diseases
African trypanosomiasis – sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease of people and animals, caused by protists of the species Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by the tsetse fly
Chagas disease is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread mostly by insects known as Triatominae or kissing bugs
Cholera – an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The primary treatment is oral rehydration therapy
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) – acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypii mosquito. Viral disease characterized by extreme pain in the joints and limbs
Ebola – named after a tributary of the Congo river. Originally known as Zaire ebolavirus. Causes a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and other mammals
Encephalitis Lethargica – also known as sleeping sickness (though different from the sleeping sickness transmitted by the tsetse fly), is a devastating illness that swept the world in the 1920s and then vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Encephalitis Kwashiorkor – an acute form of childhood protein-energy malnutrition characterized by edema, anorexia, and an enlarged liver
Lethargica attacks the brain, leaving some victims like living statues
Lassa fever – an acute viral hemorrhagic fever first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria
Leishmaniasis – a disease caused by protozoan parasites and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, black fever, and Dumdum fever, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis
Leprosy – also known as Hansen's disease
Malaria – from Anopheles mosquitoes
Onchocerciasis – river blindness. Caused by infection by a nematode. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of a blackfly of the genus Simulium. The larval nematodes spread throughout the body
Plasmodium – parasite that causes maleria
Rift Valley Fever – a viral zoonosis (affects primarily domestic livestock, but can be passed to humans) causing fever. It is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The disease was first reported among livestock in Kenya around 1915, but the virus was not isolated until 1931
Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) – a parasitic disease caused by several species of fluke of the genus Schistosoma. This disease is most commonly found in Asia, Africa, and South America, especially in areas where the water contains numerous freshwater snails, which may carry the parasite
Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) – a diverse group of animal and human illnesses that may be caused by five distinct families of RNA viruses
West Nile virus – transmitted by mosquitoes
Yellow fever virus – transmitted by the bite of female mosquitos (the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and other species)
Eye disorders
Amblyopia – a visual disorder in which the brain partially or wholly ignores input from one eye. Also known as ‘lazy eye’
Blepharitis – inflammation of eyelid
Cataracts – can be caused by microwaves
Charles Bonnet Syndrome – hallucinations caused by macular degeneration
Corneal transplantation – also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (the graft) in its entirety (penetrating keratoplasty) or in part (lamellar keratoplasty)
Diplopia – double vision
Heterochromia iridis – different coloured eyes (irises). Alexander the Great had this condition
Hypermetropia – long-sightedness. Corrected by a convex lens
Ishihara test – for red-green colour blindness
Keratitis – inflammation of the cornea
Monogenic diseases – caused by a single gene
Myopia – short-sightedness. Corrected by a concave lens
Nuclear sclerosis – a type of early cataract
Nyctalopia – night-blindness
Pink Eye – conjunctivitis
Presbyopia – inability of the eye to focus sharply on nearby objects, resulting from loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens
Scotoma – a partial loss of vision or blind spot in an otherwise normal visual field
Snelling test – eyesight card
Strabismus – a squint
Trachoma – (Ancient Greek: ‘rough eye’) is an infectious eye disease
Cardiovascular disorders
Anemia – a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood
Angina – pain or discomfort due to lack of oxygen to the heart muscle
Angiology – the branch of medical science that studies the blood and lymph vessels and their disorders
Angioplasty – procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery
Aortic aneurysm – a general term for any swelling (dilatation or aneurysm) of the aorta, usually representing an underlying weakness in the wall of the aorta at that location
Autologous blood transfusion – uses the patient’s own blood
Coronary artery bypass surgery – also coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease
Electrocardiograph – medical instrument that records electric currents associated with contractions of the heart
Neutrophils – the primary white blood cells that respond to a bacterial infection
Phlebitis – inflammation of the wall of a vein
Phlebotomist – a person who draws blood from a patient
