Encyclopedia Health of Diseases and Disorders

Definition Burns are injuries caused to the skin or underlying tissues by direct heat or extreme cold; scalds are burns caused by hot liquids or gases (such as steam). The severity of burns is measured in two ways: by the depth of the burn (see sidebar) and by the size of the affected area. Doctors use the “ (TBSA) has been burned. In adults, the head and neck together count as 9 percent of the body; each arm also counts as 9 percent. The front of the trunk, the back, and each leg are considered to each represent 18 percent of the TBSA. Doctors count only second- and third-degree burns in estimating the affected areas of the body. Thermal burns (and scalds) are defined as burns caused directly by heat or by chemical reactions that release heat. They are divided into several categories according to the specific cause: rule of nines ” to evaluate how much of a person ’ s total body surface area • fire. Flame burns may take the form of a sudden flash burn produced by a flammable liquid ...

Bulimia is defined as an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, vigorous exercise, or fasting. Description The (DSM-IV), the reference that doctors use to diagnose mental illness, specifies that a person must have an eating binge and try to compensate for it on average twice a week for three months to meet the diagnostic criteria for bulimia. A binge is an episode in which someone consumes a larger amount of food within a limited period of time than most people would eat in similar circumstances. Most bulimics report feelings of loss of control associated with bingeing. A second criterion of bulimia is excessive concern with one There are two subtypes of bulimia, purging and nonpurging, according to the methods used by the patient to prevent gaining weight after a binge. People who have the purging subtype use vomiting, laxatives, enemas, or diuretics to keep from gaining weight; in the nonpurg...

Definition Bronchitis is a condition in which the tissues lining the bronchi two main divisions of the airway that lead into the right and left lungs a temporary illness that clears up in three weeks or less; or chronic, a recurrent condition in which the person suffers coughing attacks for at least three months over two successive years. Chronic bronchitis is grouped together with emphysema as a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). — the — become inflamed. Doctors define bronchitis as either acute, Description Bronchitis can be caused by a wide range of disease organisms and other irritants that inflame the tissues of the bronchi, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, smoking, chemical pollutants, or dust particles. Acute bronchitis is caused most often by viruses, while chronic bronchitis is caused most often by smoking. In acute bronchitis, the tissues lining the bronchi become swollen and irritated by the disease organism or chemical. The air passages slowly be...

Description Breast cancer is one of the most feared cancers for women, not only because it is potentially fatal but also because it can lead to disfigurement and worries about the loss of femininity. It can also develop for a long time before obvious symptoms appear. One reason why periodic screening for changes in breast tissue is so important for women over the age of twenty is that breast cancer is highly treatable when caught early. In the early stages of breast cancer, a woman (or man) may not notice any differences in the size and shape of the breasts. The most noticeable symptom of breast cancer is a lump or thickened area in the breast. Not all such lumps are cancerous; many women notice that the texture of their breasts changes during pregnancy or their menstrual periods. Lumps in the breast can also be caused by noncancerous cysts. Nonetheless, a woman (or man) who notices a lump in the breast should tell their doctor. Demographics Breast cancer is one of the most common can...