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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Benign sleep myoclonus
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Benign sleep myoclonusA distinctive disorder of sleep in infancy characterized by rhythmic myoclonic jerks (sudden muscle contractions) which occur when the child is asleep and which stop when the child is awakened. Sleep myoclonus usually disappears after a few weeks, in most cases by 3 months of age, as the sleep patterns mature. Benign sleep myoclonus may be mistaken for epilepsy.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Infancy
Babyhood; the period of development between birth and the beginning of early childhood between the ages of two and three years.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Myoclonus
Jerking, involuntary movements of the arms and legs. May occur normally during sleep.
Benign
Non-malignant; not life-threatening.
Epilepsy
Sudden and recurrent disturbances in mental function, state of consciousness, sensory activity, or movements of the body, caused by paroxysmal malfunction of cerebral nerve cells. Epilepsy includes generalized convulsions in which there is sudden unconsciousness with falling and shaking of limbs, momentary lapses of awareness, and local movements and sensations in parts of the body, as well as other types of activity that may include bizarre automatic behaviour, strange memories, illusory and hallucinatory experiences, and changes in mood.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Benicar
Benicar is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) legal in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): olmesartan medoxomil.
Benicar hct
Benicar hct is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) legal in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrochlorothiazide; olmesartan medoxomil.
Benign
Non-malignant; not life-threatening.
Benign familial tremor
An inherited disorder that causes a slow tremor in the hands, head and voice. It may affect only one side of the body, be worse when moving than when resting and worsen with age.
Benign hematology
The study and treatment of blood, blood-forming tissues, and blood-related diseases that are not life-threatening.
Benign intracranial hypertension
Increased pressure within the brain in the absence of a tumor. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, pulsating intracranial noises, singing in the ears, double vision, loss of visual accuracy, and even blindness. It is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. The cause is usually not known. The condition is associated sometimes with the use of tetracycline, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, phenytoin, lithium, and amiodarone, and the overuse of vitamin A. Diagnosis is by brain imaging and lumbar puncture. Drugs to reduce cerebrospinal fluid production or hyperosmotic drugs may be used to reduce fluid buildup. Excess cerebrospinal fluid may be removed by repeated spinal taps, shunting or a type of surgery called optic nerve sheath fenestration that allows the excess fluid to escape. Steroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling of brain tissue. Benign intracranial hypertension is also called pseudotumor cerebri.
Benign lymphoreticulosis
Cat scratch disease, a mild flu-like infection, with swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) and mild fever of short duration, due to cat scratches, especially from kittens. There is usually a little bump (a papule) which may be pus-filled (a pustule) at the site of the scratch. The infection is self-limited and usually goes away by itself in a few weeks. It can also be treated with antibiotics, but it can cause a severe inflammation called bacillary angiomatosis in patients with weakened immune systems. A cat carrying the microbe does not show symptoms and it is not necessary to get rid of it. If someone in the household is at high risk, a test to detect the infection can be done and the cat can be treated. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Rochalimaea henselae, eventually reclassified as Bartonella henselae, named for Diane Hensel, a microbiologist. The disease has also been called regional lymphadenitis.
Benign melanoma
See: Melanoma, benign.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
A balance disorder that results in the sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Abbreviated BPH. A noncancerous prostate problem in which the normal elements of the prostate gland grow in size and number. Their sheer bulk may compress the urethra, which courses through the center of the prostate, impeding the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. This leads to urine retention and the need for frequent urination. If BPH is severe, complete blockage can occur.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
An enlargement of the prostate caused by disease or inflammation. It is not cancer, but its symptoms are often similar to those of prostate cancer.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
Enlargement or overgrowth of the prostate gland as a result of an increase in the number of its constituent cells.
Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis
Recurring meningitis without identifiable cause that leaves no residual damage to the nervous system. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is also called Mollaret meningitis.
Benign tumor
An abnormal growth that is not cancer and does not spread to other areas of the body.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Benign lymphoreticulosis
Cat scratch disease, a mild flu-like infection, with swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) and mild fever of short duration, due to cat scratches, especially from kittens. There is usually a little bump (a papule) which may be pus-filled (a pustule) at the site of the scratch. The infection is self-limited and usually goes away by itself in a few weeks. It can also be treated with antibiotics, but it can cause a severe inflammation called bacillary angiomatosis in patients with weakened immune systems. A cat carrying the microbe does not show symptoms and it is not necessary to get rid of it. If someone in the household is at high risk, a test to detect the infection can be done and the cat can be treated. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Rochalimaea henselae, eventually reclassified as Bartonella henselae, named for Diane Hensel, a microbiologist. The disease has also been called regional lymphadenitis.
Benign melanoma
See: Melanoma, benign.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
A balance disorder that results in the sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Abbreviated BPH. A noncancerous prostate problem in which the normal elements of the prostate gland grow in size and number. Their sheer bulk may compress the urethra, which courses through the center of the prostate, impeding the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. This leads to urine retention and the need for frequent urination. If BPH is severe, complete blockage can occur.
Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis
Recurring meningitis without identifiable cause that leaves no residual damage to the nervous system. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is also called Mollaret meningitis.
Benign sleep myoclonus
Benjamin Spock
See: Spock, Benjamin.
Benzene
A sweet smelling, highly toxic hydrocarbon. Long-term exposure to benzene is known to cause anemia and leukemia. The anemia associated with benzene exposure is termed aplastic anemia. The types of leukemia associated with benzene exposure are adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is thought that benzene induces DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells that give rise to leukemic clones of cells.
Benzidine
A compound used mainly for dyeing textiles and paper that is a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Benzidine was one of the first chemicals for which an association of occupational exposure and increased incidence of urinary bladder cancer in humans was reported.
