REFLUX – Children
Projectile vomiting in the early weeks, when contents from the stomach are hurled violently for some distance. This is sometimes related to congenital malformation or a narrowing or a weakness of the small valves at the top of the stomach, which are still immature
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
Is the commonest form of chronic inflammatory joint disease. It typically involves the joints of the fingers, wrists, feet, & ankles, with later involvement of the hips, knees, shoulders, & neck. It is a disease of the synovial lining of joints; the joints are initially painful, swollen, & stiff & are usually affected symmetrically
RHINITUS
Is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. It may be caused by a virus infection (acute rhinitis) or an allergic reaction (allergic rhinitis). In atrophic rhinitis the mucous membranes becomes thinned & fragile. In perennial (or vasomotor) rhinitis there is an overgrowth of, & increased secretion by, the membrane.
ROSS RIVER FEVER
A chronic or acute viral disease caused by an alphavirus transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus can cause epidemics of polyarthritis & skin rashes (macules & papules). It occurs in Australia & the western Pacific region.
SARCOIDOSIS (BOECK’S DISEASE)
Is a multisystem granulomatous autoimmune disorder in which the lymph nodes in many parts of the body become enlarged with small fleshy nodules developing in the lungs, liver, & spleen. The skin, nervous system, eyes & salivary glands are also commonly affected, & the condition has features similar to tuberculosis.
SCHEUERMANNS DISEASE
Osteochondritis involving one or more of the vertebrae. The disease becomes symptomatic around the age of 13-17 & causes spinal pain & kyphosis. The disease usually resolves itself within 6 months to 3 years with the function of the spine and muscles mildly affected.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
A mental disorder (or group of disorders) that causes a separation between the thought processes and the emotions. Delusions & hallucinations (especially voices) are usual features, & the patient usually feels that his thoughts, sensations, & actions are controlled by, or shared with, others. He becomes socially withdrawn & loses energy & initiative.
SCIATICA
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain felt down the back & outer side of the thigh, leg & foot It is usually caused by degeneration of an intervertebral disc, which protrudes laterally to compress a lower lumbar or an upper sacral spinal nerve root. The onset may be sudden, brought on by an awkward lifting or twisting movement. The back is stiff & painful. There may be numbness & weakness in the leg.
SHINGLES
Is a viral infection of the nerves caused by the varicella-zoster Virus, which also causes chickenpox. Following an attack of the chickenpox, the virus lays dormant in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord. Under numerous influences the virus migrates down the sensory nerve to affect one or more dermatones on the skin causing the characteristic shingles rash. One side of the face or an eye may be involved & may be chronically painful.
SINUSITIS
Inflammation of one or more of the mucous-membrane-lined air spaces in the facial bones that communicate with the nose (the paranasal sinuses). It is often associated with inflammation of the nasal lining (rhinitis) & may be acute or chronic. Symptoms may include pain, purulent discharge from the nose, nasal obstruction, & disturbances of the sense of smell.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of connective tissue, affecting the skin & various internal organs. Usually, there is a red scaly rash on the face, affecting the nose & cheeks; arthritis; & progressive damage to the kidneys. Often the heart, lungs, & brain are also affected by progressive attacks of inflammation followed by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis).
SNORING
Is noisy breathing while asleep due to vibration of the soft palate, uvula, pharyngeal walls, or epiglottis. In children it is often linked with enlargement of the tonsils & adenoids. Snoring affects approximately 44% of men and 30% of women.
SPRAIN
An injury to a joint that stretches or tears its ligaments but does not dislocate the bones. It occurs when the ligaments are stressed beyond their normal limits. A sprain may also damage surrounding blood vessels, muscles, tendons, or nerves.
STEATORHOEA
The passage of abnormally increased amounts of fat in the stool generally caused by malabsorption. The stools are pale, smell offensive, may look greasy, & are difficult to flush away.
STRESS
Also known as the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is any factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect on its functioning. The three phases of GAS are: Alarm phase “The fight or flight” response; Resistance Phase “Adaptive Phase”; Exhaustion Phase “ Adrenal Burnout”. Stress related health problems from adrenal exhaustion can include the following – sleep disturbances, back, & shoulder or neck tension, tension headaches, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections.
