Medical dictionary

What is well-woman screening? A well-woman screening is an exam offered to women to review elements of their reproductive health and other areas. It is preventative health screening that is designed to address specific health needs of women, it also identifies any early signs of degenerative illness or other potential health risk factors.   What does it consist of/inv

What is analysed? West Nile Virus (WNV) analysis primarily involves the detection of specific antibodies or genetic material associated with the virus in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. What does the result mean? A positive result indicates the presence of West Nile Virus in the sample. Interpretation often involves considering clinical symptoms, as some individuals may carry the virus

What is wheezing? Wheezing is a whistling sound that can occur while breathing. The sound can be heard more often when air is expelled. This can occurs whe the respiratory passages are too narrow.   What are the causes of wheezing? When wheezing is recurrent, it may indicate respiratory problems, such as: Aspiration of a foreign body in the lungs Asthma Bronchie

What is whiplash? Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head (backwards and/or forwards) which stretches and damages the soft tissues in the neck (they are sprained). Whiplash is commonly caused by car accidents.   What are the symptoms of whiplash? The symptoms of whiplash usually take a few hours to develop and include: Neck pain Neck s

What is being analysed? White blood cell count (WBC) refers to the measurement of the total number of white blood cells present in a specific volume of blood. White blood cells are a crucial component of the immune system and play a vital role in defending the body against infections and foreign invaders. This helps healthcare professionals assess the body's immune response and detect poten

What is Wilms' tumour? Nephroblastoma or Wilms’ tumour is one of the most common malignant tumours in children. It is associated with an abnormal proliferation of cells similar to embryonic kidney cells (metanephric), which is where the term embryonal tumour comes from.  It normally occurs in childhood. Around 80 per cent of tumours appear in children under five 

What are wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are the third and last set of molars that people develop in their early teens or late twenties. There may be up to four wisdom teeth that grow on both the bottom and top at the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth often affect other teeth when growing as the mouth becomes crowded and causes severe pain. When this occurs the only curr

What is withdrawal syndrome? Withdrawal syndrome is a set of both physical and mental reactions suffered by a person addicted to a substance when they quit. Symptoms vary according to the substance and the length of time the patient has been taking it.  Tobacco withdrawal syndrome affects 85% of smokers who decide to quit smoking, since nicotine is one of the substances that gener

What are women's health problems?Most of the same health issues that affect men, women can also experience. Additionally, however, there are certain issues that exclusively affect women. During their lifetime, women's reproductive systems go through extreme changes, that can greatly impact their health and increase their risk of developing or experiencing certain health concerns at different stage