Medical dictionary: find a term and see where it appears

A

Adrenaline (epinephrine)

A catecholamine that stimulates α- and β-adrenergic receptors. The first-line drug in anaphylaxis, also used in resuscitation.

Allopurinol

A xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces uric acid production. It is used long term in gout and to prevent urate nephropathy.

Alport syndrome

An inherited disease of type IV collagen (COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5 genes), most often X-linked. It causes hematuria that progresses to proteinuria and kidney failure, sensorineural hearing loss and eye changes (anterior lenticonus).

Amiodarone

A class III antiarrhythmic that prolongs the action potential and the refractory period. It contains iodine, so it can disturb thyroid function; it can also damage the lungs and liver.

Amlodipine

A dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that dilates arteries. Ankle edema is a common side effect.

Amoxicillin

A β-lactam antibiotic from the aminopenicillin group. It is bactericidal and inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Anaphylaxis

A severe, generalized hypersensitivity reaction with rapid onset that threatens life through airway, breathing or circulatory problems. The first-line drug is intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine).

Anemia

Hemoglobin below the normal range for age and sex; by WHO criteria, in adults below 13 g/dL in men and below 12 g/dL in non-pregnant women.

Apgar score

An assessment of a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes of life (sometimes also at 10) based on five signs: heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex irritability and skin color. Each sign scores 0–2 points, up to 10 in total.

Ascites

Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The most common cause is cirrhosis with portal hypertension; others include cancer, heart failure and peritoneal tuberculosis.

Atopic dermatitis

A chronic, relapsing, itchy inflammatory skin disease with an impaired skin barrier. In infants it affects the face, scalp and extensor surfaces and spares the diaper area; in older children it involves the flexures.

Atopy

A genetic tendency to produce specific IgE against common allergens and to develop type I hypersensitivity diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma.

Atrial fibrillation

The most common sustained arrhythmia: chaotic electrical activity of the atria with an irregular ventricular rhythm. The ECG shows no P waves and irregular RR intervals. It raises the risk of stroke because thrombi form in the left atrial appendage.

B

Bowel obstruction

Failure of intestinal contents to pass through the bowel, either mechanical (e.g., adhesions, hernia, tumor) or paralytic. It presents with colicky abdominal pain, distension, vomiting and absolute constipation.

C

Cardiac tamponade

Compression of the heart by fluid or blood in the pericardial sac, which impairs ventricular filling. Classic signs are Beck’s triad (hypotension, distended neck veins, muffled heart sounds) and pulsus paradoxus.

Cardiomyopathy

A disease of the heart muscle with abnormal structure and function that is not explained by coronary artery disease, hypertension, valve disease or congenital heart disease. The main types are dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive.

Carotenemia

Yellow-orange skin, especially on the palms and soles, after eating large amounts of beta-carotene (carrots, pumpkin). Unlike in jaundice, the sclerae stay white. It is harmless and resolves after a change in diet.

Ceftriaxone

A third-generation cephalosporin given intravenously or intramuscularly once daily thanks to its long half-life.

Celiac disease

An autoimmune disease of the small intestine triggered by gluten in genetically predisposed people (HLA-DQ2/DQ8). It causes villous atrophy and malabsorption; screening uses antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG IgA).

Centor (McIsaac) score

A points score for the probability of streptococcal pharyngitis: fever above 38°C, no cough, tender enlarged anterior cervical nodes, tonsillar exudate or swelling, age 3–14 years (+1), age 45 or older (−1). From 2 points, a rapid antigen test or throat culture is done.

Cerebral palsy

A group of permanent, non-progressive disorders of movement and posture caused by damage to the developing brain in the fetal, perinatal or early infant period.

Chronic urticaria

Wheals, angioedema or both that persist or recur for more than 6 weeks. It is classified as spontaneous or inducible (e.g., dermographism, cold or cholinergic urticaria). Treatment: non-sedating antihistamines, up to four times the standard dose if needed.

