Definition Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a heart problem that is frequently noted in the first few weeks or months after birth. It is characterized by the persistence of a normal prenatal connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery which allows oxygen-rich (red) blood that should go to the body …
Read More »Crystalluria – Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention.
What does it mean to have crystals in your urine? Crystals in urine occur when there are too many minerals in your urine and not enough liquid. The tiny pieces collect and form masses. These crystals may be found during urine tests (urinalysis). Having crystals in your urine is called …
Read More »Hydronephrosis – Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatments.
What is Hydronephrosis? Hydronephrosis is the swelling of a kidney due to a build-up of urine. It happens when urine cannot drain out from the kidney to the bladder from a blockage or obstruction. Hydronephrosis can occur in one or both kidneys. The main function of the urinary tract is …
Read More »Nightmare Disorder – Causes, Treatment and Prevention
Definition Nightmare disorder is a sleep disorder in which frequent disturbing dreams interfere with a person’s ability to function well during the day or cause emotional distress. Nightmares typically occur during a phase of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This phase usually occurs relatively late in the sleep …
Read More »Lewy Body Dementia – Description, Causes, and Prevention.
Lewy body dementia – Overview Lewy body dementia, also known as dementia with Lewy bodies, is the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, develop in nerve cells in the brain regions involved in thinking, memory and movement (motor control). Lewy body …
Read More »Aicardi syndrome – Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Definition Aicardi syndrome is a disorder that occurs almost exclusively in females. It is characterized by three main features that occur together in most affected individuals. People with this syndrome have absent or underdeveloped tissue connecting the left and right halves of the brain (agenesis or dysgenesis of the corpus …
Read More »Acute Liver Failure – Pathophysiology, Risk Factors and Complications
Definition Acute liver failure occurs when many cells in the liver die in a short period of time or the liver becomes damaged. Pediatric liver failure is not as common as liver failure in adults and liver failure in children is typically very rare. If the features occur in individuals …
Read More »Amblyopia or Lazy eye – Types, Complications and Treatment
Definition Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, occurs when one eye becomes weaker than the other during childhood. The brain favors the better eye, thus, allowing the weaker eye to get worse over time. Early screening is important. This is because treatment is more effective when started early. Treatments include …
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