STRETCH MARKS
Red or silvery white streaks on the skin surface caused by weakening of the elastic tissues. Usually related with pregnancy, excessive obesity, muscle growth & rapid growth spurts.
STROKE
A sudden attack of weakness affecting one side of the body. It is the result of an interruption to the flow of blood to the brain. An ischaemic stroke occurs when the flow of blood is prevented by clotting or by a detached clot, either from the heart or a large vessel (such as the carotid artery) that lodges in an artery. A stroke can vary in severity from a passing weakness or tingling in a limb to a profound paralysis, coma, & death.
THALASSAEMIA
Is a hereditary blood disease, which occurs primarily in populations from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is characterized by an abnormality in the protein part of the haemoglobin molecule. The affected red blood cells cannot function normally leading to anaemia. Symptoms include enlargement of the spleen & abnormalities of the bone marrow.
THROMBOCYTOPENIA
Is a very low platelet count that results in a tendency to bleed from capillaries. This leads to bleeding into the skin, spontaneous bruising, & prolonged bleeding after injury.
THRUSH
Yeast infection caused by Candida Albicans that commonly grows on mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal & genitourinary tracts. It is characterized by severe itching; a thick yellow, & cheesy discharge. It may develop in patients using oral contraceptives or cortisone like medications, pregnancy, & diabetes.
TINNITUS
A ringing, roaring, or clicking in the ears. It can occur with any form of hearing loss or with normal hearing. It may be due to or can arise in any part of the system: the cochlea, auditory nerve, or within the brain itself.
ULCERS (DIGESTIVE)
A break in the mucous membrane lining of the digestive tract that fails to heal & is usually accompanied by inflammation. Duodenal ulcers – are due to the erosion of the mucosal lining of the duodenum. Symptoms include a burning, aching & gnawing pain & bloating especially after eating.Gastric ulcers – are due to the erosion of the mucosal lining of the stomach creating a crater- like centre & inflamed, raised margins. Symptoms are similar to duodenal ulcers, but the pain is often pronounced between meals. There is often a loss of appetite. Both types of ulcers can lead to perforation, black tarry stools if bleeding is present, & vomiting.
ULCER (SKIN)
A break in the skin extending to all its layers, of the many types of skin ulcer, the most common is the venous ulcer of the leg, which is caused by increased venous pressure & usually occurs in older women.
URINARY INCONTINENCE
Is the involuntary passage of urine resulting in wetting during the day or night. One type of incontinence is stress incontinence where physical stresses increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, pregnancy, or simply walking cause leakage of urine from the bladder. Other causes of incontinence in adults are injury to the nerves controlling the urinary bladder, loss of bladder flexibility with age, disease or irritation of the bladder or urethra, damage to the external urethral sphincter, or certain drugs.
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTI)
Bacterial infections of the urinary system. The main organisms include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Klebsiella, & Proteus. Symptoms include painful or burning urination, urgent & frequent urination, low back pain, & incontinence. UTIs include inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis), & inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
UTERINE FIBROIDS
A benign tumour of fibrous & muscular tissue of the uterus. They may be found in any part of the uterus & often cause pain & excessive bleeding & may become particularly large. Mostly affected are women over 30 years of age.
VARICOSE VEINS
Leaky venous valves that cause veins to become dilated & twisted in appearance. The legs are most commonly affected with an inherited tendency. They can often be caused by obesity, poor venous tone, pregnancy, or anything that reduce the pressure on the circulation to the legs.
WARTS
A contagious benign growth on the skin caused by infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Common warts are firm horny papules that often appear on the fingers, elbows, knees, face & scalp. Plantar warts occur on the sole of the foot & are often tender. Plane warts are flat & skin coloured & are usually found on the face.
WORMS
Intestinal parasites that have inhabited the Intestinal Tract, & are most commonly hookworm, pinworm, roundworm & tapeworm