Phlebotomy – modern term for bloodletting
Renfield Syndrome – a term used to describe an obsession to drink blood. Also known as clinical vampirism
Sphygmomanometer – blood pressure meter
Tetralogy of Fallot – a congenital heart defect which classically has four anatomical components. It is the most common cause of blue baby syndrome. Named after French physician Etienne Fallot
Thrombolytic drugs – dissolve blood clots
Thrombus – blood clot
Vascular occlusion – a sudden blockage of a blood vessel, usually with a clot
Genetic disorders
Achondroplasia – common cause of dwarfism. May be inherited as a genetic disorder
Autosomal dominant disorder – e.g. Marfan disease
Autosomal recessive disorder – affect one in four children if each parent is an unaffected carrier, e.g. sickle-cell anaemia
BRCA1 – gene that produces a protein called breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein
Colour blindness – more common in boys than girls because the recessive allele is carried on the X chromosome
Down’s Syndrome – trisomy 21 (a third copy of chromosome 21)
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a severe recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy. In general, only males are affected, though females can be carriers
Edward’s syndrome – trisomy 18
Gene therapy – the use of DNA as a pharmaceutical agent to treat disease. It derives its name from the idea that DNA can be used to supplement or alter genes within an individual's cells
Haemophilia – is more common in boys than girls because the mutant allele is carried on the X chromosome. Haemophilia is rare in women but they may be carriers. Haemophilia A (clotting factor VIII deficiency) is the most common form of the disorder. Haemophilia B is sometimes called Christmas disease, named after Stephen Christmas, the first patient described with this disease
Huntington’s chorea – a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. The first thorough description of the disease was by George Huntington in 1872
Klinefelter’s syndrome – male has additional X chromosome, i.e. XXY
Mandibular prognathism – a potentially disfiguring genetic disorder where the lower jaw outgrows the upper, resulting in an extended chin. This condition is colloquially known as Habsburg jaw or Habsburg lip
Patau syndrome – trisomy 13
Personal Genome Project (PGP) – aims to publish the complete genomes and medical records of several volunteers, in order to enable research into personalized medicine. It was initiated by Harvard University's George Church and announced in 2006
Phenylketonuria (PKU) – an autosomal recessive metabolic genetic disorder characterized by a mutation in the gene for the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, rendering it nonfunctional
Polygenic – genetic disorders may also be complex, multifactorial, or polygenic, meaning that they are likely associated with the effects of multiple genes in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors
Prader-Willi syndrome – chromosomal disorder that causes a compulsion to eat constantly
Progeria – genetic disease where children start to age very rapidly
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) – also known as ‘bubble boy’ disease, is a genetic disorder
Sickle-cell anaemia – caused by haemoglobin becoming insoluble. A life-long blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickle-cell conditions have an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance from parents
Thalassemia – an inherited form of anemia caused by faulty synthesis of haemoglobin
Triple marker test – screens for Down’s Syndrome
Triple-X syndrome (XXX). XXX girls tend to be tall and thin and are often shy
Turner syndrome – (X chromosome instead of XX or XY)
Cancer
Carcinoma – the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. A cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during embryogenesis
Hodgkin's lymphoma – previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes. It was named after Thomas Hodgkin, who first described abnormalities in the lymph system in 1832
Metastatis – the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another
Neoplasm – an abnormal mass of tissue as a result of abnormal growth or division of cells
Neuroblastoma – the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy
Sarcoma – a malignant tumour of connective or other non-epithelial tissue
Tumour – a neoplasm that has formed a lump
Sexually transmitted diseases
Chlamydia infection – one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide; it is estimated that about 1 million individuals in the United States are infected with Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea – was known as ‘the clap’
Syphilis – caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis may have been carried to Europe by the returning crewmen from Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas
Vitamin deficiencies
Vitamin A – retinol (carotene). Night blindness
Vitamin B1 – thiamin. Beri-beri
Vitamin B2 – riboflavin. Skin disorders, failure to thrive
Vitamin B3 – niacin. Gastro-intestinal problems
