Systems and Diseases Flashcards
Alzheimer’s disease
A progressive neurodegenerative disease, that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
310: Rule Out
Parkinson’s disease
A disorder of the brain characterized by shaking (tremor) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. The disease is associated with damage to a part of the brain that is involved with movement.
310: Accept (rule out if accompanied by dementia)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
A very rare and incurable degenerative neurological disorder (brain disease) that is ultimately fatal. It is the most common of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Symptoms include rapidly progressive dementia, leading to memory loss, personality changes and hallucinations caused by progressive death of brain cells.
310: Rule Out (Probe for travel to Europe)
Meningitis
An inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. The most common causes are infection (bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic), chemical agents and even tumor cells.
310: Eyes/corneas only if active
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. A systemic disease that often affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles.
310: Rule out for bones
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
A chronic, potentially debilitating or fatal autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. SLE can affect any part of the body, but most often harms the kidneys (lupus nephritis), heart, joints (rheumatological), skin, lungs, blood vessels and brain/nervous system. Lupus is treatable, mainly with immunosuppression, though there is currently no cure for it.
310: Eyes/corneas only
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
A chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, and difficulties with coordination and speech. MS can cause impaired mobility and disability in the more severe cases.
310: Acceptable; investigate ambulatory status
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease. A nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function.
310: Accept for Cryolife ONLY
Sarcoidosis
The growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in different parts of your body — most commonly the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin
310: eyes/corneas only
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
A specific strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance to all penicillins, including methicillin and other narrow-spectrum β-lactamase-resistant penicillin antibiotics.
310: Probe for cultures, case by case; rule out if systemic infection
Osteomyelitis
An acute or chronic bone infection
310: Eyes/corneas only if active
Malaria
A disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
310: Rule out if pt had malaria in past 3 years or if pt traveled to malaria endemic area in past 6 months.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
A pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. This depletes the body of its platelets and coagulation factors, and there is a paradoxically increased risk of hemorrhage. It occurs in critically ill patients, especially those with Gram-negative sepsis (particularly meningococcal sepsis) and acute promyelocytic leukemia.
310: Case by case
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
The inability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. The pooling of blood leads to congestion in body tissue.
310: Accept
LifeNet: one strike
Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD)
A disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.
When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis.
310: Accept
LifeNet: one strike
Hepatitis
A gastroenterological disease, featuring inflammation of the liver; clinical signs and prognosis, as well as the therapy, depend on the cause.
310: Probe type; case by case
Hepatitis A
An enterovirus transmitted by the orofecal route, such as contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage. It can be spread through personal contact, consumption of raw sea food or drinking contaminated water.
310: Rule out if active
Accept if able to confirm from MD or med rec that it was past history (after age 11)
Jaundice
Also known as icterus, is yellowing of the skin, sclera (the white of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the human body.
May be caused by malaria, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis, bile duct obstruction, pancreatic cancer.
310: FDA rule out if unexplained; investigate cause
Cirrhosis
Chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure.
Causes may be due to:
Alcohol
Hepatitis B/C
Autoimmune Hepatitis
310: Investigate cause;
Cryptogenic cirrhosis - Rule out
Renal Failure or End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
The condition where the kidneys fail to function properly. Dialysis is generally required while a donor for renal transplant is found.
310: Accept
LifeNet: one strike
Dialysis
A treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys. It is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body’s needs.
310: Accept
Tuberculosis (TB)
An infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB is spread by aerosol droplets expelled by people with active TB disease of the lungs when they cough, sneeze, speak, or spit.
310: Rule out if active
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A group of respiratory tract diseases (commonly, chronic bronchitis and emphysema) that are characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation.
310: Accept
Pneumonia
An illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the microscopic, air-filled sacs (alveoli) responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere become inflamed and flooded with fluid.
310: Case by case; investigate WBC, temps, cultures, CXR
Acoustic Neuroma
A noncancerous tumor on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain.
310: Accept
Acupuncture
Involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through the skin at strategic points on the body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain.
310: If performed using shared needles within 12 months of death - Rule Out
Addison’s Disease
A disorder in which the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones.
310: Need information about etiology. Probe for steroid use - reason for use must be documented
Agent Orange
A powerful mixture of chemical defoliants used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War. The VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with this chemical.
310: Accept; Inquire about associated health problems
AIDS
A syndrome caused by the HIV virus. It is when a person’s immune system is too weak to fight off many infections, and develops when the HIV infection is very advanced. The last stage of HIV infection where the body can no longer defend itself and may develop various diseases, infections and if left untreated, death.
310: Rule Out
Amputation
The removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene.
310: Accept if healed or due to non-infectious causes
LifeNet: count as one strike if due to circulatory problems
Amyloidosis
A rare disease that occurs when a substance called amyloid builds up in your organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein that is usually produced in your bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ.
310: Defer if related to multiple myeloma, otherwise acceptable.
