Achard-Thiers syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs primarily in postmenopausal women and is characterized by type 2 (insulin-resistant) diabetes mellitus and signs of androgen excess. The exact cause of this syndrome is unknown....

Allergic granulomatosis also known as Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss Syndro...

Allergic granulomatosis and angiitis or Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a condition that affects the sm...

Like many people with chronic ailments, sufferers of chronic arthritis are potentially vulnerable to proponents of heavily marketed "cure-all" treatments. These "quick fix" treatments are promoted as having great benefits, but in reality have no r...

Bile duct cancer, also called cholangiocarcinoma, is when unusual cells grow out of control inside your bile ducts. Those are thin tubes about 4 to 5 inches long that move a fluid called bile from your liver to your gallbladder and small intestine...

Turcot syndrome is a rare inherited disorder characterized by the association of benign growths (adenomatous polyps) in the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract with tumors of the central nervous system. Symptoms associated with polyp forma...

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by deficiency of certain enzymes (branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex) required to breakdown (metabolize) specific amino acids in the body. Because these am...

Carcinoid syndrome is a disease consisting of a combination of symptoms, physical manifestations, and abnormal laboratory findings. Carcinoid syndrome is seen in individuals who have an underlying carcinoid tumour with spread to the liver. Carcino...

Collagenous colitis is a rare digestive disorder that primarily affects females and typically becomes apparent during middle age. The disorder is characterized by inflammatory changes of the mucous membranes (mucosa) of the colon (colitis) and abn...

Ulcerative colitis (UL-sur-uh-tiv koe-LIE-tis) is an inflammatory bowel disease ...

Ulcerative colitis (UL-sur-uh-tiv koe-LIE-tis) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. ...

COPD is a chronic lung disease that results in obstructed airflow from the lungs. Asthmatics have difficulty breathing, cough, cough up mucus (sputum), and wheeze. It is most commonly caused by long-term exposure to irritating particles or gases, ...

COPD is a long-term lung disease that causes blocked airflow from the lungs. People who have asthma have trouble breathing, cough, cough up mucus (sputum), and wheeze. It is most often caused by exposure to irritating particles or gases over a long p...

Crohn's disease facts Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Crohn's disease can cause ulcers in the small intestine, colon, or both. ...

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of cryoglobulins in the blood. Cryoglobulins are abnormal proteins that thicken and clump together at cold temperatures, usually below 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (the average hum...

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites, Cryptosporidium, that can live in the intestine of humans and animals and is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal. Both the disease and the parasite are commo...

Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis) facts Cyclospora is a small parasitic organism that is passed to humans when they ingest food contaminated with feces from an infected person. It is most common in tropical countries, ...

Degos disease is an extremely rare disorder in which small and medium sized arteries become blocked (occlusive arteriopathy), restricting the flow of blood to affected areas. Degos disease usually causes characteristic skin lesions that may last f...

Degos disease is an extremely rare disorder in which small and medium sized arteries become blocked (occlusive arteriopathy), restricting the flow of blood to affected areas. Degos disease usually causes characteristic skin lesions that may last f...

Diabetes facts Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose. Absence or insufficient production of ...

What is the difference between diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus Diabetes insipidus should not be confused with diabetes mellitus (DM), which results from insulin deficiency or resistance leading to high blood glucose, also called b...

What is the difference between diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus Diabetes insipidus should not be confused with diabetes mellitus (DM), which results from insulin deficiency or resistance leading to high blood glucose, also called b...

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare kidney disorder that may be inherited or acquired. NDI is not related to the more common diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. NDI is a distin...

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare kidney disorder that may be inherited or acquired. NDI is not related to the more common diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. NDI is a distin...

Type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (g...

Achard-Thiers syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs primarily in postmenopausal women and is characterized by type 2 (insulin-resistant) diabetes mellitus and signs of androgen excess. The exact cause of this syndrome is unknown....

Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimi...

Erythema nodosum is a type of skin inflammation that is located in a certain portion of the fatty layer of skin. Erythema nodosum (also called EN) results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the k...

Achalasia is a rare disorder of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. It is characterized by enlargement of the esophagus, impaired ability to push food down toward the stomach (peristalsis), and failure of the ...

What is the esophagus? The esophagus is a muscular tube in the chest. It's about 10 inches (25 centimeters) long. This organ is part of the digestive tract. Food moves from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. Th...

Cryptococcosis is caused by a fungus known as Cryptococcosis neoformans. The infection may be spread to humans through contact with pigeon droppings or unwashed raw fruit. Contact with an infected individual may also spread the infection. Individu...

Extrinsic Allergic Pneumonia, also known as Allergic Interstitial Pneumonitis and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, is an inflammatory syndrome that affects the lungs. Extrinsic: the origin is an external matter - an antigen. Allergic: The cau...

Fibrosing Alveolitis, also known as Pulmonary Fibrosis, is a lung condition that affects the tissues that support the air sacs. As a result, it is more difficult for them to absorb the necessary oxygen for respiration. The lung tissues thicken and...

Though ulcers often heal on their own, you shouldn't ignore their warning signs. If not properly treated, ulcers can lead to serious health problems, including: Bleeding Perforation (a hole through the wall of the stomach)...

