H HAND, FOOT, & MOUTH DISEASE BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common childhood infection with symptoms that begin in the mouth and throat. Hand, foot,…

R RABIES BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Rabies is a serious viral infection of the central nervous system, transmitted by an infected animal. In two-thirds of patients, symptoms may appear 1 to…

D DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS (Bends) BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Decompression sickness is a condition caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood or body tissues as the result of a…

K KAPOSI SARCOMA BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a form of skin cancer that is found most often in patients with advanced HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. A…

G GALLSTONES (Cholelithiasis) BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Gallstones are hard objects (stones) that form in the gallbladder and its ducts. The gallbladder is a body organ that stores bile. Gallstones affect…

N NARCOLEPSY BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. Type and severity of symptoms can vary in people who have the…

F FAILURE TO THRIVE BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Failure to thrive is actually a group of symptoms, rather than a specific disorder. The term is used to described infants or children…

W WARTS (Verruca Vulgaris) BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Warts (called common warts) are noncancerous skin growths caused by a virus. They are mildly contagious from person to person and from one…

U ULCER, PEPTIC (Duodenal Ulcer; Gastric Ulcer) BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION A peptic ulcer is an erosion (sore area) in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcers that form in the…

Z ZINC DEFICIENCY BASIC INFORMATION DESCRIPTION Zinc deficiency is an inadequate amount of zinc in the body’s cells. This affects the function of the testicles, liver, and muscles, and affects…