Medical dictionary

What is a preventive mastectomy? Also known as a prophylactic mastectomy or risk-reducing mastectomy, a preventive mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who are in the high-risk group of developing the disease. The surgery can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer (up to 90 to 95 per cent). But it cannot 100 per ce

What is preventive medicine? Preventive medicine is a combination of medical practices that are designed to avoid disease and illness. It is a proactive approach to patient care. Doctors use preventative measures to ensure that any sickness is minimised and detected early so that a patient has the best chance of recovery to optimum health. Rather than treating conditions once they arise, preven

What is preventive nutrition? Preventive nutrition involved adopting eating habits with the aim of preventing or reducing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. These are diseases where there is already substantial evidence that diet plays a role in their development. In the future, preventive nutrition may encompass the prevention or delay of other con

What is preventive paediatrics? Preventive paediatrics, also known as paediatric preventive care or paediatric well-child care, is a specialised branch of medicine that focuses on maintaining and promoting the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. It is centred around the idea that proactive measures, including routine check-ups, immunisations, health education, and

What is priapism? Priapism is a prolonged and painful erection of the penis that is not associated with sexual stimulation and can last between at least four hours to several days. It occurs when the penis begins to fill with blood, as it would during a normal erection, but the blood does not drain properly as the sex organs become blocked, or the systems that relax the organs fail. It is an un

What is it?  Skin prick testing, sometimes called scratch tests, is a series of tests that are done to find out what substances may be causing an allergic reaction.These tests are considered the ideal method to diagnose potential allergies as they follow a safe and reliable process.        What does it involve?  Skin allergy tes

What is primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)? Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease that affects the bile ducts. The disease causes inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts which causes the ducts to harden and narrow, affecting the transfer of bile liquid, which is used for digestion, from the liver to the small intestine. The disease eventually leads to cirrhosis o

What is photorefractive keratectomy? Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a type of laser refractive surgery that can be used to improve vision affected by refractive errors. A refractive error is when the eye cannot refract (bend) light correctly. PRK uses a laser to adjust the shape of the cornea, which improves how light focuses on the retina. What can photorefractive keratectomy be u

What is being analysed? Procalcitonin (PCT) is a precursor protein of the hormone calcitonin, primarily produced by the thyroid gland. It serves as a biomarker for bacterial infections, particularly severe infections like sepsis. What does the result mean? Elevated levels of procalcitonin typically indicate bacterial infection, while low or normal levels suggest viral infection or non