Gastroparesis facts Gastroparesis is a disease of the muscles of the stomach or the nerves controlling the muscles that causes the muscles to stop working. Gastroparesis results in inadequate grinding of food by the stomac...

Turcot syndrome is a rare inherited disorder characterized by the association of benign growths (adenomatous polyps) in the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract with tumors of the central nervous system. Symptoms associated with polyp forma...

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) facts Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation in the stomach and is a common cause of ulcers worldwide H. pylori causes chronic inflammation (gastriti...

A hiccup is an involuntary spasmodic contraction of the muscle at the base of the lungs (diaphragm) followed by the rapid closure of the vocal cords. Usually, hiccups last for a few hours or, occasionally, a day or two. However, chronic hiccups ar...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells (T cells), which help the body fight off infections. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease known as Acquired Immunodeficiency S...

IBS triggers and prevention facts Foods and drinks that dehydrate the body can trigger constipation in IBS patients. Fatty foods can trigger diarrhea in people with IBS; others may also do so but specific food triggers of di...

The Course of Kidney Disease Diabetic kidney disease takes many years to develop. In some people, the filtering function of the kidneys is actually higher than normal in the first few years of their diabetes. Over several years, pe...

Drug-induced liver diseases are diseases of the liver that are caused by physician-prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, hormones, herbs, illicit ("recreational") drugs, and environmental toxins. What is the liver...

Degos disease is an extremely rare disorder in which small and medium sized arteries become blocked (occlusive arteriopathy), restricting the flow of blood to affected areas. Degos disease usually causes characteristic skin lesions that may last f...

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the membrane that covers and protects various internal organs of the body (mesothelium). The mesothelium is composed of two layers of specialized cells known as mesothelial cells. One layer direct...

Necrotizing Sarcoid Granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare granulomatous illness that primarily affects the lungs and manifests as nodular masses of confluent sarcoid-like granulomas with severe necrosis and vasculitis. It was first described in 1973, as ...

Renal cell carcinoma is a form of kidney cancer. Some patients with renal cell carcinoma do not have symptoms (asymptomatic). When symptoms are present, they may include blood in the urine; urine that is brown or rusty-colored; abdominal pain; wei...

Nocardiosis is an infectious pulmonary disease characterized by abscesses in the lungs. These abscesses may extend through the chest wall. The infection is spread through the body via the bloodstream by a microorganism called Nocardia asteroids....

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and a disorder of the light sensitive tissue of the eye (the retina). This condition is characterized by destructive changes in the blood vessels of the retina, which, if left unchecked, may lead ...

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the horm...

The term "ovarian cancer" includes several different types of cancer that all arise from cells of the ovary. Most commonly, tumors arise from the epithelium, or lining cells, of the ovary. These include epithelial ovarian (from the cells on the su...

What is a peptic ulcer? A peptic ulcer is a break in the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal u...

Pinworms facts Pinworm infections are caused by worm-like parasites that infect humans' intestines and rectal/anal areas. Young children and their household members are at risk for pinworm infections. Pinworms ar...

Damage and scarring in lung tissue lead to pulmonary fibrosis. The scars thicken the tissue around and between the air sacs in your lungs, making it difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream.  The reason for scarring ca...

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a rare disorder characterized by overproduction (proliferation) of white blood cells called lymphocytes (lymphoproliferative disorder). The abnormal cells infiltrate and accumulate (form lesions or nodules) within ti...

Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare disorder characterized by overproduction (proliferation) and accumulation of a specific type of white blood cell (histiocyte) in the lymph nodes of the body (lymphadenopathy), most often those of the neck (cervical ...

The sarcoid of boeck (sarcoidosis) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect any organ in the body, but most often involves the skin and lungs.  Sarcoid of boeck is characterized by the formation of small, round bumps (...

Short bowel syndrome is a rare condition in which the small intestine is significantly shorter than normal, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and fluids. This can result from surgical removal of a portion of the small intestine, congenital def...

Felty syndrome is usually described as associated with or a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. This disorder is generally defined by the presence of three conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an enlarged spleen (spenomelgaly) and a low white ...

Stomach cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that begins in the stomach. The st...

Large arteries Open pop-up dialog box Close Large arteries Large arteries Takayasu's arteritis is a form of vasculitis — inflammation of the blood vessels — that damages the large arteries, especially the aorta. Chamber...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affect...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread throu...

Turcot syndrome is a rare inherited disorder characterized by the association of benign growths (adenomatous polyps) in the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract with tumors of the central nervous system. Symptoms associated with polyp forma...

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. ...

Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach a...

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where water is removed from undigested material, and the remaining waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the co...

Reactive arthritis is a general term for a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that develops as a "reaction" to an infection in another area of the body (i.e., outside of the joints). Joint inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, pa...

Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) is a radiologic and histopathologic pattern of interstitial lung disease.  The prognosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is poor as the current therapies related to it are of unproven va...

Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis (CNV) is characterized by inflammation and tissue damage (necrosis) of blood vessel walls (lumen) and associated skin (cutaneous) lesions. CNV may be a primary disease process or occur as a result of, or in associa...

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare kidney disorder that may be inherited or acquired. NDI is not related to the more common diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. NDI is a distin...

Whipple disease is a rare disease resulting from bacterial infection that leads to inadequate absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) from the intestine. It is believed to result from infection with bacteria known as Tropheryma whippelii. The infe...