| Acosta's disease | A condition that results from prolonged exposure to high altitude. Symptoms include a continuous dry cough, shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, dizziness, headache, sleep difficulty, anorexia, confusion, fatigue and a rapid pulse. Treatment includes the immediate movement to a lower altitude. Prophylaxis has been accomplished successfully with the use of acetazolamide (Diamox). (27 Sep 1997) |
|---|---|
| acquired immunodeficiency disease | Acquired immunodeficiency disease: Disease caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute disease | Disease having a short and relatively severe course. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Adams-Stokes disease | <syndrome> Transient asystole or ventricular fibrillation in the presence of atrioventricular block. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Addison-Biermer disease | <haematology> A form of anaemia (low red blood cell counts) that results when the bone marrow fails to produce adequate numbers of red blood cells due to a deficiency in vitamin B12. Intrinsic factor, necessary for normal B12 absorption, may be the underlying cause for B12 deficiency if is not produced in the gastric glands (in the stomach). Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (27 Sep 1997) |
| Addison's disease | <endocrinology> A rare endocrine disease that results from the underproduction of aldosterone and cortisol (hormones) by the adrenal glands. Symptoms include weakness, low blood pressure, anaemia, low blood sugar and electrolyte abnormalities. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adult-onset still's disease | Although Still's disease was first described in children, it is known to begin in adults. See: Still's disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Akabane disease | A disease of cattle, sheep and goats, caused by the Akabane virus and characterised by foetal or neonatal arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly, abortions, and foetal death; the causative virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in Japan and by the midge Culicoides brevitarsis in Australia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| akamushi disease | See Typhus, scrub. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Akureyri disease | An epidemic disease characterised by stiffness of the neck and back, headache, diarrhoea, fever, and localised muscular weakness; restricted almost exclusively to adults, affecting women more than men; probably viral in origin. Synonym: Akureyri disease, benign myalgic encephalomyelitis, epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis, Iceland disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Albers-Schonberg disease | The formation of abnormally dense bone, as opposed to osteoporosis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Albert's disease | Achillobursitis involving inflammation of the bursa between the Achilles tendon and the os calcis. Synonym: Swediauer's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Albright's disease | <syndrome> The abnormal development of multiple bones, hormonal disorder and brownish skin lesions. (27 Sep 1997) |
| alcoholic liver disease | <gastroenterology> Alcoholic cirrhosis is a condition of irreversible liver disease due to the chronic inflammatory and toxic effects of ethanol on the liver. In cirrhosis, the liver cells are replaced by fibrous scar tissue. Fibrosis leads to the development of portal hypertension. The development of cirrhosis is directly related to the duration and quantity of alcohol consumption. The manifestations of cirrhosis are related to the liver's inability to not adequately remove waste products from the bloodstream and the effects of portal hypertension. (15 Nov 1997) |
| aleutian mink disease | A slow progressive disease of mink caused by the aleutian mink disease virus. It is characterised by poor reproduction, weight loss, autoimmunity, hypergammaglobulinaemia, increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, and death from renal failure. The disease occurs in all colour types, but mink which are homozygous recessive for the aleutian gene for light coat colour are particularly susceptible. (12 Dec 1998) |