Conditions & Diseases, HEP-KER

Whether we like it or not, living things are susceptible to any number of illnesses and conditions that can threaten or harm the health of those afflicted. Bacteria, viruses, and other microbiological agents are obvious challenges to health. Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting. Additionally, diseases may be communicable (contagious) or noncommunicable; of the latter, the four major types identified by the World Health Organization are cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes mellitus.
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Conditions & Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title

hepatitis
hepatitis, inflammation of the liver that results from a variety of causes, both infectious and noninfectious.......
hepatitis B
hepatitis B, infectious disease of the liver, the causative agent of which is known as hepatitis B virus (HBV).......
hepatitis C
hepatitis C, infectious disease of the liver, the causative agent of which is known as hepatitis C virus (HCV).......
hereditary spherocytosis
hereditary spherocytosis, congenital blood disorder characterized by an enlarged spleen, spherical (rather than......
hernia
hernia, protrusion of an organ or tissue from its normal cavity. The protrusion may extend outside the body or......
herniated disk
herniated disk, displacement of part of the rubbery centre, or nucleus, of a cartilaginous disk from between the......
heroin
heroin, highly addictive morphine derivative that makes up a large portion of the illicit traffic in narcotics.......
herpangina
herpangina, mild viral infection with sudden onset that is caused by several types of enteroviruses and seen most......
herpes simplex
herpes simplex, infection of either the skin or the genitalia caused by either of two strains of herpes simplex......
herpes zoster
herpes zoster, acute viral infection affecting the skin and nerves, characterized by groups of small blisters appearing......
Hers’ disease
Hers’ disease, hereditary deficiency of the liver enzyme glycogen phosphorylase, which governs the metabolic breakdown......
Heumann, Judith
Judith Heumann was an American disability rights activist who fought for the integration and equality of individuals......
hiccup
hiccup, spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm (the muscular partition separating the chest cavity from the abdominal......
hikikomori
hikikomori, condition in which a person is socially avoidant to the point of staying isolated at home for at least......
hip dysplasia
hip dysplasia, in dogs, abnormal development of the hip joint on one or both sides of the body, occurring primarily......
hip fracture
hip fracture, in pathology, a break in the proximal (upper) end of the femur. Hip fracture can occur at any age.......
histoplasmosis
histoplasmosis, infection with the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, occurring in humans and other animals. The disease......
hives
hives, a hypersensitive skin reaction characterized by the sudden appearance of very itchy, slightly raised, smooth,......
Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma, an uncommon cancer of the lymphatic system (malignant lymphoma) that usually strikes young adults......
hog cholera
hog cholera, serious and often fatal viral disease of swine. Characterized by high fever and exhaustion, the disease......
homocystinuria
homocystinuria, hereditary metabolic disorder involving methionine, a sulfur-containing essential amino acid. The......
hookworm disease
hookworm disease, parasitic infestation of humans, dogs, or cats caused by bloodsucking worms living in the small......
Horsley, Sir Victor
Sir Victor Horsley was a British physiologist and neurosurgeon who was first to remove a spinal tumour (1887).......
House with No Steps
House with No Steps (HWNS), Australian charitable organization that provides support, services, and employment......
Howe, Samuel Gridley
Samuel Gridley Howe was an American physician, educator, and abolitionist as well as the founding director of the......
human leukocyte antigen
human leukocyte antigen (HLA), any of the numerous antigens (substances capable of stimulating an immune response)......
Hunter’s syndrome
Hunter’s syndrome, rare sex-linked hereditary disorder that varies widely in its severity but is generally characterized......
Huntington disease
Huntington disease , a relatively rare, and invariably fatal, hereditary neurological disease that is characterized......
Hurler’s syndrome
Hurler’s syndrome, one of several rare genetic disorders involving a defect in the metabolism of mucopolysaccharides,......
hydatidiform mole
hydatidiform mole, in human pregnancy, abnormal growth of the chorion, the outermost vascular membrane that in......
hydramnios
hydramnios, excess of amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus. Chronic hydramnios, in......
hydrocele
hydrocele, excessive accumulation of fluids in the scrotal sac that surrounds the testes in the male reproductive......
hydrocephalus
hydrocephalus, accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain, causing......
hyperaldosteronism
What is hyperaldosteronism? Hyperaldosteronism is the increased secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the adrenal......
hyperammonemia
hyperammonemia, disorder due to excessive amounts of ammonia in the blood caused by a genetic defect present at......
hypercalcitoninemia
hypercalcitoninemia, abnormally high blood concentrations of calcitonin, a protein hormone secreted by parafollicular......
hyperglycemia
hyperglycemia, elevation of blood glucose concentrations above the normal range; it is the laboratory finding that......
hyperhidrosis
hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, either general or local. A person may sweat profusely in armpits and on palms,......
hyperopia
hyperopia, refractive error or abnormality in which the cornea and lens of the eye focus the image of the visual......
hyperparathyroidism
hyperparathyroidism, abnormal increase in the secretion of parathormone by one or more parathyroid glands. Hyperparathyroidism......
hypertension
hypertension, condition that arises when the blood pressure is abnormally high. Hypertension occurs when the body’s......
hyperthelia
hyperthelia, abnormal presence of accessory nipples, a condition of relatively frequent occurrence (1 percent of......
hyperthyroidism
hyperthyroidism, excess production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Most patients with hyperthyroidism......
hypertrichosis
hypertrichosis, excessive abnormal hairiness that may be localized or cover the entire body. Hypertrichosis is......
hypoaldosteronism
hypoaldosteronism, abnormally low serum levels of aldosterone, a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland.......
hypoglycemia
hypoglycemia, reduction of the concentration of glucose in the blood below normal levels, commonly occurring as......
hypogonadism
