Att 8o _ Medical Glossary

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Attachment 8.o.

Study to Explore Early Development

GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Following are definitions and descriptions of each of the conditions listed in the Mother’s Father’s, and Child’s Health History Forms. If you are still not sure about the meaning of a condition, please mark it and we can go over it with you during a clinic visit.

Addison’s disease	A rare condition that occurs when the adrenal glands are not able to produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
Allergies	The immune system overreacts to certain substances causing inflammation (swelling) or irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or digestive system. Examples include hay fever and allergy to mold, dander, pollen, dust, drugs, or food.
Ankylosing spondylitis	A form of arthritis that causes inflammation (swelling) of the joints between the vertebrae (bones) of a person’s spine and the joints between the spine and pelvis (at the hip). The disorder gets worse over time and often causes pain and stiffness in the back, hips, and shoulders.
Anxiety disorder	A psychiatric disorder in which a person has feelings of anxiety, fear, or worry. Types of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Aplastic anemia	Anemia is a blood condition with a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Aplastic anemia is a severe type of anemia in which the bone marrow is unable to produce enough red blood cells.
Asperger’s syndrome	One of the autistic spectrum disorders. A pervasive developmental disorder in which a person has a hard time communicating or relating socially with others. Other symptoms may include unusual interests, repetitive routines or rituals, and different ways of speaking or using language. See autism spectrum disorders.
Asthma	Also called reactive airway disease. A chronic lung or respiratory disease that causes wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD)	A behavior disorder in which a person has trouble paying attention and is overly active or impulsive to a point that it causes problems for the individual in school, work, or social situations.
Autism or Autism spectrum disorder	A group of developmental disorders that cause a person to have problems interacting socially with other people and trouble talking or communicating with others. People with autism will also often have repetitive behaviors or interests or unusual responses to sensory experiences, such as certain sounds or the way objects look. Autism spectrum disorders include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified, and Asperger’s syndrome.
Autoimmune hepatitis	A disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells causing the liver to become inflamed (swollen, irritated). Symptoms often include excess hair growth, acne, arthritis, and an enlarged liver.
Bipolar disease	A psychiatric disorder that causes mood swings from mania (exaggerated feeling of well-being, energy, and confidence) to depression (sadness, lack of self-esteem).
Birth defect	A malformation or defect that is present when a child is born and usually recognized before or at birth or during infancy. Examples of birth defects include limb defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, and heart defects.
Bleeding/clotting disorders	Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions of the blood clotting system in which a person bleeds a lot and for a long time after an injury. Clotting disorders: A group of conditions of the blood clotting system in which potentially dangerous blood clots can form.
Byler disease or intrahepatic cholestasis	A rare genetic disease in which bile formation in the liver is impaired. The formation of bile is a vital function and its impairment results in a condition known as cholestasis. The disease progresses and often a liver transplant is eventually needed.
Cancer	A disease that develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Types of cancer include breast, bone, bladder, brain, leukemia, lymphoma.
Cardiovascular condition	A problem affecting the heart, blood vessels, or circulation of the blood.
Celiac disease (sprue)	Digestive condition in which eating the protein gluten (found in wheat, barley, or rye) causes damage to the small intestines. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is usually diagnosed with a biopsy of the intestines.
Cerebral palsy	A disorder that affects a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture, usually diagnosed in the first year of life.
Chicken Pox	A highly infectious viral disease that causes a blister-like rash.
Childhood disintegrative disorder	In children, a loss of skills after a period of 2 years of normal development; significant loss of skills in at least two of the following areas: use or understanding of language, social skills, bowel or bladder control, or motor skills.
Crohn’s disease	Chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes severe irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects the lower intestine and colon.
Cystic fibrosis	A chronic disease that causes mucus to become thick and build up, which clogs the passages to organs, mainly the lungs and the pancreas. Blocked pathways to the lungs can cause breathing problems. The disease gets worse over time.
Cytomegalovirus	A virus that can remain in the body for a long time, without symptoms. Some babies born to women who get this virus during pregnancy may have complications.
Depression	A psychiatric disorder in which a severe, depressed mood that interferes with normal living. Symptoms include extended sadness, lack of self-esteem, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, decreased energy, changes in sleep and appetite, and feelings of guilt or hopelessness that last for at least 2 weeks.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (celiac disease of the skin)	Chronic dermatitis (swelling of the skin) that causes itchy, raised areas of the skin and swollen or infected areas on the skin that look like clusters of hives. It is frequently linked to a sensitivity to gluten (the protein in wheat, barley and rye). It is not caused by the herpes virus.
Diabetes	High blood sugar. The three main types of diabetes are Type 1, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes; Type 2, also known as adult onset, non-insulin dependent diabetes; and Gestational diabetes which occurs just during pregnancy.
Down syndrome	Down syndrome is a genetic/chromosomal condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development. Also known as Trisomy 21.
