Conditions & Diseases, ROT-SYR
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.
Conditions & Diseases Encyclopedia Articles By Title
rotational stress
rotational stress, physiological changes that occur in the body when it is subjected to intense gyrational or centrifugal......
rotator cuff injury
rotator cuff injury, damage to the network of muscles and tendons that stabilize and support the shoulder. This......
rubella
rubella, contagious viral disease that runs a mild and benign course in most people. Although rubella is not usually......
sadism
sadism, a habit or practice of deriving sexual gratification from the infliction of pain or suffering on another......
sadomasochism
sadomasochism, deriving pleasure, often of a sexual nature, from the infliction of physical or psychological pain......
salmonellosis
salmonellosis, any of several bacterial infections caused by certain species of Salmonella, important as the cause......
Sanfilippoâs syndrome
Sanfilippoâs syndrome, rare hereditary (autosomal recessive) metabolic disease characterized by severe mental retardation.......
sarcoidosis
sarcoidosis, systemic disease that is characterized by the formation of granulomas (small grainy lumps) in affected......
sarcoma
sarcoma, tumour of connective tissue (tissue that is formed from mesodermal, or mesenchymal, cells). Sarcomas are......
sarin
sarin, synthetic organophosphate compound that is highly toxic to the nervous system. Exposure to sarinâwhich is......
SARS
SARS, highly contagious respiratory illness characterized by a persistent fever, headache, and bodily discomfort,......
scabies
scabies, skin inflammation accompanied by severe itching, particularly at night, caused by the itch mite (Sarcoptes......
scarlet fever
scarlet fever, acute infectious disease caused by group A hemolytic streptococcal bacteria, in particular Streptococcus......
Scheieâs syndrome
Scheieâs syndrome, uncommon hereditary metabolic disease characterized by clawing of the hands, corneal clouding,......
schistosomiasis
schistosomiasis, group of chronic disorders caused by small parasitic flatworms (family Schistosomatidae) commonly......
schizoaffective disorder
schizoaffective disorder, mental disorder characterized by a combination of mood (affective) symptoms, such as......
schizophrenia
schizophrenia, any of a group of severe mental disorders that have in common symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions,......
Schmidt sting pain index
Schmidt sting pain index, measure of the relative amount of pain that various insects of the order Hymenoptera......
scleritis
scleritis, inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye. The inflammation is immune-mediated and is commonly......
scleroderma
scleroderma, a chronic disease of the skin that also can affect the blood vessels and various internal organs.......
scoliosis
scoliosis, lateral deviation of the spine. Scoliosis is a type of curvature of the...
scrofula
scrofula, condition caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in which the organism infects the lymph......
scrub typhus
scrub typhus, acute infectious disease in humans that is caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi and is transmitted......
scurvy
scurvy, one of the oldest-known nutritional disorders of humankind, caused by a dietary lack of vitamin C (ascorbic......
seasonal affective disorder
seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mood disorder characterized by recurring depression in autumn and winter, separated......
separation anxiety disorder
separation anxiety disorder, condition characterized by intense and prolonged concern, dread, worry, or apprehension......
sepsis
sepsis, systemic inflammatory condition that occurs as a complication of infection and in severe cases may be associated......
septic arthritis
septic arthritis, acute inflammation of one or more joints caused by infection. In septic arthritis the joints......
septic shock
septic shock, severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized particularly by dangerously low blood......
septicemia
septicemia, infection resulting from the presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia). The onset of septicemia......
serum sickness
serum sickness, an allergic reaction to medicines that contain animal proteins or to antiserum injected into an......
severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome
severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), rapidly progressing tick-borne viral disease characterized......
sexual dysfunction
sexual dysfunction, the inability of a person to experience sexual arousal or to achieve sexual satisfaction under......
sexually transmitted disease
sexually transmitted disease (STD), any disease (such as syphilis, gonorrhea, AIDS, or a genital form of herpes......
