What Is Delayed Puberty In Girls? Delayed puberty in girls is a concerning condition characterized by decreased functional activity of the ovaries resulting in late onset of ovulation and secondary sex characteristics. Q: When should puberty in girls begin? A: ...
Read More »Dental Enamel Defects (Defective Tooth Enamel)
What Are Dental Enamel Defects? Dental enamel defects (DED) comprise a variety of abnormalities in the dental enamel of the second or permanent teeth and of primary or baby teeth. Teeth may appear with pits, thin or missing enamel, non-white enamel (yellow, ...
Read More »Dermatitis Herpetiformis In Childhood
What Is Dermatitis Herpetiformis In Childhood? Dermatitis herpetiformis in childhood is an inflammatory skin manifestation of celiac disease in which immunoglobulin A (IgA) autoantibodies target components of the skin, leading to blister formation caused by ingestion of gluten in the diet. Dermatitis ...
Read More »Dermatitis Herpetiformis or Duhring’s Disease
What Is Dermatitis Herpetiformis? Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an autoimmune extremely itchy, painful bullous skin rash (blistering eruptions) arising from the underlying dermis layer of skin as a consequence of gluten sensitivity. Dermatitis herpetiformis is characterized by multiple intensely itchy, ...
Read More »DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) Deficiency
What Is DHA? Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the brain, being crucial in brain structure. As such DHA is a key component of neuronal membranes together with arachidonic acid (a major opposing ...
Read More »Diarrhea, Chronic
What Is Chronic Diarrhea? Chronic diarrhea is an intestinal motility disorder characterized by 1) alteration in stool formation causing loose to fluid movements and quantity of movements with or without abdominal pain and 2) interference with normal carbohydrate salvage by ...
Read More »Dysgeusia (Impaired Taste)
What Is Dysgeusia? Dysgeusia is impaired or altered sense of taste characterized by the inability to distinguish the flavor of a substance. Q: What causes loss of the ability to taste? A: Some causes of impaired taste include these health conditions: malnutrition, hypothyroidism, ...
Read More »Early Menopause or Ovarian Failure
What Is Early Menopause? Early menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation in females before the age of 40 years characterized by vasomotor instability (hot flashes/cold episodes), psychologic and emotional symptoms and profound changes in the lower genital tract. The ...
Read More »Edema
What Is Edema? Edema is an abnormal swollen condition of the skin characterized by excess extracellular fluid volume, meaning there is an increase of the fluid that normally surrounds cells. Edema may be hardly noticeable or it can become extensive. ...
Read More »Edema of the Small Intestine
What Is Small Intestinal Edema? Small intestinal edema is characterized by fluid accumulation within the intestinal mucosa so that the intestinal wall appears thick and swollen. Intestinal edema hampers peristalsis that can result in pain and gas build-up. Peristalsis is ...
Read More »EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) Deficiency
What Is EPA? EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is crucial for fetal brain and retina development and the child’s subsequent neurodevelopment among very many other activities in people of all ages. Omega-3 fatty acids are ...
Read More »Failure To Thrive And Growth Retardation
What Is Failure To Thrive And Growth Retardation? Failure to thrive (FTT) and growth retardation are conditions affecting children characterized by weight consistently below the 3rd percentile for age or a decrease in the expected rate of growth based on ...
Read More »Folate Deficiency (Folic Acid)
What Is Folate? Folate, also called folic acid or vitamin B9, is a family group of essential water-soluble B vitamins needed to produce healthy blood cells and other tissue cells. Folate is required for healthy blood cells, the metabolism of at ...
Read More »Gas
What Is Obnoxious Gas? Obnoxious gas, or flatus, is gas that is not only offensive when passed but also lingers in the air longer than ordinary gas does. Gas is a natural digestive product within the colon that is composed mainly of ...
Read More »Geographic Tongue
What Is Geographic Tongue? Geographic tongue is a painful alteration in tongue tissue that is characteristic of riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency.1 Q: How does the tongue surface appear? A: Areas of inflamed tissue with flattened papillae develop among areas of normal tissue, ...
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