Category: S

Infections that are caused by viruses and characterized by a lengthy period of incubation or a prolonged duration of illness. Slow virus diseases can be caused by a conventional virus, such as a retrovirus, and by infectious agents that cause degenerative brain disease. The illnesses they cause develop slowly and tend to progress relentlessly. Their…

A temporary inability to speak or move while falling asleep or waking. Sleep paralysis is a classic characteristic of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden, irresistible collapses into sleep). Brief, temporary inability to move or speak when falling asleep or awakening. A peculiar occurrence during sleep, characterized by a temporary…

A condition caused by lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is very common in the United States, according to research findings. Most American adults sleep only about 6 hours per night, even though most need 8 or more hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation promotes excessive sleepiness during the day and interferes with daily activities, including driving.…

A procedure in which a small sample of skin is removed for examination after a local anesthetic is applied. A skin biopsy may be performed to determine whether a growth is benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) or to evaluate a skin rash. The extraction of a skin sample for lab testing to determine the…

A section of skin and tissue, including muscle, that is surgically moved to cover another area in which the skin and tissue have been damaged.  

The medical term for dwarfism. A group of genetic disorders characterized by abnormal tissue development involving the bones. Most skeletal dysplasias are associated with short stature, though the causes and symptoms vary among individual disorders.  

An antigas drug; an antiflatulent. Simethicone is used to relieve painful symptoms associated with the presence of too much gas in the stomach and intestines. It works by enabling bubbles of gas in the stomach and intestines to come together, thus permitting easier passage of gas. Gas can occur for several reasons, including swallowing air,…

A chronic, painful condition that most commonly affects the arm or leg, but may develop in any part of the body. Shoulder-hand syndrome is most commonly seen in people who have had a stroke. Treatment includes reducing pain with medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, and providing the person with active range-of-motion exercises. Pain and rigidity…

A severe sports injury caused by a strong force powerful enough to tear the ligaments that connect the bones of the shoulder joint. Shoulder separation most commonly occurs in young adults who are involved in contact sports such as football, hockey, and soccer. The injury may also occur as a result of a hard fall…

Papules (small superficial bumps on the skin) or pustules (small pus-filled blisters) that commonly occur in the beard, on the legs, or in the groin; also known as pseudofolliculitis.  Shave bumps are a common skin condition in the beard area of black men and others who have curly hair. Shave bumps often result as a…