| bipolar disease | A type of depressive disease, formerly called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behaviour in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, unwise business or financial decisions may be made when an individual is in a manic phase. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic recurring condition. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| bird-breeder's disease | <chest medicine> Extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by an allergic reaction to components of the bird or bird droppings. (19 Jan 1998) |
| bird-handler's disease | <chest medicine> Extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by an allergic reaction to components of the bird or bird droppings. (19 Jan 1998) |
| black disease | A disease of sheep caused by the bacterium Clostridium novyi, which invades livers damaged by the fluke Fasciola hepatica and causes severe necrosis and death; this disease occurs in nearly all parts of the world, including the U.S. Sometimes called black disease because of the extensive haemorrhages seen on the inner surface of the pelt when it is removed. Synonym: black disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black-tongue disease | A disease of dogs similar to human pellagra and due to niacin deficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blinding disease | Infection with nematodes of the genus onchocerca. Characteristics include the presence of firm subcutaneous nodules filled with adult worms, pruritus, and ocular lesions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bloch-Sulzberger disease | A genetic disease with blisters that develop soon after birth on the trunk and limbs, then heal, but leave dark (hyperpigmented) streaks and marble-like whorls on the skin. (the name came from the erroneous idea that the skin cells were incontinent of pigment and could not contain it normally.) other key features of ip include dental and nail abnormalities, bald patches, and (in about 1/3rd of cases) mental retardation. Ip is an x-linked dominant with male lethality. The ip gene is in band q28 on the x chromosome. Mothers with ip have an equal chance of having a normal or ip daughter or a normal son. The ip sons die before birth. Ip is also known as bloch-sulzberger syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Blocq's disease | The inability to either stand or walk in a normal manner; the gait is bizarre and is not suggestive of a specific organic lesion; often the patient sways wildly and nearly falls, but recovers at the last moment; a symptom of hysteria-conversion reaction. Synonym: Blocq's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Blount-Barber disease | <disease> An acquired disease of the tibial bone of the leg, seen in young children. It will cause the leg to bow in an outward direction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Blount's disease | <disease> An acquired disease of the tibial bone of the leg, seen in young children. It will cause the leg to bow in an outward direction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bluecomb disease of chickens | An acute or subacute disease of young laying chickens characterised by lowered egg production, diarrhoea, frequently cyanosis of the head, and pathologic changes involving chiefly the liver and kidney; aetiology is not definitely established. Synonym: avian monocytosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bluecomb disease of turkeys | An acute or chronic disease of young turkeys caused by bluecomb virus, with diarrhoea, loss of weight, and often cyanosis of the head. Synonym: mud fever, transmissible enteritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue disease | <infectious disease> An acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognised in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks, muscle pain. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread Early recognition of the condition and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality. Synonym: spotted fever, tick fever, and tick typhus. (25 Jun 1999) |
| Boeck's disease | <disease> Disease of unknown aetiology in which there are chronic inflammatory granulomatous lesions in lymph nodes and other organs. (18 Nov 1997) |
| border disease | Congenital disorder of lambs caused by a virus closely related to or identical with certain strains of bovine viral diarrhoea virus. (12 Dec 1998) |