| benign myalgic encephalomyelitis | 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) |
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| benign nasal tumour | A benign tumour of the posterior nasopharynx that is most common in adolescent boys. Symptoms repeated epistaxis, nasal congestion, nasal discharge and hearing loss. A skull X-ray or a CT scan of the head can confirm the presence of an angiofibroma. Treatment may include the surgical removal of the lesion if it is enlarging or blocking the airway. (27 Sep 1997) |
| benign neonatal convulsions | A familial, self-limited epilepsy, beginning at two or three days of age and resolving spontaneously by six months of age; autosomal dominant inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign nephrosclerosis | <nephrology> Refers to the destructive changes that occur in the blood vessels of the kidney due to severe hypertension (malignant hypertension). Prolonged hypertension can result in renal failure. (17 Oct 1997) |
| benign paroxysmal peritonitis | familial paroxysmal polyserositis |
| benign paroxysmal postural vertigo | A recurrent, brief form of postural vertigo occurring in clusters; believed to result from displaced remnants of utricular otoconia. Synonym: cupulolithiasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign positional vertigo | Brief attacks of paroxysmal vertigo and nystagmus that occur solely with certain head movements or positions, e.g., with neck extension; due to labyrinthine dysfunction. Synonym: positional vertigo of Barany, postural vertigo. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign prostatic hyperplasia | <urology> A benign enlargement of the prostate gland begins normally after age 50 years probably secondary to the effects of male hormones. If significant enlargement occurs, it may pinch off te urethra making urination difficult or impossible. See: urinary retention. Origin: Gr. Plassein = to form (06 Aug 1998) |
| benign prostatic hypertrophy | <urology> A benign enlargement of the prostate gland begins normally after age 50 years probably secondary to the effects of male hormones. If significant enlargement occurs, it may pinch off te urethra making urination difficult or impossible. See: urinary retention. (06 Aug 1998) |
| benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy | <neurology> An X-linked inherited disorder characterised by slowly progressive muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis. Other symptoms and findings include increased difficulty walking, intellectual retardation, fatigue and pseudohypertrophy of the calf muscles. (06 Aug 1998) |
| benign stupor | A stuporous syndrome from which recovery is the rule, as opposed to malignant stupor. Synonym: depressive stupor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign tertian malaria | <disease, microbiology> A type of malaria caused by the protozoan Plasmodium vivax, it isthe most common form of the disease, is rarely fatal but is the most difficult to cure, and is characterised by fevers that typically occur every other day. (11 Nov 1997) |
| benign tetanus | A disorder marked by intermittent tonic muscular contractions of the extremities, especially the hands and feet (carpopedal spasm), accompanied by paresthesias and, when severe, by crowing respirations due to laryngospasm and seizures; results from hypocalcaemia, caused by various disorders, including gastrointestinal abnormalities. Synonym: intermittent cramp. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign tumour | <oncology> A nonmalignant clone of neoplastic cells that does not invade locally or spread to other parts of the body (metastasise), having lost growth control but not positional control. Usually surrounded by a fibrous capsule of compressed tissue. (29 Sep 1997) |
| glossitis, benign migratory | An inflammatory disease of the tongue of unknown aetiology, characterised by multiple annular areas of desquamation of the filiform papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue, usually presenting pinkish-red central lesions outlined by thin, yellowish lines or bands that change patterns and shift from one area to another every few days. (12 Dec 1998) |