Vitamin B6 – pyridoxine. Dermatitis
Vitamin B9 – folic acid. Congenital malformations
Vitamin B12 – cobalamin. Contains cobalt. Pernicious anemia
Vitamin C – ascorbic acid. Scurvy
Vitamin D – cholecalciferol. Rickets. Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by lack of sunlight
Vitamin E – refers to a group of ten lipid-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. Impaired fat absorption
Vitamin K – phytomenadione. Haemorrhagic problems. Required for blood coagulation
Mineral deficiencies
Calcium – rickets
Chromium – diabetes
Copper – anaemia
Iodine – goitre
Iron – anaemia
Magnesium – muscle weakness and fatigue
Phosphorus – bone pain
Potassium – kidney and lung failure
Sodium – impaired acid-base balance
Zinc – loss of appetite and malnutrition
Hypokalemia – low concentration of potassium in the blood
Hyponatraemia – an electrolyte disturbance in humans that exists when the sodium concentration in the plasma falls below a critical level. At lower levels water intoxication may result
Viruses
Baltimore classification (first defined in 1971) is a classification system that places viruses into one of seven groups
Adenovirus – responsible for respiratory infections
Arbovirus – a group of viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors
Human papillomavirus (HPV) – a member of the papillomavirus family of viruses that is capable of infecting humans. More than 30 to 40 types of HPV are typically transmitted through sexual contact
Lentivirus – a genus of viruses of the Retroviridae family, characterized by a long incubation period
Retroviridae is a family of viruses that replicate in a host cell through the process of reverse transcription
Rhinovirus – causative agent of the common cold
Luc Montagnier identified the HIV virus in 1983
Robert Gallo is best known for his role in identifying the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as the infectious agent responsible for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS virus identified by Michael Gottlieb in 1981
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as bird flu or H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species
H5 stands for the the fifth of several known types of the protein hemagglutinin
N1 stands for the the first of several known types of the protein neuraminidase
H1N1 – Spanish flu
H1N1 – Swine flu
H2N2 – Asian flu
H3N2 – Hong Kong flu
Grippe – old term for influenza
Chicken pox – caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus
Hepatitis – inflammation of the liver. A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of hepatitis
Infectious mononucleosis – glandular fever. caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), one type of herpes virus. Glandular fever was known as ‘the kissing disease’
Poliomyelitis – often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute, viral, infectious disease. Poliomyelitis was first recognized as a distinct condition by Jakob Heine in 1840. Its causative agent, poliovirus, was identified in 1908 by Karl Landsteiner
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is the virus that causes COVID-19. It is the successor to SARS-CoV-1, the virus that caused the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak
Smallpox – an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor
Last European smallpox outbreak was in Yugoslavia in 1972
The last naturally occurring case of indigenous smallpox (Variola minor) was diagnosed in Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Merca, Somalia, in 1977
Janet Parker was a British medical photographer, and is the last person known to have died from smallpox, in 1978
After vaccination campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the WHO certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979. Smallpox is one of two infectious diseases to have been eradicated, the other being rinderpest, which was declared eradicated in 2011
Verucca (plantar wart) – caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)
Herpes labialis (cold sores) – caused by a virus
Vaccines
Vaccine – a preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is incapable of causing severe infection
Oral polio vaccine – developed by Eric Sabin. Live vaccine, superseded Salk’s injected killed vaccine
Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux developed the first rabies vaccination in 1885. This vaccine was first used on nine-year-old Joseph Meister
Jonas Salk worked on a vaccine for influenza
Louis Pasteur demonstrated a vaccine for anthrax
DPT – (also DTP) a mixture of three vaccines, to immunize against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus
Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib vaccine or PRP vaccine) was developed for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria and has led to reduced cases of meningitis
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) – a vaccine against tuberculosis
MMR – an immunization vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella
