Medical dictionary

What is acute limb ischemia? Acute limb ischemia is the sudden lack of blood flow (and hence oxygen) to a limb due to either a blood clot (thrombosis) or embolism (a blockage of a vein caused by a foreign object). These can occur in patients of all ages. This is a serious condition and can result in tissue damage and potentially the loss of limbs. What are the symptoms of acute limb ischemia

What is addiction? Addiction is a complex brain disease where a person compulsively needs to use or take something that has a harmful consequence. Their intense focus on using a substance can take over their life even if they know that their constant use of a drug or alcohol, for example, can cause problems. According to UK charity Action on Addiction, one in 3 people a

What is the adductor longus tendon? The adductor longus is a tendon in the medial thigh. The muscle is large and fan-shaped,   How do adductor longus tendon injuries usually occur? Injuries of this muscle are common among athletes. Strains or tears of the adductor longus tendon typically occur during acute muscle contraction. It commonly occurs when kicking or pivoti

What are adenoids?   Adenoids are lymphoid tissue (very much like your tonsils).They are located at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth, at the intersection of the nostrils, throat and the eustachian tubes.   During childhood, they form part of the body's defence system against infection. Their main function is to capture substances that could be harmful to

What is being analysed? The amount of adenosine deaminase (ADA), the pleural fluid, or other biological fluids is being analysed. What does the result mean? The results of ADA values should be evaluated by a doctor along with the symptoms presented by the person so that the cause of their alteration is diagnosed and the appropriate treatment is indicated. Why is an ADA test ca

What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior and begins in childhood. ADHD can be classified into three types: Inattentive (lack of attention) Hyperactive-impulsive Combined (symptoms of the two types at the same time) What are the symptoms of ADHD? ADHD is characterised by an excessive increase i

What is adolescent medicine? Adolescent medicine is the medical subspecialty responsible for the inpatient and outpatient care of patients who are adolescents (i.e. teen years). It's a relatively new and fast-growing paediatric subspecialty, as traditionally, there only really existed either paediatric or adult medicine, which categorised anyone over the age of 18 years of age as

What is adoption? Adoption is the legal process that allows children without a biological parent or guardian to acquire a legal parent and form part of a new family. Many parents who cannot have biological children have adopted because they'd like to create a family or offer a home to a child who needs one. During the adoption process, when a child is adopted, they're subjected to va

What are adrenal gland disorders? Adrenal gland disorders are a group of conditions affecting the adrenal glands, which are endocrine glands located above the kidneys. These glands are responsible for producing a variety of hormones, which include adrenaline, steroid hormones such as androgens, and corticosteroids. These hormones help the body to control blood sugar, react to stress (e.g injury