Medical dictionary

What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Almost everyone will get infected by a coronavirus at least once in their life, and most of the time t

What is cosmetic dermatology? Cosmetic dermatology (or aesthetic medicine) is a specialised field of dermatology that focuses on improving the skin on the face and neck for cosmetic purposes rather than for treating a medical condition. It can have a huge impact on a person's mental wellbeing and confidence. Procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers, skin peels, and laser hair

What is Crohn’s disease?Crohn’s disease is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, but is most commonly found at the end of the small intestine, where this meets the colon (large intestine). It is characterised by inflammation, which is often severe and can be debilitating, and may extend through the whole width of the

What is dark circle treatment? Dark circles (technically known as idiopathic cutaneous hyperchromia of the orbital region) refer to the darkest area under the eyes. They can be hereditary, caused by hyperpigmentation, shadows, allergies, asthma, or eczema or be due to medication, fatigue, sadness, hormonal changes, age or nutritional deficiency. Dark circle treatment is a highly effecti

What is dementia? Dementia is the gradual loss of cognitive functions due to brain damage. This disease causes the inability to perform daily living activities due to it affecting several skills: Memory Language (aphasia) Attention Visual Praxis (performing intentional movements and gestures) Functions such as problem-solving or inhibition of responses As the disease progre

What is depression?Depression is a mental illness characterised mainly by a prolonged and severe feeling of sadness. This feeling is associated with other symptoms and alterations of thought and behaviour. Depression can affect people of all ages; either to adults, teenagers or even children. It can vary in severity and can last a lifetime, or be temporary. As such, there are different types of de

What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus (DM), or just diabetes, refers to a group of metabolic diseases which result in an inability to regulate blood sugar levels. Having too much glucose in your blood can damage the kidneys, eyes, nerves and other parts of the body, including the blood vessels themselves. In extreme cases, diabetes can cause heart disease and strokes, and patients may even requir

What are digestive diseases? A digestive disease, or disorder, involves something going wrong with one of the organs in the digestive system. The digestive system is a tube made up of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, which leads to the back passage. It also contains organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Each part of this system has a

What is drug addiction? Drug addiction is a health problem caused by the frequent consumption of addictive substances. Drug addiction can cause both physical and psychological changes, often leading to a change in lifestyle. This is characterised by compulsive and continuous use. Not all drug users are addicts – many people experiment with drugs, particularly young people, and others m