Lady Mary Wortley Monagu was instrumental in bringing vaccination to GB in 1718, after seeing variolation (inoculation as a method of purposefully infecting a person with smallpox (Variola) in a controlled manner so as to minimise the severity of the infection and also to induce immunity against further infection) in Istanbul
In 1796, Edward Jenner innoculated James Phipps, a young boy, with material from the cowpox blisters of the hand of Sarah Nelmes, a milkmaid who had caught cowpox from a cow called Blossom, to prove that infection with cowpox gave immunity to smallpox
Alternative medicine
Homeopathy – first defined by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century. Homeopathic practitioners maintain that an ill person can be treated using a substance that can produce, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those of the illness
Iridology – an alternative medicine technique whose proponents believe that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris can be examined to determine information about a patient's systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts which divide the iris into zones which they correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as ‘windows’ into the body's state of health
Reflexology – based on the idea that there are energy channels in the feet that relate to every organ and function of the body. It involving application of pressure to the feet and hands with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion
Stylostixis – type of acupuncture
Imaging techniques
Computed tomography (CT) – a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing. Digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation. Older and less preferred terms that also refer to X-ray CT are computed axial tomography (CAT scan) and computer-aided/assisted tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – uses a powerful magnetic field to align the nuclear magnetization of (usually) hydrogen atoms in water in the body. Also known as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), or magnetic resonance tomography (MRT). MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to form images of the body
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – a type of specialized MRI scan used to measure the hemodynamic response (change in blood flow) related to neural activity in the brain or spinal cord
Positron emission tomography (PET) – a nuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), which is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule
Other diseases, disorders and syndromes
Addison’s disease – a rare, chronic endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and often mineralocorticoids)
Albinism – inherited disorder caused by lack of melanin
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) – describes a set of symptoms which include
alteration of body image (feeling that parts of the body are the wrong size)
Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS) – being unable to control a rogue hand. Suffered by Dr Strangelove
Ankylosing spondylitus – chronic inflammatory disease of the spine
Anthrax – was known as ragpicker’s disease
Asthma – a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm
Autoimmune diseases – arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells, e.g. type 1 diabetes
Anaphylaxis – an acute multi-system severe type I hypersensitivity allergic reaction
Aphasia – inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion. Most commonly caused by stroke
Appendicitis – deep tenderness at McBurney's point, known as McBurney's sign, is a sign of acute appendicitis
Asperger's syndrome – a form of autism which often manifests in eccentric behavior rather than pronounced and obvious disability
Bell’s Palsy – paralysis of the face
Black lung – coalworker's pneumoconiosis
Bipolar disorder – manic depression. Treated with lithium
Botulism – an illness caused by a potent bacterial toxin/poison (produced by Clostridium botulinum) which causes muscle weakness or paralysis
Bright’s disease – nephritis. Marked by the presence of albumin in the urine
Brown-Sequard syndrome – a loss of sensation and motor function (paralysis and anesthesia) that is caused by the lateral hemisection (cutting) of the spinal cord
Bubo – swelling of the lymph nodes. It is found in infections such as bubonic plague, gonorrhea, tuberculosis or syphilis. It is similar in appearance to a huge blister, and usually appears under the armpit, in the groin or on the neck
Bursitis – inflammation of one or more bursae, or small sacs of synovial fluid, in the body
Candidiasis or thrush – a fungal infection (mycosis) of any of the Candida species (all yeasts), of which Candida albicans is the most common
Catalepsy – a nervous condition characterized by muscular rigidity and fixity of posture regardless of external stimuli, as well as decreased sensitivity to pain
Cheilitis – a medical condition involving inflammation of the lip
Chilblains – acral ulcers (that is, ulcers affecting the extremities) that occur when a predisposed individual is exposed to cold and humidity
Cholecystitis – inflammation of the gall bladder
