| chronic renal failure | <nephrology> Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. If renal function declines to a low enough level (end-stage renal disease) kidney dialysis may be necessary. A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| chronic rheumatism | A non-specific disorder of the joints, slow in progress, producing a painful thickening and contraction of the fibrous structures, interfering with motion, and causing deformity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic rhinitis | A protracted sluggish inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane; in the later stages the mucous membrane with its glands may be thickened (hypertrophic rhinitis) or thinned (atrophic rhinitis). (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic shock | The state of peripheral circulatory insufficiency developing in elderly patients with a debilitating disease, e.g., carcinoma; a subnormal blood volume makes the patient susceptible to haemorrhagic shock as a result of even a moderate blood loss such as may occur during an operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic soroche | Loss of high altitude tolerance after prolonged exposure (e.g., by residence), characterised by extreme polycythemia, exaggerated hypoxaemia, and reduced mental and physical capacity; relieved by descent. Synonym: altitude erythraemia, chronic soroche, Monge's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic subglottic laryngitis | chorditis vocalis inferior |
| chronic symptomatic HIV infection | This refers to an HIV infection that is characterised by signs and symptoms of HIV that are not life-threatening. Examples include oral thrush, gingivitis, seborrheic dermatitis, molluscum contangiosum, fevers, fatigue, lymph node swelling, malaise and weight loss. This stage can be a signal for the conversion from asymptomatic HIV disease to HIV disease (moe pronouced symptoms include joint pains). AIDS is diagnosed after HIV disease has started to manifest life-threatening oppotunistic infections (for example pneumocystis, cryptosporidium, toxoplasmosis, etc). (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic tamponade | Cardiac compression over long periods due to pathologically increased fluid in the pericardial sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic toxicity | <pharmacology> Illness caused by repeated or long-term exposure to low doses of a toxic substance. Compare: acute toxicity. (09 Oct 1997) |
| chronic trypanosomiasis | A chronic disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in northern and sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Sudan and Uganda; characterised by splenomegaly, drowsiness, an uncontrollable urge to sleep, and the development of psychotic changes; basal ganglia and cerebellar involvement commonly lead to chorea and athetosis; the terminal phase of the disease is characterised by wasting, anorexia, and emaciation that gradually leads to coma and death, usually from intercurrent infection. Synonym: chronic African sleeping sickness, chronic trypanosomiasis, West African sleeping sickness, West African trypanosomiasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic ulcer | A longstanding ulcer with fibrous scar tissue in the floor of the ulcer. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic ulcerative proctitis | Probably a variant of ulcerative colitis involving the rectum; some cases progress to involve the remainder of the colon as well. Synonym: chronic ulcerative proctitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic urticaria | A form of urticaria in which the wheals recur frequently, or persist. Synonym: urticaria chronica. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic venous insufficiency | <cardiology> A condition in which the vein do not channel the flow of blood adequately. most often this condition is seen in the veins of the lower extremities. Symptoms include leg swelling, leg pain and muscle cramps. This condition can predispose to venous thrombosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic vertigo | A condition in which attacks of vertigo occur in rapid succession. Synonym: chronic vertigo. (05 Mar 2000) |