Definition Angular cheilitis is a medical condition popularly known as “angular stomatitis that is characterized by cracked skin or wounds in the corner of the mouth where the lips meet. It is caused by the overdevelopment of fungi or bacteria, and can happen from habits like constantly licking your lips. …
Read More »Adult-onset Still’s Disease (AOSD) – Definition, Symptoms and Treatment
Definition Adult-onset Still’s disease, sometimes known as AOSD, is a rare type of inflammatory arthritis. As the name suggests, it can only be diagnosed in adults. Its name comes from another condition, Still’s disease, which is also known as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Systemic JIA is only diagnosed in …
Read More »Acute Cholecystitis – Description, Causes, and Diagnosis
Description Acute cholecystitis is the most common complication of cholelithiasis. In fact, ≥ 95% of patients with acute cholecystitis have cholelithiasis. When a stone becomes impacted in the cystic duct and persistently obstructs it, acute inflammation results. Bile stasis triggers release of inflammatory enzymes (eg, phospholipase A, which converts lecithin …
Read More »Anterior cruciate ligament injury – Anatomy, Treatment, and Prevention
Definition Anterior cruciate ligament injury passes in front of another ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The cruciate ligaments get their name from the fact they form a cross within the knee as they run in different directions from the thigh to the shin bone. Along with the other ligaments …
Read More »Atrioventricular Canal Defect – Causes, Complications, and Prevention.
Overview Atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) or atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a combination of heart problems resulting in a defect in the center of the heart. The condition occurs when there’s a hole between the heart’s chambers and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart. Sometimes …
Read More »Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia – Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis.
Overview of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. The word “acute” in acute lymphocytic leukemia comes from the fact that the disease progresses rapidly and creates …
Read More »Anaplasmosis – Description, Causes, and Prevention.
Description Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. These bacteria are spread to people by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Doxycycline is the drug …
Read More »Adrenomyeloneuropathy – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention.
Definition Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is an inherited condition that affects the spinal cord. It is a form of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. On average, people with AMN begin to develop features in the late twenties. Signs and symptoms may include progressive stiffness and weakness of the legs; ataxia; speech difficulties; adrenal insufficiency; sexual …
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