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Definition Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is a condition in which the blood vessels lining the nose swell leading to nasal congestion, and in which the mucus glands in the nose become overactive leading to excessive drainage. It is usually associated with a loss of control of the nose’s function. The healthy …

What is a vestibular migraine? Vestibular migraine (also referred to as migrainous vertigo, migraine-related dizziness, vestibular migraine, or migraine with prominent vertigo) is a type of migraine where people experience a combination of vertigo, dizziness, or balance problems with other migraine symptoms. Migraine is usually associated with a range of …

What is vaginismus? Vaginismus is a condition involving spasm in the muscles of the pelvic floor. Vaginismus makes sexual intercourse, vaginal examination and inserting a tampon extremely painful and difficult. It is an involuntary contraction seen in the pelvic muscles when an object is inserted which tightens it up. This, …

Definition Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe bilateral chronic allergic inflammatory disease of the ocular surface. In most of the cases, the disease is limited to the tarsal conjunctiva and to the limbus. However, in the more severe cases, the cornea may be involved, leading to potentially sight threatening complications. …

Definition Vocal cord paralysis occurs when nerve impulses to your larynx get interrupted by a neurological condition or by damage to the nerves from trauma, tumor or infection. Not only can the paralysis affect your ability to speak, it can affect your breathing because your vocal cords also protect your …

Definition Vasculitis is a general term referring to a rare group of conditions marked by inflammation of blood vessels, causing them to be weakened, thickened, narrowed (stenosis), enlarged (aneurysm), blocked (occlusion), or scarred. There are many types of vasculitis based on the size of the vessel affected and may or …

Definition Vaginal dryness is a common problem experienced by up to one in three women, particularly those who are going through menopause or those who experience early menopause symptoms. The female sex hormone estrogen is responsible for maintaining your natural lubricant. When your estrogen levels decrease you are more likely …

Definition The term Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) refers to a group of serious illnesses caused by particular viruses. There are four VHFs that are of major concern from an Infection Control Perspective as they can be transmitted directly from humans to humans, and are a hazard for staff handling blood …