Medical dictionary

What is vulvodynia? Vulvodynia is pain in the vulva which is persistent and unexplained. The vulva is the female genital area, and it includes the skin surrounding the vaginal opening.  Vulvodynia can affect women of all ages and can become a long-term problem which affects quality of life. However, treatment can provide relief and, it can go away itself.       &nb

What is WALANT? WALANT stands for Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet and is a surgical technique allowing a surgeon to operate on your hand while you are awake. By injecting lidocaine (local anaesthetic) in combination with epinephrine (adrenaline) into the hand, it avoids the need for general anaesthesia and helps to control bleeding so a tourniquet isn’t required. An orthopae

​What is Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia?  Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia is a rare type of cancer, in which the bone marrow creates an excess of abnormal lymphoplasmacytic cells (a type of white blood cell). These cells crowd out healthy blood cells and secrete high amounts of the antibody immunoglobulin M (lgM), which can thicken the blood. Waldenstrom’s macr

What is being analysed? Warfarin sensitivity testing evaluates an individual's response to the anticoagulant medication, warfarin. It primarily measures how efficiently the body metabolises the drug, which helps determine the appropriate dosage for effective treatment. What does the result mean? The result of the test indicates the patient's sensitivity to warfarin. This sensi

What are warts?   Warts are hard growths that can occur in various areas of the body, caused by a viral infection. They are more frequent in children and teenagers and are usually benignant formations (not cancerous). Warts aren’t normally painful. Healing takes from a few weeks to six months with adequate treatment.     There are several types of warts. The

What is a wasp sting allergy? A wasp sting can cause severe reactions to people who are allergic to the poisonous substance injected by these insects’ stings. After being stung by a wasp, a mild swelling and redness are the normal reactions to the toxins contained in their venom. However, a more severe reaction is indicative of allergy. In this case, a wasp sting could be life-threatening

What are watery eyes? Watery eyes, also known as epiphora, is a condition where there is an overflow of tears onto the face. It is very common and can develop at any age, although it is more common in babies and people over the age of 60. It may affect one or both eyes and usually gets better without any treatment or, if need be, it can easily and effectively be treated.

What is weight management?       Weight management is a strategy to stay healthy and prevent future diseases. It is quite often used for people who have a chronic illness. However, it is more often used for people who need to lose or put on weight, in stages of growth, and for people who have eating disorders.     Maintaining a healthy weight c

What is weight loss? Weight loss is a decrease in body weight by either following a diet and exercise regime or because of involuntarily circumstances such as illness. Body weight is determined by the amount of energy that is consumed as food and the amount of energy expended during daily activities. If a person wants to intentionally lose weight, it is recommended that they eat a lower quan