3/15/15

Colles’ fracture

The Colles’ fracture - A break in the radius (one of the lower-arm bones) just above the wrist, in which the wrist and hand are displaced backwards, restricting movement and causing swelling and severe pain.

The fracture is usually the result of putting out a hand to lessen the impact of a fall. The broken bones are manipulated back into position, and set in a cast.

Healing takes up to 6 weeks. Hand and wrist movements usually return to normal, but there may be minor wrist deformity.
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collar, orthopaedic

The collar, orthopaedic - A soft foam or stiffened device that is worn to treat pain or instability of the neck.
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Collagen

The Collagen - A tough, fibrous protein. Collagen is the body’s major structural protein, forming an important part of tendons, bones, and connective tissue.
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Colitis

The Colitis - Inflammation of the colon causing diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain and fever. Colitis may be due to infection by various types of microorganism, such as camphlobacter and shigella bacteria, viruses, or amoebae.

A form of colitis may be provoked by antibiotic drugs destroying bacteria that normally live in the intestine and allowing CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, a bacteria that causes irritation, to proliferate.

Colitis is a feature of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Investigations into colitis may include examining a faecal sample, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, biopsy of inflamed areas or ulcers, and a barium enema (see barium X-ray examinations). If the cause is an infection, antibiotics may be needed.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are treated with corticosteroid and immunosuppressant drugs, and a special diet.
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Colistin

The Colistin - One of the polymyxin group of antibiotic drugs used in topical preparations for eye and ear conditions. It is only used to treat systemic infections that are resistant to other antibiotics. The drug may cause damage to the kidneys and nerve tissue.

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Colic, infantile

The Colic, infantile - Episodes of irritability, and excessive crying in otherwise healthy infants, thought to be due to spasm in the intestines. A baby with an attack of colic cries or screams incessantly, draws up the legs towards the stomach, and may become red in the face and pass wind.

Colic tends to be worse in the evenings. The condition is distressing but harmless. Usually, it first appears at 3–4 weeks and clears up without treatment by the age of 12 weeks.
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Colic

The Colic - A severe, spasmodic pain that occurs in waves of increasing intensity. (See also colic, infantile.)
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Colestyramine

The Colestyramine - A lipid-lowering drug used to treat some types of hyperlipidaemia. The drug is also used to treat diarrhoea due to excessive amounts of undigested fats in the faeces in disorders such as Crohn’s disease.
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Colectomy

The Colectomy - The surgical removal of part or all of the colon. Colectomy is used in severe cases of diverticular disease or to remove a cancerous tumour in the colon or a narrowed part of the intestine that is obstructing the passage of faeces.

A total colectomy is carried out when ulcerative colitis cannot be controlled by drugs, and may be used in cases of familial polyposis. In a partial colectomy, the diseased section of the colon is removed, and the ends of the severed colon are joined.

A temporary colostomy may be required until the rejoined colon has healed. In a total colectomy, the whole of the large intestine is removed, with or without the rectum. If the rectum is removed, an ileostomy may be performed. The bowel usually functions normally after a partial colectomy.

In a total colectomy, the reduced ability of the intestines to absorb water from the faeces can result in diarrhoea. Antidiarrhoeal drugs may therefore be required.
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Cold sore

The Cold sore - A small skin blister, usually around the mouth, commonly caused by a strain of the herpes simplex virus called HSV1 (herpes simplex virus type 1).

The first attack of the virus may be symptomless or may cause a flu-like illness with painful mouth and lip ulcers called gingivostomatis. The virus then lies dormant in nerve cells, but may occasionally be reactivated and cause cold sores.

Reactivation may occur after exposure to hot sunshine or a cold wind, during a common cold or other infection, or in women around the time of their menstrual periods. Prolonged attacks can occur in people with reduced immunity to infection due to illness or treatment with immunosuppressant drugs.

In many cases, an outbreak of cold sores is preceded by tingling in the lips, followed by the formation of small blisters that enlarge, causing itching and soreness. Within a few days they burst and become encrusted. Most disappear within a week. The antiviral drug aciclovir in a cream may prevent cold sores if used at the first sign of tingling.
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Cold remedies

The Cold remedies - Preparations for the relief of symptoms of the common cold (see cold, common). The main ingredient is usually a mild analgesic drug, such as paracetamol or aspirin, which helps to relieve aches and pains.