Chronic fatigue syndrome – also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
Coeliac disease – an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. The only effective treatment is a life-long gluten-free diet
Crohn’s disease – an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract
Colic – a form of pain which starts and stops abruptly
Baby colic – a condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries or screams frequently and, for extended periods, without any discernible reason
Painter’s colic – lead poisoning
Colitis – inflammation of the colon
Costochondritis – chest wall pain
Cyanosis – a bluish coloration of the skin due to the presence of deoxygenated haemoglobin in blood vessels near the skin surface
Cystic fibrosis – also known as mucoviscidosis, is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine. It is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across an epithelium, leading to thick, viscous secretions
Dementia pugilistica – a type of neurodegenerative disease or dementia, which may affect amateur or professional boxers as well as athletes in other sports who suffer concussions. It is also called punch-drunk syndrome
Dermatophytosis – fungal infection commonly known as ringworm
In 1776 Matthew Dobson evaporated two quarts of urine from a patient with diabetes. The resulting residue is granulated and smells and tastes like sugar, conclusively establishing the presence of ‘saccharine materials’ as a diagnosis of diabetes
Diprosopus – a rare congenital disorder whereby part or all of the face is duplicated on the head. Cats with the condition are known as 'Janus cats', after the Roman god
Diptheria – in 10% of cases, patients experience neck swelling, informally referred to as ‘bull neck’. Schick test – for diphtheria
Dysentery (formerly known as Flux or the bloody flux) is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon
Edema or oedema – (from the Greek for ‘swelling’), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body
Endometriosis – a medical condition in women in which endometrial like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity
Epilepsy – known as ‘falling sickness’
Ergotism – the effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the Claviceps purpurea fungus which infects rye and other cereals. Ergotism is also known as ‘St Anthony’s fire’
Gangrene – death of body tissue due to lack of oxygen, caused by lack of blood supply
Goitre – enlarged thyroid gland caused by iodine deficiency
Graves' disease – an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones
Hernia – protrusion of an abdominal organ through a gap in the abdominal wall
Hiatus hernia – the protrusion (or herniation) of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm
Herpes zoster – shingles
Hypophysitis – inflammation of the pituitary gland
Impetigo – skin infection
Impulse control disorder – a set of brain disorders including intermittent explosive disorder (hot-headedness), kleptomania (stealing), pathological gambling, pyromania (fire-starting) and trichotillomania (pulling one's hair out). Impulsivity, the key feature of these disorders, can be thought of as seeking a small, short term gain at the expense of a large, long term loss
Interstitial cystitis – bladder pain syndrome
Infantile paralysis – polio
Infectious parotitis – mumps
King’s evil – scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymph glands), supposedly cured by the touch of a king
Kleine-Levin Syndrome – (also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome) is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring periods of excessive amounts of sleep and altered behaviour
Klippel-Feil syndrome – distinctive ‘no neck’ look, suffered by Gladstone Small
Koplik spots – a prodrome (early symptom) of measles. White lesions in the mouth
Koro – a culture-specific syndrome in which an individual has an overpowering belief that his or her genitals (e.g., penis or female nipples) are retracting and will disappear
Labyrinthitis – an inflammation of the inner ear
Legionellosis – takes two distinct forms: Legionnaires' disease is the more severe form of the infection and produces pneumonia; Pontiac fever is caused by the same bacterium but produces a milder respiratory illness without pneumonia that resembles acute influenza. Legionnaires' disease acquired its name in 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia occurred among people attending a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia
Leucism – a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin
Leukodystrophy – a group of disorders characterized by dysfunction of the white matter of the brain. The leukodystrophies are caused by imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath
Lyme disease – tick-borne disease named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where a number of cases were identified in 1975
Mad hatter disease – caused by absorption of mercury
Myelitis – inflammation of white matter or gray matter of spinal cord
Myositis – inflammation of the muscles