Sheehanâs syndrome
Sheehanâs syndrome, insufficiency of pituitary hormones (hypopituitarism), caused by destruction of cells of the......
shellfish poisoning
shellfish poisoning, illness in humans resulting from the eating of certain mussels and clams. The source of the......
shigellosis
shigellosis, infection of the gastrointestinal tract by bacteria of the genus Shigella. The illness produces cramplike......
shock
shock, in physiology, failure of the circulatory system to supply sufficient blood to peripheral tissues to meet......
sick building syndrome
sick building syndrome (SBS), term applied to a situation in which some or all the people occupying a building......
sickle cell anemia
sickle cell anemia, hereditary disease that destroys red blood cells by causing them to take on a rigid âsickleâ......
sinus squeeze
sinus squeeze, pain, inflammation, and possible bleeding of the membranes lining the sinus cavities in the head,......
sinusitis
sinusitis, acute or chronic inflammation of the mucosal lining of one or more paranasal sinuses (the cavities in......
Sjögren syndrome
Sjögren syndrome, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by severe dryness of the eyes and mouth that results......
skin cancer
skin cancer, disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the skin. Skin cancers are of two distinct......
skin disease
skin disease, any of the diseases or disorders that affect the human skin. They have a wide range of causes. Although......
skin squeeze
skin squeeze, effect on the skin of exposure to a pressure less than that of the surrounding environmental pressure.......
Slagle, Eleanor Clarke
Eleanor Clarke Slagle was a U.S. social-welfare worker and early advocate of occupational therapy for the mentally......
sleep apnea
sleep apnea, respiratory condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. The word apnea is derived......
sleep paralysis
sleep paralysis, total inability to move for a very brief period that occurs as one is either falling asleep or......
sleeping sickness
sleeping sickness, disease caused by infection with the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or the......
sleepwalking
sleepwalking, a behavioral disorder of sleep in which a person sits up and performs various motor actions, such......
smallpox
smallpox, acute infectious disease that begins with a high fever, headache, and back pain and then proceeds to......
smoking
smoking, the act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning Nicotiana plant material. A variety of plant materials......
- Introduction
- Health Risks, Lung Disease, Cancer
- Cancer, Health Risks, Prevention
- Pregnancy, Health, Risks
- Nicotine Replacement, Cessation, Therapy
- Nicotine Inhaler, Health Risks, Addiction
- Health Risks, Legislation, Bans
- Health, Regulation, Prevention
- Health Risks, Addiction, History
- Health Risks, Addiction, History
- Health Risks, Legislation, Activism
snakebite
snakebite, a wound resulting from penetration of the flesh by the fangs of a snake, especially a snake secreting......
snakeroot poisoning
snakeroot poisoning, illness in humans and grazing animals caused by trematol, a poisonous alcohol present in white......
snoring
snoring, a rough, hoarse noise produced upon the intake of breath during sleep and caused by the vibration of the......
Snuffing Out Smoking
Although the origins of smoking are unknown, it was first seen among Native Americans, who used tobacco for both......
social anxiety disorder
social anxiety disorder (SAD), a type of anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of interacting with people, due......
sodium deficiency
sodium deficiency, condition in which sodium is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Sodium is an element......
sore mouth
sore mouth, viral disease of sheep and goats. The disease is characterized by the emergence of blisters, pustules,......
spatial disorientation
spatial disorientation, the inability of a person to determine his true body position, motion, and altitude relative......
speech disorder
speech disorder, any of the disorders that impair human speech. Human communication relies largely on the faculty......
spina bifida
spina bifida, congenital cleft of the vertebral column, a form of neural tube defect...
spinal cord injury
spinal cord injury, any of various conditions caused by damage to the tract of nerves that extends from the base......
spine, curvature of the
curvature of the spine, any of a group of deviations of the normal spinal curvature, including scoliosis, lordosis,......