Other common ingredients include antihistamine drugs and decongestant drugs to reduce nasal congestion; caffeine, which acts as a mild stimulant; and vitamin C.

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Cold injury

The Cold injury - Localized tissue damage caused by chilling, the most serious form of which is frostbite. Cold injury is distinct from hypothermia, which refers to chilling of the whole body.

In frostbite, an area of skin and flesh becomes frozen, hard, and white as a result of exposure to very cold, dry air. nSometimes there is restriction of the blood supply to the affected area. Another type of cold injury, immersion foot, occurs when the legs and feet are kept cold and damp for hours or days.

The main risk of both conditions is that blood flow will be slowed so much that the tissues will die, leading to gangrene. Less serious forms of cold injury include chilblains and chapped skin.
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Common Cold

The cold, common - A common viral infection that causes inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose and throat.

Symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, and cough. The symptoms of a common cold usually intensify over 24–48 hours, unlike those of influenza, which worsen rapidly over a few hours.

There are at least 200 highly contagious viruses that are known to cause the common cold. These viruses are easily transmitted in the minute airborne drolets sprayed from the coughs or sneezes of infected people.

In many cases, the viruses are also spread to the nose and throat by way of hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or by way of objects that have becom contaminated with the virus.

Most colds clear up within about a week. In some cases, infection spreads and causes laryngitis, tracheitis, acute bronchitis, sinusitis, or otitis media. In these cases, a more serious secondary bacterial infection may follow. Antibiotic drugs may be needed if this happens.
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Colchicine

The Colchicine - A drug extracted from the autumn crocus flower used to treat acute attacks of gout and to reduce their frequency. Side effects include vomiting and diarrhoea.
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Coitus interruptus

The Coitus interruptus - A method of contraception (see contraception, withdrawal method of) in which the male partner withdraws his penis from the vagina before ejaculation occurs.

Coitus interruptus is unreliable because sperm can be released before orgasm occurs, and it may cause psychosexual dysfunction in men and women.
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Cognitive behavioural therapy

The cognitive behavioural therapy - A method of treating psychological disorders such as depression based on the idea that problems arise from a person’s faulty cognitions (erroneous ways of perceiving the world and oneself).

In cognitive– behavioural therapy, the patient is helped to identify negative or false cognitions and then encouraged to try out new thought strategies.
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Coeliac disease

The Coeliac disease - An uncommon condition in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged due to hypersensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and some other cereals.

Damage to the intestinal lining causes malabsorption, weight loss, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to anaemia and skin problems. Faeces are bulky and foul-smelling.

The disease tends to run in families and varies in severity. In babies, symptoms usually develop within 6 months of the introduction of gluten into the diet. The baby may become listless and irritable, develop vomiting and acute diarrhoea, and become dehydrated and seriously
ill.

In adults, symptoms such as tiredness, breathlessness, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and swelling of the legs may develop gradually over months. A chronic, distinctive rash called dermatitis herpetiformis may develop. Some people suffer damage to the intestinal lining but never develop symptoms.

Diagnosis is made by blood, urine, and faeces tests and jejunal biopsies, in which small samples of the lining of the intestine are taken for examination. Coeliac disease is treated by a lifelong gluten-free diet, which usually relieves symptoms within weeks of introduction.
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cod liver oil

The cod liver oil - An oil obtained from the liver of fresh cod, which is a valuable source of vitamin A and vitamin D.
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Codeine

The Codeine - An opioid analgesic drug derived from the opium poppy plant. Codeine is a useful treatment for mild to moderate pain and may be used in combination with other opioid analgesics.

It is also used as a cough remedy and as an antidiarrhoeal drug. It may cause dizziness and drowsiness, especially if taken with alcohol. Taken long-term, codeine may cause constipation and be habit-forming.
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Cochlear implant

The Cochlear implant - A device used to treat profoundly deaf people who are not helped by hearing aids. A cochlear implant consists of tiny electrodes surgically implanted in the cochlea deep in the inner ear and a receiver that is embedded in the skull just behind and above the ear.