Ear infection, recurrent	An ear infection that lasts a long time (several months) or comes and goes. While there’s no clear standard definition for recurrent, some physicians will define it as more than 3 infections over 6 months or more than 4 infections over one year.
Eating disorder	A psychiatric disorder involving unhealthy weight control practices that may include extremely low food or calorie intake (anorexia) or vomiting (bulimia) to lose weight.
Eczema/psoriasis	Chronic skin conditions. Eczema causes the skin to become dry, itchy, or scaly. Psoriasis causes pink or silvery-white scaly patches, often over the scalp and knee and elbow joints.
Endocrine disorder (hormonal disorder)	Problems in organs or glands that make hormones, which cause problems with reproduction, metabolism (food burning and waste elimination), or growth. Some examples are thyroid disorders, diabetes, adrenal dysfunction or pituitary problems.
Fragile X syndrome	A hereditary condition that causes a wide range of mental impairment, from mild learning disabilities to severe mental retardation.
Gastrointestinal disorder	Condition related to the gastrointestinal or digestive tract. Conditions might be related to the stomach, esophagus (tube that connects the throat to the stomach), small and large intestines, or rectum.
German measles or rubella	A virus that causes a mild infection and rash.
Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis and cranial arteritis)	Disorder that results in swelling of arteries in the head, neck, and arms.
Graves’ disease (diffuse toxic goiter)	Over-activity of the thyroid gland that becomes enlarged into a goiter. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Group A Strep (includes strep throat and scarlet fever)	A bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin. Group A strep bacteria can cause a range of infections, from relatively mild sore throats and skin infections to life-threatening invasive disease.
Group B Strep (GBS)	Also called baby strep, GBS is a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness and death in newborns, who get the infection from their mothers during childbirth. Many women have GBS. This infection is generally not serious in adults and some women with GBS might not have any symptoms.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (Landry’s ascending paralysis)	A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system and causes muscle damage. The first symptoms include weakness or tingling sensations in the legs.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis	A type of autoimmune thyroid disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland.
Hearing impairment	A reduction in the ability to perceive sound; ranges from slight inability to complete deafness.
Hemolytic anemia	Disorder in which the red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can make new ones.
Hepatitis A	A liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus.
Hepatitis B	A liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (or HBV). The virus can cause lifelong infection.
Hepatitis C	A liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (or HCV). The virus can cause lifelong infection.
Hepatitis, unknown type	A liver disease caused by one of the hepatitis viruses.
Herpes infection	The name of a group of viruses that cause painful blisters and sores. One kind of herpes, herpes simplex, causes both cold sores around the mouth and genital herpes.
High blood pressure	Also called hypertension. A disease in which the blood pressure, measured by a cuff, is higher than normal.
HIV or AIDS	AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
Hyperthyroidism	Condition in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the body.
Hypothyroidism	Condition in which there is too little thyroid hormone in the body.
Impetigo	A highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. Impetigo usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child's nose and mouth. Although it commonly occurs when bacteria enter the skin through cuts or insect bites, it can also develop in skin that's perfectly healthy.
Influenza	A viral infection with symptoms similar to a cold, but more severe, often including high fever.
Irritable bowel syndrome	Disorder of the large and small intestines that causes abdominal pain or discomfort, constipation, or diarrhea.
Learning disability	A group of disorders in which a child has problems learning specific academic subjects such as reading (dyslexia).
Liver disease	Liver disease is a broad term used to describe many diseases affecting the liver. These include hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, cirrhosis, haemochromatosis, liver cancer, Wilson’s disease, Gilbert’s syndrome, glycogen storage disease, intrahepatic cholestasis, and others.
Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)	Chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the joints and many organs, including the skin, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Lyme disease	An infection caused by a kind of bacteria called a spirochete that is spread through tick bites.
Measles	A highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a spreading skin rash.
Meningitis, bacterial	Bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis, viral	Viral infection that causes inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis, unknown type	Inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
Mental retardation	Also called Intellectual Disability or ID. A developmental disorder in which a person has a significantly below-average score on an IQ test (or test of mental ability or intelligence).
Migraine headaches	Periodic headaches, usually on one side of the head that may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity of the eyes to light.
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)	Syndrome in which a person has a combination of symptoms of several different diseases. Examples include scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosis (lupus), polymyositis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals with MCTD have symptoms of each of these disorders, including painful or swollen joints, heart or lung problems, skin problems, kidney disease, and muscle weakness.
Motor problem/movement or coordination problems	Problems with both fine motor tasks (includes skills of the hands and ability to use small objects) and gross motor tasks (walking, running, balance etc.).
