Medical dictionary

What is dry eye syndrome? Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a common condition that happens when the eye doesn’t make enough tears and isn’t lubricated enough, normally due to meibomian gland dysfunction (located in the eyelids and responsible for lubricating the eyes). This affects the ocular surface: the tear film, eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea.

What is dry needling? Dry needling is an alternative therapy which involves the placement of acupuncture needles being inserted into the skin and muscle, aiming for myofascial trigger points. These points are sensitive spots in soft tissue, sometimes referred to as ‘muscle knots’. Trigger points can be tender to the touch, and when a trigger point is touched it may cause pain to app

What is dual pathology? The term dual pathology is used in the field of mental health to refer to patients who simultaneously have an addiction and a mental health disorder. An addiction can apply to alcohol, pain killers, tobacco, or to cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids and other recreational and illegal substances. The addiction can also be an addiction to gambling or gaming.

What is duodenal switch surgery? Duodenal switch, also known as the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, is a weight loss surgery procedure, which makes the stomach smaller, reroutes the intestines and removes the gallbladder. The result leaves patients feeling less hungry and enables them to lose a significant amount of excess weight within one year. How is the weight loss su

What is a duplex kidney? A duplex kidney is when a child is born with a double kidney on one side (“duplex” is Latin for “double”). The part of the kidney that is duplicated is usually the collecting system (or renal pelvis), which is where urine collects before it is passed into the ureter (tube) that leads to the bladder. This rarely causes pro

What is Dupuytren's contracture?Dupuytren's contracture, or Dupuytren's disease, is a hand deformity that consists of the thickening of tissues located under the palm of the hand and results in one or more of the fingers becoming permanently bent in a flexed position.When the syndrome starts, knots or lumps form in the palm that prevent the fingers from straightening. Daily activities, such a

What is dust mite allergy? Dust mite allergy is an allergic reaction to the tiny insects that are found at home. The bugs are relatives of ticks and spiders and are so tiny, measuring between 0.2 and 0.3 millimetres, that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.   Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and eat the skin cells which humans naturally shed. They are most commonly fou

What is dysarthria? Dysarthria is a condition characterised by speaking difficulties. Dysarthria is a difficulty of the movement and control of the muscles that enable speech, rather than a difficulty with finding the right words and using language. Dysarthria which has occurred as a result of brain damage before birth is known as developmental dysarthria, and is most commonly found in child

What is dysgraphia?  Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that makes it difficult or impossible to write coherent texts. Most of the children affected by it do not have a related intellectual or neurological disorder. Some children may be affected by other learning difficulties, such as language or perceptual-motor disorders.      People who have this condition tend