Benzo(a)pyrene
Abbreviated B(a)P. A member of a class of compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). B(a)P, along with other PAHs, is suspected of causing cancer in humans.
Benzodiazepines
A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the treatment of anxiety. Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Infancy
Babyhood; the period of development between birth and the beginning of early childhood between the ages of two and three years.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Myoclonus
Jerking, involuntary movements of the arms and legs. May occur normally during sleep.
Benign
Non-malignant; not life-threatening.
Epilepsy
Sudden and recurrent disturbances in mental function, state of consciousness, sensory activity, or movements of the body, caused by paroxysmal malfunction of cerebral nerve cells. Epilepsy includes generalized convulsions in which there is sudden unconsciousness with falling and shaking of limbs, momentary lapses of awareness, and local movements and sensations in parts of the body, as well as other types of activity that may include bizarre automatic behaviour, strange memories, illusory and hallucinatory experiences, and changes in mood.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Benicar
Benicar is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) legal in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): olmesartan medoxomil.
Benicar hct
Benicar hct is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) legal in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): hydrochlorothiazide; olmesartan medoxomil.
Benign
Non-malignant; not life-threatening.
Benign familial tremor
An inherited disorder that causes a slow tremor in the hands, head and voice. It may affect only one side of the body, be worse when moving than when resting and worsen with age.
Benign hematology
The study and treatment of blood, blood-forming tissues, and blood-related diseases that are not life-threatening.
Benign intracranial hypertension
Increased pressure within the brain in the absence of a tumor. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, pulsating intracranial noises, singing in the ears, double vision, loss of visual accuracy, and even blindness. It is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. The cause is usually not known. The condition is associated sometimes with the use of tetracycline, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, phenytoin, lithium, and amiodarone, and the overuse of vitamin A. Diagnosis is by brain imaging and lumbar puncture. Drugs to reduce cerebrospinal fluid production or hyperosmotic drugs may be used to reduce fluid buildup. Excess cerebrospinal fluid may be removed by repeated spinal taps, shunting or a type of surgery called optic nerve sheath fenestration that allows the excess fluid to escape. Steroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling of brain tissue. Benign intracranial hypertension is also called pseudotumor cerebri.
Benign lymphoreticulosis
Cat scratch disease, a mild flu-like infection, with swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) and mild fever of short duration, due to cat scratches, especially from kittens. There is usually a little bump (a papule) which may be pus-filled (a pustule) at the site of the scratch. The infection is self-limited and usually goes away by itself in a few weeks. It can also be treated with antibiotics, but it can cause a severe inflammation called bacillary angiomatosis in patients with weakened immune systems. A cat carrying the microbe does not show symptoms and it is not necessary to get rid of it. If someone in the household is at high risk, a test to detect the infection can be done and the cat can be treated. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Rochalimaea henselae, eventually reclassified as Bartonella henselae, named for Diane Hensel, a microbiologist. The disease has also been called regional lymphadenitis.
Benign melanoma
See: Melanoma, benign.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
A balance disorder that results in the sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Abbreviated BPH. A noncancerous prostate problem in which the normal elements of the prostate gland grow in size and number. Their sheer bulk may compress the urethra, which courses through the center of the prostate, impeding the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. This leads to urine retention and the need for frequent urination. If BPH is severe, complete blockage can occur.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
An enlargement of the prostate caused by disease or inflammation. It is not cancer, but its symptoms are often similar to those of prostate cancer.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
Enlargement or overgrowth of the prostate gland as a result of an increase in the number of its constituent cells.
Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis
Recurring meningitis without identifiable cause that leaves no residual damage to the nervous system. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is also called Mollaret meningitis.
Benign tumor
An abnormal growth that is not cancer and does not spread to other areas of the body.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Benign lymphoreticulosis
Cat scratch disease, a mild flu-like infection, with swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) and mild fever of short duration, due to cat scratches, especially from kittens. There is usually a little bump (a papule) which may be pus-filled (a pustule) at the site of the scratch. The infection is self-limited and usually goes away by itself in a few weeks. It can also be treated with antibiotics, but it can cause a severe inflammation called bacillary angiomatosis in patients with weakened immune systems. A cat carrying the microbe does not show symptoms and it is not necessary to get rid of it. If someone in the household is at high risk, a test to detect the infection can be done and the cat can be treated. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Rochalimaea henselae, eventually reclassified as Bartonella henselae, named for Diane Hensel, a microbiologist. The disease has also been called regional lymphadenitis.
Benign melanoma
See: Melanoma, benign.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
A balance disorder that results in the sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Abbreviated BPH. A noncancerous prostate problem in which the normal elements of the prostate gland grow in size and number. Their sheer bulk may compress the urethra, which courses through the center of the prostate, impeding the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. This leads to urine retention and the need for frequent urination. If BPH is severe, complete blockage can occur.
Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis
Recurring meningitis without identifiable cause that leaves no residual damage to the nervous system. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is also called Mollaret meningitis.
Benign sleep myoclonus
Benjamin Spock
See: Spock, Benjamin.
Benzene
A sweet smelling, highly toxic hydrocarbon. Long-term exposure to benzene is known to cause anemia and leukemia. The anemia associated with benzene exposure is termed aplastic anemia. The types of leukemia associated with benzene exposure are adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is thought that benzene induces DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells that give rise to leukemic clones of cells.
Benzidine
A compound used mainly for dyeing textiles and paper that is a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Benzidine was one of the first chemicals for which an association of occupational exposure and increased incidence of urinary bladder cancer in humans was reported.
Benzo(a)pyrene
Abbreviated B(a)P. A member of a class of compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). B(a)P, along with other PAHs, is suspected of causing cancer in humans.
Benzodiazepines
A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the treatment of anxiety. Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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