Cirrhosis

The end stage of chronic liver disease: fibrosis with regenerative nodules that destroy the normal liver architecture. It leads to portal hypertension and liver failure.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: persistent, usually progressive airflow limitation, most often caused by smoking. Spirometry confirms the diagnosis (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC below 0.7).

Cushing syndrome

Signs of chronic glucocorticoid excess: central obesity, a round face, purple striae, hypertension, hyperglycemia and osteoporosis. The most common cause is glucocorticoid treatment.

Cystic fibrosis

An autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. Thick secretions lead to recurrent lung infections and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; sweat chloride is raised.

D

Dapoxetine

A short-acting SSRI licensed for on-demand treatment of premature ejaculation.

Darier sign

Redness and a wheal that appear after a skin lesion is rubbed, typical of cutaneous mastocytosis (urticaria pigmentosa).

Delirium

An acute, usually transient disturbance of consciousness and attention that fluctuates during the day, with disordered thinking and perception. It usually has a physical cause, e.g., infection, drugs or electrolyte disturbances.

Diabetes insipidus

Polyuria with large volumes of dilute, low-osmolality urine caused by vasopressin deficiency (central form) or renal resistance to vasopressin (nephrogenic form). Thirst increases secondarily.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

An acute complication of diabetes caused by insulin deficiency: hyperglycemia, ketones in the blood and a high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Dehydration, vomiting, abdominal pain and deep Kussmaul breathing are typical.

Diazepam

A benzodiazepine with anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, hypnotic and muscle-relaxant effects. It is given rectally to stop seizures in children.

DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)

Widespread activation of coagulation that uses up platelets and clotting factors. It causes both small-vessel thrombosis and bleeding; it complicates sepsis, trauma and obstetric emergencies, among others.

Doxycycline

A bacteriostatic antibiotic from the tetracycline group. It is deposited in teeth and bones, so its use is restricted in children and in pregnancy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

An X-linked muscle disease caused by absent dystrophin. It affects boys; from preschool age there is pelvic girdle weakness, a positive Gowers sign, calf pseudohypertrophy and very high creatine kinase. Death in young adulthood is due to respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy.

E

Eclampsia

Tonic-clonic seizures in a woman with preeclampsia that no other cause explains. Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice.

eGFR

Estimated glomerular filtration rate, calculated with an equation (e.g., CKD-EPI) from serum creatinine, age and sex. The main measure of kidney function, expressed in mL/min/1.73 m².

Endometriosis

Endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, e.g., on the ovaries and peritoneum. It causes painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse and infertility.

Erectile dysfunction

Persistent or recurrent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse. It often coexists with vascular disease, diabetes and the effects of some drugs.

F

Febrile seizures

Seizures with fever in a child aged about 6 months to 5 years, without a central nervous system infection. Simple febrile seizures are generalized, last less than 15 minutes and do not recur within 24 hours. The prognosis is good.

Furosemide

A loop diuretic that inhibits the Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ cotransporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. It can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia and dehydration.

G

Galactosemia

An inherited autosomal recessive disorder of galactose metabolism (classically GALT deficiency). Once milk feeding starts, vomiting, jaundice, liver damage, cataracts and a risk of E. coli sepsis appear. Treatment: remove lactose immediately.

Gout

A disease caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and tissues when uric acid is chronically raised. A typical attack is a sudden, very painful arthritis, most often of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Gowers sign

Getting up from the floor by rolling onto the front, kneeling on all fours and “climbing up” the thighs with the hands. It shows weakness of the pelvic girdle muscles, typically in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

H

HELLP syndrome

A severe complication of pregnancy, usually linked to preeclampsia: hemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and a low platelet count (LP).

Hemolysis

Destruction of red blood cells. Tests show raised LDH, indirect bilirubin and reticulocyte count, and low haptoglobin.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)

A thrombotic microangiopathy with a triad of hemolytic anemia with schistocytes, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney injury. In children it usually follows bloody diarrhea caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (e.g., O157:H7).

Hepatic encephalopathy

Brain dysfunction, from subtle attention deficits to coma, caused by liver failure or portosystemic shunting, partly through accumulation of ammonia. Asterixis (flapping tremor) is a typical sign.

