Common Conditions, Signs And Symptoms Flashcards
1
Q
Abscess
A
An enclosed collection of liquefied tissue. It is the result of the body’s defensive reaction to foreign material. May be sterile or septic
2
Q
Aetiology
A
Cause, or set of causes
3
Q
Alopecia
A
Partial or complete loss of hair
4
Q
Amenorrhoea
A
The absence of mentruation/ absence of menstrual flow
5
Q
Anaemia
A
Reduction below normal the number of erythrocytes, quantity of erythrocytes, quantity of haemoglobin, or the volume of packed red blood cells in the blood
6
Q
Anaesthesia
A
Loss of the sensation and or the ability to fell pain, usually damage to a nerve or receptor caused by administration of a drug or other medical intervention a sense of cutaneous sensation of touch, temperature and pain
7
Q
Analgesia
A
Absence of sensitivity to pain
8
Q
Angina pectoris
A
Chest pain caused by myocardial ischaemia, typically brought on by exertion
9
Q
Ahidrosis
A
Abnormal deficiency of sweat response to heat
10
Q
Anorexia
A
Lack/loss of appetite for food in the presence of physiological need for food
11
Q
Anosmia
A
Absence of the sense of smell
12
Q
Appendectomy
A
Surgical removal of the appendix
13
Q
Appendicitis
A
Inflammation of the appendix
14
Q
Arteriosclerosis
A
Thickening of walls, loss of elasticity of arteries
15
Q
Arthralgia
A
Severe pain in a joint
16
Q
Arthritis
A
Inflammation of joint(s)
17
Q
Arthropathy
A
Joint disease
18
Q
Ascites
A
Presence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity
19
Q
Ataxia
A
An impaired ability to coordinate movement, often characterized by a staggering gait and postural imbalance
20
Q
Atherosclerosis
A
deposition of fatty plaques arterial walls
21
Q
Atrophy
A
Wasting
22
Q
Black / Brown blood
A
Blood that has been modified by the stomach acids, and appears in stool or vomit
23
Q
Borborygmi
A
Bowel sounds
24
Q
Bruits
A
Swishing sounds, caused by turbulent flow
25
Bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa
26
Carcinoma
Cancer of epithelial tissue of the skin, or lining of internal organ
27
Cervicalgia
Neck pain
28
Cholecystectomy
Surgical removal of the gallbladder
29
Cholelithiasis
Presence of gallstones in the gall bladder
30
Claudication
Cramping pain of the calves, especially on walking
31
Clubbing
Proliferation of soft tissue around the ends of fingers or toes, without osseous change
32
Colic
Sharp visceral pain from torsion, obstruction or spasm of a hollow organ
33
Constipation
Infrequent defecation, or defecating with strain or the sensation of incomplete evacuation
34
Cough
An autonomic reflex to clear the respiratory tract
35
Crepitation (crepitus)
Crackling, grinding noise e.g. of joints
36
Cyanosis
A physical sign causing bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, caused
by a lack of oxygen in the blood (increase in deoxygenated haemoglobin)
37
Cyst
A closed cavity or sac, normal or abnormal, lined by epithelium, and especially one that contains a liquid or semisolid material
38
Dehydration
The condition that results from excessive loss of body water
39
Diarrhoea
Excessive frequency in the passage of watery stools that are unusually unformed
40
Diplopia
Double vision
41
Diverticulitis
Inflammation of one or more diverticula (abnormal sacs or pouches formed at weak points in the wall of the alimentary tract)
42
Dizziness
As a disorder, dizziness is classified into three categories –
vertigo, syncope, and non-syncope-non-vertigo.