hypogonadism, in men, decreased testicular function that results in testosterone deficiency and infertility. Hypogonadism......
hypoparathyroidism
hypoparathyroidism, inadequate secretion of parathormone. Hypoparathyroidism can be due to decreased secretion......
hypophosphatasia
hypophosphatasia, rare hereditary disorder characterized by very low levels of tissue and serum alkaline phosphatase......
hypophosphatemia
hypophosphatemia, reduction in the concentration of phosphate in the blood serum, thus disrupting the body’s energy......
hypopituitarism
hypopituitarism, deficiency of pituitary hormones caused by damage to the pituitary gland. Patients may have a......
hypoprothrombinemia
hypoprothrombinemia, disease characterized by a deficiency of the blood-clotting substance prothrombin, resulting......
hypotension
hypotension, condition in which the blood pressure is abnormally low, either because of reduced blood volume or......
hypothermia
hypothermia, abnormally low body temperature in a warm-blooded creature, associated with a general slowing of physiologic......
hypothyroidism
hypothyroidism, a deficiency in hormone production by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism usually results from a......
hypoxia
hypoxia, in biology and medicine, condition of the body in which the tissues are starved of oxygen. In its extreme......
hystero-epilepsy
hystero-epilepsy, hysterical seizures that resemble epilepsy and, in diagnosis, must be distinguished from it.......
ich
ich, parasitic disease that affects a variety of freshwater fish species and that is caused by the ciliated protozoan......
ichthyosis
ichthyosis, a hereditary condition involving dryness and scaliness of the skin brought about by excessive growth......
iliotibial band syndrome
iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue known as the iliotibial band (or tract),......
illness anxiety disorder
illness anxiety disorder, mental disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with illness and a tendency......
iminoglycinuria
iminoglycinuria, inborn impairment of the transport system of the kidney tubules, which normally reabsorb the amino......
immersion foot
immersion foot, a painful disorder of the foot involving damage to the skin, nerves, and muscle that is caused......
immunodeficiency
immunodeficiency, defect in immunity that impairs the body’s ability to resist infection. The immune system may......
impact injury
impact injury, the damage caused by the collision of a body with a moving or stationary object. Impact injuries......
impetigo
impetigo, inflammatory skin infection that begins as a superficial blister or pustule that then ruptures and gives......
imposter syndrome
imposter syndrome, a persistent unjustified feeling that one’s success is fraudulent. Imposter syndrome is characterized......
impotence
impotence, in general, the inability of a man to achieve or maintain penile erection and hence the inability to......
inborn error of metabolism
inborn error of metabolism, any of multiple rare disorders that are caused by an inherited genetic defect and that......
incidence
incidence, in epidemiology, occurrence of new cases of disease, injury, or other medical conditions over a specified......
infantile hemangioma
infantile hemangioma, a congenital benign tumour made up of endothelial cells (the cells lining the inner surface......
infarction
infarction, death of tissue resulting from a failure of blood supply, commonly due to obstruction of a blood vessel......
infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis
infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva or the cornea of the eye in cattle as......
inferiority complex
inferiority complex, a psychological sense of inferiority that is wholly or partly unconscious. The term has been......
infertility
infertility, the inability of a couple to conceive and reproduce. Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive......
inflammation
inflammation, a response triggered by damage to living tissues. The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism......
influenza
influenza, an acute viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract that is marked by fever, chills, and......
inoculation
inoculation, process of producing immunity that consists of introduction of the infectious agent into the body.......
insect bite and sting
insect bite and sting, break in the skin or puncture caused by an insect and complicated by introduction into the......
insomnia
insomnia, the inability to sleep adequately. Causes may include poor sleeping conditions, circulatory or brain......
intellectual disability
intellectual disability, any of several conditions characterized by subnormal intellectual functioning and impaired......
intestinal squeeze
intestinal squeeze, pain and possible injury to the small or large intestine caused by expansion of trapped gases......
iodine deficiency
iodine deficiency, condition in which iodine is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Iodine is an element......
ionizing radiation injury
ionizing radiation injury, tissue destruction or changes caused by deeply penetrating electromagnetic waves of......
iron-deficiency anemia
iron-deficiency anemia, anemia that develops due to a lack of the mineral iron, the main function of which is in......
Itard, Jean-Marc-Gaspard
Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard was a French physician noted for his work with the deaf and with the “wild boy of Aveyron.”......
itching
itching, a stimulation of free nerve endings, usually at the junction of the dermis and epidermis of the skin,......
Janet, Pierre
Pierre Janet was a French psychologist and neurologist influential in bringing about in France and the United States......
joint disease
joint disease, any of the diseases or injuries that affect human joints. Arthritis is no doubt the best-known joint......
kala-azar
kala-azar, infectious disease that is a type of leishmaniasis...
Kaposi sarcoma
Kaposi sarcoma, rare and usually lethal cancer of the tissues beneath the surface of the skin or of the mucous......
Kawasaki syndrome
Kawasaki syndrome, rare, acute inflammatory disease of unknown origin that is one of the leading causes of acquired......
keloid
keloid, benign tumour and chronic skin disorder in which excessive scar tissue (mainly collagen) forms a smooth......
keratitis
keratitis, inflammation of the cornea, the transparent domelike portion of the eyeball in front of the iris and......
keratosis
keratosis, any protuberance on the skin resulting from the overdevelopment of the horny outermost covering of the......
Kerlin, Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton Kerlin was an American physician and administrator who was a strong proponent of institutionalizing......
kernicterus
kernicterus, severe brain damage caused by an abnormal concentration of the bile pigment bilirubin in brain tissues......

Conditions & Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title