A microphone, sound processor, and transmitter are worn externally. A cochlear implant does not restore normal hearing, but it enables patterns of sound to be detected. Combined with lip-reading, it may enable speech to be understood.
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Cochlea

Cochlea

The Cochlea - The spiral-shaped organ situated in the labyrinth of the inner ear that transforms sound vibrations into nerve impulses for transmission to the brain, enabling hearing.
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Coccyx

Coccyx

The Coccyx - A small triangular bone made up of 4 tiny bones fused together at the base of the spine. Together with a larger bone called the sacrum, it forms the back section of the pelvis. There is very little relative movement between the coccyx and sacrum. Later in life, they commonly become fused together.
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Coccydynia

The Coccydynia - A pain in the region of the coccyx. Coccydynia may result from a blow to the base of the spine in a fall, from prolonged pressure due to poor posture when sitting, or the use of the lithotomy position during childbirth.

The pain usually eases in time. Treatment may include heat, injections of a local anaesthetic, and manipulation.
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Cocci

The Cocci - Spherical bacteria, some of which are responsible for certain infections in humans (see staphylococcal infections; streptococcal infections).
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Cocaine

The Cocaine - A drug obtained from the leaves of the coca plant ERYTHROXYLON COCA, once used as a local anaesthetic (see anaesthesia, local) for minor surgical procedures. Cocaine affects the brain, producing euphoria and increased energy.

Because of its effects, cocaine is subject to drug abuse. Continued use can lead to psychological dependence (see drug dependence), and psychosis if high doses are taken.

Regular inhaling of the drug can damage the lining of the nose. Overdose can cause seizures and cardiac arrest. “Crack’’, a purified form of cocaine, produces a more intense reaction and has caused deaths due to adverse effects on the heart.
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Cobalt

The Cobalt - A metallic element and a constituent of vitamin B12. A radioactive form of cobalt is used in radiotherapy.
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Coarctation of the aorta

The Coarctation of the aorta - A congenital heart defect of unknown cause, in which there is narrowing in a section of the aorta that supplies blood to the lower body and legs. In response, the heart has to work harder, causing hypertension in the upper part of the body.

Symptoms usually appear in early childhood and include headache, weakness after exercise, cold legs, and, rarely, breathing difficulty and swelling of the legs due to heart failure.

Associated abnormalities include a heart murmur, weak or absent pulse in the groin, lack of synchronization between groin and wrist pulses, and higher blood pressure in the arms than in the legs. X-rays confirm the diagnosis. Corrective surgery is usually performed at 4–8 years of age.
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co-amoxiclav

The co-amoxiclav - A penicillin drug containing a mixture of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Because it is a more powerful antibiotic than amoxicillin alone, co-amoxiclav is used to treat infections caused by amoxicillin-resistant strains of bacteria.
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Coal tar

The Coal tar - A thick, black, sticky substance distilled from coal. It is a common ingredient of ointments and medicinal shampoos prescribed for skin and scalp conditions such as psoriasis and some forms of dermatitis and eczema.
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Coagulation, blood

The Coagulation, blood - The main mechanism by which blood clots are formed, involving a complex series of reactions in the blood plasma (see blood clotting).
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Cluster headaches

The Cluster headaches - Brief but severe headaches that recur up to several times a day over a few days. Cluster headaches affect one side of the head or face.

The cause is uncertain but they may be due to dilation of blood vessels in the brain as in migraine. Beta-blocker drugs may be given to reduce the severity and frequency of cluster headaches.
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Clubbing

The Clubbing - Thickening and broadening of the tips of the fingers and toes, usually with increased curving of the nails.

It is associated with chronic lung diseases, such as lung cancer, bronchiectasis, and fibrosing alveolitis; with certain heart abnormalities; and, occasionally, with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
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Cloxacillin

The Cloxacillin - A penicillin-type antibiotic used to treat infections with staphylococcal bacteria (see penicillin drugs).
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Clove oil

The Clove oil - An oil distilled from the dried flower-buds of EUGENIA CARYOPHYLLUS, used mainly as a flavouring in pharmaceuticals.