Multiple sclerosis	A chronic neurologic disorder in which the outer covering of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord are damaged and people may have problems walking, talking or moving.
Mumps	A viral illness characterized by swelling of the salivary glands. A child with mumps often looks like a chipmunk with a full mouth due to the swelling.
Myasthenia gravis (muscle fatigue disease)	A disease in which muscles tire easily and become increasingly weak.
Narcolepsy	A sleep disorder that causes a person to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day.
Neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease)	Rare genetic disorder that causes the development of multiple non-cancerous (benign) tumors of the nerves and skin and areas of abnormal skin color, including tan, brown, or white spots in unusual places like under the arms and groin.
Neuromuscular disorder	Conditions that involve the weakness or wasting of the body muscles. Some examples are muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis.
Obesity	Excess fat or a body weight that is 30% more than the ideal body weight for a person’s height.
Obsessive compulsive disorder	A psychiatric anxiety disorder in which a person has recurring thoughts or obsessions that interfere with normal social interaction or a person gets caught up in certain rituals such as excessive hand-washing or compulsive checking for locked doors.
Optic neuritis (optic nerve inflammation)	Swelling or inflammation of the optic nerve (n the eye).
Parvovirus or fifth disease	Also called erythema infectiosum, a virus most common in children, usually appearing with a distinctive red rash on the cheeks after the fever has passed.
Pemphigus	An uncommon blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes commonly involving the mouth and scalp.
Personality disorders	General term for a group of psychiatric disorders characterized by unusual internal experiences and abnormal behavior, lifestyle, and social adjustment.
Pervasive developmental disorder	A group of disorders characterized by lack of the basic social skills, language skills, imagination, and need for routine. Pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified is considered an autism spectrum disorder (see autism).
Pneumonia	Inflammation or infection of one or both lungs. It may be due to infection by a virus or bacteria.
Reading difficulty	Difficulty reading at the level appropriate for a given age.
Reiter’s syndrome (reactive arthritis)	Disorder that includes arthritis of joints such as the knee and ankle and inflammation of the urinary tract, eye, or skin.
Respiratory condition	Condition related to the lungs or flow of air through the respiratory passageway that may cause difficulty breathing.
Respiratory synctial virus or RSV	A virus which is a common cause of bronchiolitis or inflammation of the lower airways and pneumonia in babies.
Rheumatoid arthritis	A relatively common disease in which the tissues lining the joints become inflamed (swollen). Over time, the inflammation may destroy the joint tissues, leading to disability.
Schizophrenia	A chronic mental illness that can cause a person to withdraw from the people and activities in the world around them and retreat into a world of delusions and hallucinations.
Scleroderma	Chronic (lifelong) disease that can cause thickening, hardening, or tightening of the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. Scleroderma can be localized or can affect the entire body.
Self-injuring behavior	Trying to cause bodily harm to oneself. Examples include biting the wrist, banging the head, and cutting the skin.
Seizure disorder/epilepsy	Disorders of the central nervous system that cause sudden seizures, muscle contractions, and partial or total loss of consciousness.
Sickle cell/thalassemia/other hereditary anemias	Inherited, lifelong disease in which the red blood cells, which are normally disc-shaped, become crescent-shaped and do not function normally. Blood clotting occurs frequently. Thalasemias are hereditary disorders characterized by defective production of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. This leads to low production, and excessive destruction, of red blood cells. This hereditary disorder is characterized by growth failure, bone deformities, and enlarged liver and spleen.
Sjögren’s syndrome	An inflammatory disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the tear and salivary glands. Symptoms include dry mouth, decreased tearing, and other dry mucous membranes.
Sleep disorder	Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep that lasts for at least 1 month. Sleep disorder is associated with daytime fatigue (tired feeling) and leads to problems in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Speech problems	Difficulties with speech or verbal skills.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome	Skin disorder, of unknown cause, resulting from an allergic reaction to medications, illness, or infections. Symptoms include a rash, skin peeling, or sores on the mucous membranes.
Suicide attempt	Trying to take one’s own life.
Sydenham’s chorea (St. Vitus’ dance)	Disorder of the central nervous system characterized by emotional instability; purposeless movements; and muscular weakness.
Tetanus	An infectious disease of the nervous system caused by bacteria which usually enters the body through a puncture, cut, or open wound. Sometimes called lockjaw
Thrombocytopenia (immune, idiopathic)	A condition in which there is an abnormally small number of platelets in the circulating blood. Platelets are cells that help the blood clot after injury.
Tonsillitis	Inflammation of a tonsil, usually caused by an infection.
Tourette’s syndrome	Neurological disorder characterized by tics—involuntary, rapid, sudden movements that occur repeatedly in the same way.
Toxoplasmosis	An infection caused by a parasite that can live inside the cells of humans and animals, especially cats and farm animals
Tuberculosis	An infection caused by bacteria that usually affects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body
Tuberous sclerosis	Rare neurological disorder with skin lesions and sometimes also with seizures, mental retardation and/or autism.
Ulcerative colitis	A chronic (lifelong) inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum characterized by bouts of bloody diarrhea.
Urinary tract infection or UTI	An infection of the bladder and urethra and sometimes the kidneys
Vision impairment	The eye does not see objects as clearly as usual AND the eyesight cannot be corrected to a "normal" level with glasses or contacts.

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