43
Dysaesthesia
Distorts sensations in response to a stimuli and may last longer than the stimulus itself
44
Dysarthria
Poorly articulated speech (speech may be normal in its use of language but may still be difficult to comprehend because of defective articulation)
45
Dyskinesia
The presence of involuntary movements and diminished voluntary movements
46
Dysmenorrhea
Painful menstruation
47
Dyspepsia
Indigestion, heartburn
48
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing
49
Dysphasia
Impairment of speech (language difficulty resulting from lesion(s) to speech areas in the dominant hemisphere)
50
Dyspnoea
Non-painful but uncomfortable awareness of one's own breathing that is inappropriate for the circumstances
51
Dysuria
Painful urination or difficulty in urination
52
Endoscopy
Visualisation of the interior of organs and cavities of the body with an endoscope
53
Enuresis
Involuntary discharge of urine in children over 5 years old
54
Epicondylitis
Inflammation at the epicondyle
55
Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose
56
Erectile dysfunction
Problems achieving or maintaining and erection that leads to the inability to perform
sexual intercourse. May have vascular, neurological or psychological cause
57
Erythema
Redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes
58
Fasciculation
Minor local muscle contractions (twitches)
59
Fatigue
A sense of weariness and/or loss of energy
60
Fever
An abnormal elevation in body temperature
61
Fibroadenoma
Non-cancerous benign tumour of the breast, composed of fibrous, glandular tissue
62
Focal weakness
Focal meaning partial, or pertaining to a specific part of the body. Not overall or generalized weakness, but weakness in a specific part
63
Frank blood
Deep red blood due to more serious internal bleeding
64
Functional incontinence
Due to impaired cognition, musculoskeletal problems or immobility. May be due to general bad health, being bed ridden, fear of public bathrooms
65
Gait
The manner or style of walking, including rhythm, cadence, and speed
66
Ganglion
Small mass arising from synovial tendon sheathes
67
Gastritis
Inflammation of the gastric mucosa
68
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
69
Glaucoma
Damage to the optic nerve, associated with increased fluid pressure within the aqueous humor
70
Goitre
Any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland
71
Haemarthrosis
Bleeding into a joint
72
Haematemesis
The vomiting up of blood
73
Haematoma
Collection of extravasated (leaked) blood in tissues or organs
74
Haematuria
Blood in the urine
75
Haemoptysis
Coughing up blood (streaky or frank)
76
Haemorrhoids
Varicosities in the lower rectum or anus
77
Halitosis
Bad breath
78
Heartburn
Substernal pain or burning sensation, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric juice into the oesophagus. A burning pain that may radiate to the epigastrum and neck
79
Hemiparesis
Weakness of one half of the body
80
Hemiplegia
Paralysis to one half of the body
81
Hepatitis
Inflammatory condition of the liver
82
Hepatomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the liver
83
Hirsutism
Excessive growth of hair in areas not usually hairy in females
84
Iatrogenic
Caused by practitioner, doctor, medical intervention
85
Idiopathic
Due to an unknown cause
86
Incontinence
The inability to control excretory functions
87
Indigestion
Distress associated with eating (Heartburn, excessive gas, nausea)
An unpleasant abdominal fullness after meals or the inability to eat a full meal
88
Insidious
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects
89
Intermittent claudation
Pain and or cramping during exercise that is relieved by rest within in 10 minutes
90
Iritis
Inflammation of the iris
91
Jaundice (icterus)
A yellowish discolouration of the skin and sclera due to increased amounts of bilirubin in the blood - Bilirubin derived from the haemolysis of haemoglobin
92
Labyrinthitis
Inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinth)
93
Laryngitis
Inflammation of the larynx
94
Leukaemia
Malignant condition of the blood-forming tissues such as bone marrow
95
Lipoma
A benign tumour of mature fat cells
96
Lumbago
Pain in the lumbar region
97
Lymphadenopathy
Abnormal enlargement of one or more lymph nodes
98
Macular degeneration
Loss of vision in the centre of the field of vision, damage to the retina
99
Malabsorption
A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness
100
Menarche
The start of menstruation - the first menstruation
101
Menopause
Cessation on menses
102
Micturation
Urination
103
Murmurs
Auscultatory sounds heard in heart chambers or major arteries relating to turbulent blood
flow
104
Myalgia
Muscular pain or tenderness, especially when diffuse and nonspecific
105
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack
106
Myopia
Near-sightedness
107
Myositis
Inflammation of muscle tissue
108
Nausea
Feeling sick to the stomach, with inclination to vomit
109
Nocturia
Increase urination frequency at night
110
Numbness
Absent or reduced sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation
111
Nystagmus
Involuntary, usually rhythmic movement of eyeball(s)
112
Obstipation
Complete constipation with no passage of gas or faeces - due to an obstruction
113
Odynophagia
Painful swallowing, may or may not be associated with dysphagia
114
Oedema
An accumulation of fluid into the interstitial space (exudate or transudate)
115
Oesophagitis
Inflammation of the oesophagus
116
Oligomenorrhea
Infrequent mensuration
117
Oliguria
Production of an abnormally small volume of urine
118
Orthopnea
Dyspnoea that occurs when the patient is laying down. Usually associated with fluid in the lungs
119
Osteoarthritis / Osteoarthrosis
Degenerative joint disease
120
Osteomyelitis
Local or general infection of bone and bone marrow
121
Osteoporosis
A disorder of abnormal (decreased) rarefaction of bone
122
Pallor
An unnatural paleness of the skin.