Myxoedema – a term used synonymously with severe hypothyroidism
Osteomyelitis – inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone
Osteoporosis – a decrease in bone mass and bone density and an increased risk and/or incidence of fracture
Otitis – inflammation of the ear
Paget's disease – a metabolic bone disease that involves bone destruction
Paronychia – bacterial or fungal hand infection or foot infection where the nail and skin meet at the side or the base of a finger or toenail
Pelegra – a disease caused by deficiency of niacin
Peritonitis – inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs
Pertussis – whooping cough
Pes planus – flat feet or fallen arches
Phocomelia – a rare congenital disorder involving the limbs. Suffered by Alison Lapper
Pick’s disease – a rare neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain
Pleursey – inflammation of the pleura, the linings surrounding the lungs
Porphyrias – a group of inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes in the heme bio-synthetic pathway
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) – also called Benson's syndrome, is most usually considered to be an atypical variant of Alzheimer's disease
Pott’s disease – affects the spine
Proteus Syndrome – a congenital disorder that causes skin overgrowth and atypical bone development, often accompanied by tumors on over half the body. Suffered by the Elephant Man (Joseph Merrick), who was saved by the surgeon Frederick Treves
Psittacosis – infectious disease transmitted to humans from birds
Quinsy – or peritonsillar abscess, is a recognized complication of tonsillitis
Rapunzel syndrome – a rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from ingesting hair (trichophagia). Trichophagia is sometimes associated with the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania
Raynaud's phenomenon – a disorder causing discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other areas
Rosacea – skin disease of adults (more often women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance
Rubella – German measles
Rubeola – measles
Scabies – a contagious skin infection that occurs among humans and other animals. It is caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasite – the mite Sarcoptes scabiei
Sialadenitis – inflammation of a salivary gland
Spondylitis – inflammation of a vertebra
Stroke – sometimes referred to as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), cerebrovascular insult (CVI), or colloquially brain attack is the loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain, especially when it occurs quickly. Two types – Haemorrhagic stroke – caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain; Ischaemic stroke – caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain (as from a clot blocking a blood vessel)
Stomatitis – an inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth
Sydenham's chorea (also known as Saint Vitus’s Dance) – a disease characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements affecting primarily the face, feet and hands
Tetanus – characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibres. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Clostridium tetani
Toxoplasmosis – a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) – also known as prion diseases, are a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain and nervous system of many animals, including humans. Includes BSE and CJD
Trombiculosis – a rash caused by trombiculid mites which is often referred to as a chigger bite
Tuberculosis– TB (short for tubercles bacillus) is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria. Mantoux test – used to detect latent tuberculosis infection
Typhus – was known as ‘jail fever’. Caused by Rickettsiae bacteria
Urticaria – (or hives) is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Also known as nettle rash
Vitiligo – condition that causes depigmentation of parts of the skin
Weil’s disease – transmitted by rats. Known as leptospirosis
Whitlow – (or felon) is an infection of the tip of the finger
Glossary
Apgar score – devised in 1952 by Dr. Virginia Apgar as a simple and repeatable method to quickly and summarily assess the health of newborn children immediately after childbirth. The Apgar score is determined by evaluating the newborn baby on five simple criteria on a scale from zero to two, then summing up the five values thus obtained. The resulting Apgar score ranges from zero to 10. The five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) are used as a mnemonic
Aguesia – loss of sense of taste
Analgesia – the absence of the sense of pain while remaining conscious
Anosmia – loss of sense of smell
Anoxia – deficiency of oxygen. Same as hypoxia
Arthroscopy – examination of the interior of a joint, such as the knee, using a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint
Balneotherapy – the treatment of disease by bathing
Bariatrics – deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity
Barium meal – a procedure in which radiographs of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum are taken after barium sulfate is ingested by a patient