Hirschsprung disease

Congenital absence of ganglion cells in the distal large bowel. Delayed passage of meconium, constipation and abdominal distension. A rectal suction biopsy confirms the diagnosis.

Hyperkalemia

Serum potassium above 5.0 mmol/L. It can trigger dangerous arrhythmias; the ECG shows tall, peaked T waves and, at higher levels, widening of the QRS complex.

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle in an infant aged 2–8 weeks, more often in boys. Projectile non-bilious vomiting after feeds, hunger and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis with hypokalemia. Ultrasound confirms the diagnosis.

Hypoglycemia

Blood glucose below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). Typical symptoms are tremor, sweating, palpitations and hunger; severe hypoglycemia causes impaired consciousness and seizures.

Hypokalemia

Serum potassium below 3.5 mmol/L. It can cause muscle weakness, constipation and cardiac arrhythmias; ECG changes include flattened T waves and U waves.

Hyponatremia

Serum sodium below 135 mmol/L. Severe or rapidly developing hyponatremia causes neurological symptoms (confusion, seizures). Correcting it too quickly risks osmotic demyelination.

Hypsarrhythmia

A chaotic, high-amplitude EEG pattern with multifocal discharges, typical of West syndrome.

I

IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura)

The most common small-vessel vasculitis in children, with IgA deposits. Palpable purpura on the legs and buttocks, joint pain, abdominal pain and kidney involvement. The platelet count is normal.

M

Meningeal signs

Signs of meningeal irritation: neck stiffness, Kernig sign and Brudzinski signs, and in young children also the tripod (Amoss) sign. They are often absent in infants even with meningitis.

Menopause

A woman’s final menstrual period, diagnosed in retrospect after 12 months without bleeding. It occurs at an average age of about 51.

Metformin

A biguanide antidiabetic drug, the first choice in type 2 diabetes. It reduces glucose production in the liver and does not cause hypoglycemia on its own; lactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication.

Metronidazole

A nitroimidazole active against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa (Trichomonas, Giardia, amoebae). With alcohol it can cause a disulfiram-like reaction.

Miscarriage

Spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable: the embryo or fetus is expelled or dies before 20–22 weeks, depending on the national definition (22 weeks in Poland, 20 weeks in the USA).

N

Naloxone

An opioid receptor antagonist, the antidote for opioid overdose. It acts for a shorter time than many opioids, so respiratory depression can return.

Nephritic syndrome

Signs of glomerular inflammation: hematuria (often with red cell casts), moderate proteinuria, hypertension, edema and a fall in the glomerular filtration rate.

Nephronophthisis

An autosomal recessive renal ciliopathy with interstitial fibrosis and cysts at the corticomedullary junction. It presents with polyuria, polydipsia, anemia and growth delay, and is a common genetic cause of end-stage kidney disease in children.

Nephrotic syndrome

Proteinuria above 3.5 g/day (in adults) with hypoalbuminemia and edema, usually also with hyperlipidemia. It increases the risk of thrombosis and infection.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

A rare, dangerous complication of antipsychotic treatment: fever, muscle rigidity, altered consciousness, autonomic instability and a marked rise in creatine kinase (CK).

O

Oligohydramnios

Too little amniotic fluid. Causes include fetal kidney or urinary tract anomalies, preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes and placental insufficiency.

P

Paracetamol (acetaminophen)

An analgesic and antipyretic with no significant anti-inflammatory effect. Overdose damages the liver; the antidote is N-acetylcysteine.

Paroxetine

An SSRI antidepressant, also used in anxiety disorders.

Perthes disease

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children, usually boys aged 4–8 years. Limping and hip pain, often referred to the knee; limited abduction and internal rotation of the hip.

Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V)

An oral natural penicillin (penicillin V), the drug of choice in streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis.

Phenylketonuria

An inherited autosomal recessive deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Untreated, it leads to intellectual disability. It is detected by newborn screening and treated with a phenylalanine-restricted diet.

Pheochromocytoma

A catecholamine-secreting tumor, most often of the adrenal medulla. Paroxysms of hypertension with headache, sweating and palpitations are typical; diagnosis uses plasma or urine metanephrines.