Clove oil is sometimes used to relieve abdominal pain due to flatulence and as a remedy for toothache.
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Clotrimazole

The Clotrimazole - A drug used to treat yeast and fungal infections, especially candidiasis (see antifungal drugs).
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Clostridium

The Clostridium - Any of a group of rodshaped bacteria. Clostridia are found in soil and in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals.

They produce powerful toxins and are responsible for potentially life-threatening diseases such as botulism, tetanus, and gangrene.
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Clonus

The Clonus - A rapid series of abnormal muscle contractions that occur in response to stretching. Clonus is a sign of damage to nerve fibres that carry impulses from the motor cortex in the cerebrum to a particular muscle. It is also a feature of seizures in grand mal epilepsy.

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Clonidine

The Clonidine - An antihypertensive drug used to reduce high blood pressure. Possible side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and constipation. Abrupt withdrawal of high doses can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
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Clone

The Clone - An exact copy. In medicine, the term usually refers to copies of cells, genes, or organisms. Clones of cells are all descended from one original cell. In many types of cancer, cells are thought to be derived from one abnormal cell.

Clones of genes are duplicates of a single gene. In research, several copies of a gene can be made to enable the gene to be studied in detail. Clones of organisms are produced by removing the nuclei from cells of a donor individual and transplanting them into the egg cells of another individual.

When the eggs mature into living plants or animals, they are all identical to the donor.

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Clonazepam

The Clonazepam - A benzodiazepine drug that is used mainly as an anticonvulsant drug to prevent and treat epileptic fits (see epilepsy). It also prevents petit mal attacks in children. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, and irritability.
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Clomipramine

The Clomipramine - A tricyclic antidepressant drug used as treatment for depression. Side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.
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Clomifene

The Clomifene - A drug used to treat female infertility caused by failure to ovulate. Minor side effects may include hot flushes, nausea, headache, breast tenderness, and blurred vision. Occasionally, ovarian cysts develop, but these shrink when the dose is reduced. Use of the drug may result in multiple births.
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Clofibrate

The Clofibrate - A lipid-lowering drug that reduces levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and is a treatment for some types of hyperlipidaemia.
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Clitoris

The Clitoris - Part of the female genitalia – a small, sensitive, erectile organ, located just below the pubic bone and partly enclosed within the folds of the labia. The clitoris swells and becomes more sensitive during sexual stimulation.
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Clindamycin

The Clindamycin - An antibiotic drug with severe side effects, used only to treat serious infections that do not respond to other antibiotic drugs.
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Clergyman’s knee

The Clergyman’s knee - Inflammation of the bursa that cushions the pressure point over the tibial tubercle (the bony prominence just below the knee) caused by prolonged kneeling (see bursitis).
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Clemastine

The Clemastine - An antihistamine drug used to relieve the symptoms of allergies such as urticaria and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Clemastine can cause drowsiness.
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Cleft lip and palate

The Cleft lip and palate - A split in the upper lip and/or palate that is present at birth. Cleft lip is a vertical, usually off-centre split in the upper lip that may be a small notch or may extend to the nose. The upper gum may also be cleft, and the nose may be crooked.

The term hare lip refers only to a midline cleft lip, which is rare. Cleft palate is a gap that may extend from the back of the palate to behind the teeth and be open to the nasal cavity.

Cleft palate is often accompanied by partial deafness and there may be other birth defects. Surgery to repair a cleft lip may be undertaken in the first few days after birth or at about 3 months.

It improves appearance; after repair, speech defects are rare. A cleft palate is usually repaired at about 12 months, but further surgery, orthodontic treatment, and speech therapy may be required.
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claw toe

The claw toe - A deformity of unknown cause in which the end of one or more affected toes bends downwards so that the toe curls under. A painful corn may develop on the tip of the toe or on the top of the bent joint.

Protective pads can relieve pressure from footwear. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
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claw hand

The claw hand - A deformity in which the fingers are permanently curled, caused by injury to the ulnar nerve.

Treatment includes repair of the damaged nerve, if possible, by using splints to hold the finger straight, or cutting a tendon in the wrist to allow the fingers to straighten.
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Claw foot

The claw foot - A deformity of the foot in which the arch of the foot is exaggerated and the tips of the toes turn under.

Clawfoot may be present from birth or result from damage to the nerve or blood supply to the muscles of the foot. Surgery may improve the condition.
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