BMI (Body Mass Index) – defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. A BMI below 15 may indicate the person has an eating disorder; a number above 30 suggests the person is obese
Borborygmus – tummy rumbling
Bruxism – grinding of the teeth
Cellulite – herniation of subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue that manifests itself as skin dimpling
Cerumen – earwax
Cholecystectomy – removal of the gall bladder
Claudication – limping
Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) – refers to a person who looks like a woman but who has undescended testes and no ovaries
Compound fracture – occurs when the edges of a broken bone puncture the skin
Congenital disorder – involves defects in or damage to a developing foetus, e.g. cleft lip and palate, sirenomelia (mermaid syndrome)
Contagious disease – one that can be passed only through direct contact
Decompression sickness – also known as the bends, or caisson disease
Deglutition – swallowing
Dental caries – tooth decay
Dialysate – the part of a mixture which passes through the membrane in dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis – uses the patient's peritoneum as a membrane across which fluids and dissolved substances are exchanged from the blood
Diaphoresis – excessive sweating
Diaphoretic – the state of perspiring profusely
Dolorimeter – an instrument used to measure pain threshold and pain tolerance
Dupuytren’s contracture – a fixed flexion contracture of the hand where the fingers bend towards the palm and cannot be fully extended
Dysphagia – difficulty in swallowing
Dysphemia – stuttering or stammering
Electromyography – study of electric currents set up in muscle fibres by bodily movement
Emetic – a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting
Epidemiology – deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations
Epigastric sensation – sinking feeling in pit of stomach, due to nerves
Epinephrine autoinjector – a device for injecting a measured dose or doses of epinephrine (adrenaline)
Epistaxis – nose bleed
Etiology – the study of the causes of disease
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – a technique of providing both cardiac and respiratory support oxygen to patients whose heart and lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function
Fallen arches – flat feet
Fractures – closed (simple) fractures are those in which the skin is intact, while open (compound) fractures involve wounds that communicate with the fracture
Frozen shoulder – medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder, becomes inflamed and stiff
Genu valgum – commonly called ‘knock-knee’, is a condition where the knees angle in and touch one another when the legs are straightened
Globus hystericus – lump in the throat
Glossitis – inflammation of the tongue
Glossoplegia – paralysis of the tongue
Gram staining (or Gram's method) – an empirical method of differentiating bacterial species into two large groups (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) based on the chemical and physical properties of their cell walls. A gram-positive results in a purple-blue colour while a gram-negative results in a pink-red colour
Gravidity – the number of times a woman has been pregnant
Gynecomastia – the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement
Haemodialysis – dialysis using a machine
Haemolytic disease of the Newborn – if a mother is RH- and the father is RH+, the mother’s immune system may react against the foetus’s blood cells and destroy them because they seem foreign
Hallux vulgus – bunion, a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the big toe
Halothane – an inhalant general anesthetic
Hammer toe – a deformity of the middle joint of the second, third, or fourth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer
Heimlich Manoeuvre – a method of abdominal thrusts, is a first aid procedure for clearing an obstructed airway
Hemicrania – migraine
Hepadectomy – removal of the liver
Hirudotherapy – the use of leeches in medicine
Histamine – a biologically active substance released from mast cells during an allergic reaction in response to an allergen. Antihistamines can be used to block the release of histamine that would otherwise occur as a result of exposure to an allergen
Horripilation – reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation (goose pimples)
Hyperhydrosis – excessive sweating
Hypertension – high blood pressure
Hyperthymesia – a condition in which the individual possesses a superior autobiographical memory, meaning they can recall the vast majority of personal experiences and events in their lives
Hypopnea – episode of decreased rate and depth of breathing
Iatrogenesis – an inadvertent adverse effect or complication resulting from medical treatment or advice
Ice-cream headache, also known as sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, is a form of brief headache commonly associated with consumption (particularly quick consumption) of cold beverages or foods such as ice cream