123
Palpitations
An unpleasant awareness of one's own heartbeat. Usually irregular or rapid, with increased force of contraction
124
Papilloedema
Swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure
125
Paraesthesia
Peculiar sensations with no obvious stimuli. An abnormal sensation, typically pins and needles
126
Paraplegia
Paralysis of the legs
127
Paroxysmal noctural
| dyspnea
Sudden episodes of dyspnoea or orthopnea during the night that wakes a patient from sleep
128
Peptic
Pertaining to digestion (or enzymes associated)
129
Peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum
130
Pharyngitis
Inflammation of the pharynx (sore throat)
131
Phlegm
Viscid mucus excreted in abnormally large quantities from the respiratory tract
132
Photophobia
Abnormal sensitivity to light
133
Polydactyly
Congenital anomaly characterised by more than the normal numbers of fingers / toes
134
Polydipsia
Abnormally high intake of water and fluids / increased thirst
135
Polymenorrhea
Abnormal frequency menstruation
136
Polyuria
A significant increase in a 24 hour urine volume ( > 3 litres) (production of an abnormally large volume of urine)
137
Presbycusis
Age-related hearing loss
138
Presbyopia
A vision condition involving the loss of the eye’s ability to focus on close objects (age - related long sightedness)
139
Presyncopy
Feeling faint without the actual loss of consciousness
140
Pruritis
A generalised itching of the skin
141
Ptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid
142
Purpura
Purplish discoloration caused by bleeding into the skin
143
Pyrexia
An abnormal elevation in body temperature
144
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
145
Referred pain
Pain felt at a site different from the location of the injured or diseased part of the body.
Referred pain is due to the fact that nerve signals from several areas of the body may "feed" the same nerve pathway leading to the spinal cord and brain. Pain is well localized but poorly reproduced
146
Regurgitation
Raising of the oesophageal / gastric contents in the absence of nausea and retching (a non-forceful action)
147
Retching
Spasmodic movements of the chest and diaphragm that precedes and culminates in vomiting (gag reflex)
148
Rhinorrhoea
Nasal discharge associated with stuffiness
149
Scotoma
Speckles or spots in the vision field
150
Seizure
A paroxysmal disorder caused by sudden excessive electrical charge in the cerebral
cortex or its underlying structures
151
Sepsis
The presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in tissues or in the blood
152
Splenomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the spleen
153
Sprain
Traumatic injury to ligament(s) associated with exertion
154
Strain
Traumatic injury to muscle(s) associated with exertion
155
Streaky blood
Faint red blood streaks in a body fluid due to minor bleeding
156
Stricture
Abnormal narrowing of the lumen of a hollow organ
157
Syncope
Sudden or temporary loss of consciousness and postural tone that occurs with decreased blood flow to the brain (loss of consciousness (faint) associated with reduction of blood flow to the brain)
158
Tendinitis (tendonitis)
Inflammation of a tendon
159
Tenosynovitis
Inflammation of a tendon sheath
160
Thrombus
Blood clot
161
Tinnitus
A perceived sound that has no external stimulus (e.g. ringing heard in one or both ears)
162
Tremors
Involuntary movements
163
Ulcer
A lesion on the surface of the skin or a mucous surface, produced by the sloughing of inflammatory necrotic tissue
164
Urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra
165
Urinary Urgency
An unusually intense and immediate desire to void
166
Varices
Abnormally and permanently distended veins
167
Vertigo
A false perception that either the patient or the environment is spinning
168
Vomiting
The forceful expulsion of gastric contents out through the mouth
169
Weakness
A loss of muscular power
170
Wheeze
A musical respiratory sound, that may or may not be audible to others, due to a partial respiratory obstruction