splenitis
splenitis, enlargement and inflammation of the spleen as a result of infection, parasite infestation, or cysts.......
splenomegaly
splenomegaly, enlargement of the spleen, the abdominal organ that serves as a temporary storage site for blood......
spondylitis
spondylitis, inflammation of one or more of the vertebrae. Spondylitis takes several forms; the most widely occurring......
spondylolisthesis
spondylolisthesis, forward slipping of one of the vertebrae on the subjacent vertebra or on the sacrum, the triangular......
spondylosis
spondylosis, noninflammatory degenerative disease of the spine resulting in abnormal bone development around the......
sporotrichosis
sporotrichosis, subacute or chronic infection with the fungus Sporothrix, primarily Sporothrix schenckii. Infection......
sprain
sprain, an injury involving the overstretching or tearing of one or more ligaments, the bands of connective tissue......
starvation
starvation, widespread or generalized atrophy (wasting away) of body tissues either because food is unavailable......
Stein-Leventhal syndrome
Stein-Leventhal syndrome, disorder in women that is characterized by an elevated level of male hormones (androgens)......
Stillâs disease
Stillâs disease, rheumatoid arthritis in children. The major difference between this illness and rheumatoid arthritis......
stirrup fixation
stirrup fixation, growth of spongy bone in the wall of the inner ear so that it encroaches on the oval windowâan......
stomach cancer
stomach cancer, a disease characterized by abnormal growth of cells in the stomach. The incidence of stomach cancer......
strabismus
strabismus, misalignment of the eyes. The deviant eye may be directed inward toward the other eye (cross-eye, or......
streptobacillary rat-bite fever
streptobacillary rat-bite fever, acute infection caused by the microorganism Streptobacillus moniliformis, transmitted......
stress
stress, in psychology and biology, any environmental or physical pressure that elicits a response from an organism.......
stress fracture
stress fracture, any overuse injury that affects the integrity of bone. Stress fractures were once commonly described......
stroke
stroke, sudden impairment of brain function resulting either from a substantial reduction in blood flow to some......
stuttering
stuttering, speech disorder characterized by involuntary repetition of sounds or syllables and the intermittent......
sty
sty, acute painful modular infection of one or more glands of the eyelid. Two types are distinguished: the external......
subarachnoid hemorrhage
subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding into the space between the two innermost protective coverings surrounding the......
subcutaneous emphysema
subcutaneous emphysema, disorder in which bubbles of air become trapped under the skin. The condition can occur......
subdural hematoma
subdural hematoma, bleeding into the space between the brain and its outermost protective covering, the dura. It......
substance use disorder
substance use disorder, recurrent use of drugs or alcohol that impairs psychological and physical function and......
sudden infant death syndrome
sudden infant death syndrome, unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant from unexplained causes. SIDS is......
suffocation
suffocation, the stoppage or impeding of respiration, as by strangulation, choking on food, or other exclusion......
sulfhemoglobinemia
sulfhemoglobinemia, presence in the blood of sulfhemoglobin, the product of abnormal, irreversible binding of sulfur......
sunburn
sunburn, acute cutaneous inflammation caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the so-called UVB......
sweating sickness
sweating sickness, a disease of unknown cause that appeared in England as an epidemic on five occasionsâin 1485,......
swimmerâs itch
swimmerâs itch, an infection of the skin marked by prickling sensations and itching, caused by invasion of the......
swine flu
swine flu, a respiratory disease of pigs that is caused by an influenza virus. The first flu virus isolated from......
Sydenham chorea
Sydenham chorea, a neurological disorder characterized by irregular and involuntary movements of muscle groups......
syncope
syncope, effect of temporary impairment of blood circulation to a part of the body. The term is most often used......
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), disorder characterized by the excessive excretion of sodium......
syphilis
syphilis, systemic disease that is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is usually a......
syringomyelia
syringomyelia, chronic, progressive disease characterized principally by the development of a cyst, called a syrinx,......