Idiot savant – an intellectually disabled person who exhibits extraordinary ability in a highly specialized area
Index case – first case of a disease
Infection – invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms
Insolation, thermopligia – sun stroke
Kyphosis – excessive curvature of the upper spine
Laminectomy is a spine operation to remove the portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina
Laparoscope – a slender endoscope inserted through an incision in the abdominal wall in order to examine the abdominal organs or to perform minor surgery
Lateral epicondylitis – tennis elbow
Lordosis – inward curvature of the spine
Magic bullet – a concept of selectively targeting a bacterium without affecting other organisms, most associated with Dr. Paul Ehrlich and syphilis research
Median lethal dose, LD50 (abbreviation for ‘lethal dose, 50%’) – the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population after a specified test duration
Melanocytic nevus – a mole
Mentoplasty – alters the jaw line or cheek
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – a bacterium
Methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) – a bacterium
Moro reflex – also known as the startle reflex, is one of the infantile reflexes
Mycetism – mushroom poisoning
Mycosis – a condition in which fungi pass the resistance barriers of the human or animal body and establish infections
Neurosclerosis – hardening of nerve tissue
Neurosis – a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations
New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) – an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of antibiotics. Superbug brought into UK from India
Nosocomial infections – infections picked up in hospitals
Nosology – a branch of medicine that deals with classification of diseases
Onychocryptosis – ingrown toenail
Oophorectomy – the surgical removal of an ovary or ovaries
Otology – study of hearing
Otorhinolaryngology – diseases of the ear, nose and throat
Palliative medicine – treatment that provides symptomatic relief but not a cure
Pap test – cervical smear, named after the Greek doctor Georgios Papanikolaou
Paresthesia – pins and needles
Pathogen – an agent that causes disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium or fungus
Pica – an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive, such as clay, chalk, dirt, or sand
Plexos – rubber hammer used to test reflexes on knee
Polydactylism – a congenital physical anomaly in humans, dogs, and cats having more than the normal number of fingers or toes
Prophylaxis – preventive medicine
Potts fracture – ankle
Pre-eclampsia – a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant protein in the urine
Prepatella versitis – housemaid’s knee
Priapism – condition in which the penis is continually erect; usually painful and seldom with sexual arousal
Pruritus – itching
Pyrosis – heartburn
Refractory illness – does not respond to treatment
Rhytidectomy – a facelift
Salmonella – named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, an American veterinary pathologist
Schizophrenia – coined by Eugen Bleuler in 1908
Scrivener's palsy – writer’s cramp. Also known as graphospasm
Situs inversus – body organs on the wrong side
Stasis – a state in which the normal flow of a body liquid stops
Static aponea – holding your breath
Stent – an artificial 'tube' inserted into a natural passage/conduit in the body to prevent, or counteract, a disease-induced, localized flow constriction. Named after an English dentist
Sternutation – sneezing
Suture – a medical device used to hold body tissues together after an injury or surgery. Application generally involves of using a needle with an attached length of thread
Sweat test – measures the concentration of chloride that is excreted in sweat. It is used to diagnose cystic fibrosis
Synalgia – referred pain, also called reflective pain, is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus
Syncope – fainting
Trismus – lockjaw
Vasectomy – the male vasa deferentia are severed and then tied/sealed
Vector – any agent (person, animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism
Viral infection types – A (causes epidemics), B (common in humans), C (found in pigs, dogs and humans)
Visual agnosia – the inability of the brain to make sense of or make use of some part of otherwise normal visual stimulus and is typified by the inability to recognize familiar objects or faces
Zoonoses – diseases caught from animals
Veterinary medicine
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) affects cats worldwide
Lime disease – carried by ticks, affects deer
Newcastle disease is an RNA virus which affects poultry
Schmallenberg virus causes congenital malformations and stillbirths in cattle, sheep, and goats. It appears to be transmitted by midges
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) – a virus found in primates related to HIV
Spondylosis Deformans – affects the spine, primarily found in dogs
Strangles – lymph node disease affecting horses and ponies. Equine distemper
Sweeny – wasting disease affecting horses