Placenta previa

A placenta implanted in the lower uterine segment that partly or completely covers the internal cervical os. It typically causes painless vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy.

Pneumothorax

Air in the pleural cavity that makes the lung collapse. A tension pneumothorax grows with each breath, shifts the mediastinum and needs immediate decompression.

Polyhydramnios

Too much amniotic fluid. Common causes are maternal diabetes, fetal anomalies that impair swallowing (e.g., esophageal atresia) and multiple pregnancy.

Potter sequence

The result of anhydramnios or severe oligohydramnios, e.g., with bilateral renal agenesis. It includes pulmonary hypoplasia, a characteristic face and limb deformities; death is usually due to respiratory failure.

Prednisone

A glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects; a prodrug converted in the liver to prednisolone.

Preeclampsia

Hypertension that appears after 20 weeks of pregnancy together with proteinuria or signs of organ damage (e.g., kidney or liver involvement, thrombocytopenia or neurological symptoms).

Premature ejaculation

Ejaculation that always or repeatedly occurs very soon after penetration (usually within about a minute) or before it, against the man’s wishes, and causes distress to him or the couple.

Primary hyperaldosteronism

Excess aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands (adenoma or hyperplasia) that does not depend on renin. It causes hypertension, often with hypokalemia, and low renin activity.

Pulmonary embolism

Blockage of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches, usually by a thrombus from the deep veins of the legs. It presents with sudden dyspnea, chest pain and tachycardia, and in severe cases with shock.

R

Rheumatic fever

A late, non-suppurative complication of group A streptococcal infection caused by molecular mimicry. It is diagnosed with the Jones criteria, including carditis, migratory polyarthritis, chorea, erythema marginatum and subcutaneous nodules.

Rickets

Defective mineralization of growing bone and growth-plate cartilage, most often due to vitamin D deficiency. Signs: softening of the skull bones (craniotabes), rachitic rosary, widened wrists, bow legs or knock knees, and raised alkaline phosphatase.

S

Sarcoidosis

A disease of unknown cause in which non-caseating granulomas form in organs. It most often involves the hilar lymph nodes and the lungs.

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. In septic shock, vasopressors are needed despite adequate fluids and serum lactate is above 2 mmol/L.

Sertraline

An antidepressant from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) group.

Shock

A state in which the circulation fails to deliver enough oxygen to the tissues, leading to cellular hypoxia. Types: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (e.g., septic, anaphylactic) and obstructive.

Spironolactone

A potassium-sparing diuretic and mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) receptor antagonist. It can cause hyperkalemia and gynecomastia.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

An autoimmune multisystem disease with antinuclear antibodies (ANA, including anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm). It can cause a facial rash, arthritis, kidney involvement and low blood counts; it mostly affects young women.

T

Tanner stages

A five-stage scale of pubertal development: breasts in girls, genitals in boys and pubic hair in both sexes. It helps to recognize precocious or delayed puberty.

Torsade de pointes

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in which the QRS complexes seem to twist around the baseline. It occurs with a prolonged QT interval and is treated with intravenous magnesium sulfate.

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and spread by airborne droplets; it most often affects the lungs. It is treated with several drugs at once for at least 6 months.

V

Ventricular fibrillation

Chaotic electrical activity of the ventricles with no effective cardiac output, one of the mechanisms of cardiac arrest. It needs immediate defibrillation.

Ventricular tachycardia

A rhythm arising in the ventricles at a rate of at least 100/min, with wide QRS complexes on the ECG. It can cause hemodynamic instability and degenerate into ventricular fibrillation.

Vesicoureteral reflux

Backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureter and kidney. It is diagnosed with voiding cystourethrography or contrast voiding ultrasonography and graded I–V. Grades I–III are usually managed conservatively; reflux predisposes to recurrent infections and renal scarring.

W

West syndrome

An infantile epileptic encephalopathy (peak at 3–7 months) with a triad of clustered infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia on EEG and developmental arrest or regression. First-line treatment: ACTH or prednisolone, and vigabatrin.