Consisting of new medical terminology I learn every day on the job. Credit for definitions will always be linked in the term title.
1/25/19: Factor V Leiden Mutation
“Factor V Leiden (FAK-tur five LIDE-n) is a mutation of one of the clotting factors in the blood. This mutation can increase your chance of developing abnormal blood clots, most commonly in your legs or lungs. Most people with factor V Leiden never develop abnormal clots. But in people who do, these abnormal clots can lead to long-term health problems or become life-threatening.”
Basically causes clots (hypercoagulation). We had a patient w/ this and it was determined his clotting risk was increased 4 – 8 fold compared to normal. Definitely not a huge deal compared to other patients with high risk stickers on their charts.
1/24/19: Trisomy 18
“Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a condition which is caused by a error in cell division, known as meiotic disjunction. When this happens, instead of the normal pair, an extra chromosome 18 results (a triple) in the developing baby and disrupts the normal pattern of development in significant ways that can be life-threatening, even before birth. A Trisomy 18 error occurs in about 1 out of every 2500 pregnancies in the United States and 1 in 6000 live births. The numbers of total births is much higher because it includes significant numbers of stillbirths that occur in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.”
Saw a mom whose kid has this. It was obviously very hard for her to talk about. She was pregnant, then went into her 10 week checkup and the doctor noted trisomy 18. This basically meant in her case that there was an extremely slim chance the baby would survive if born. The mom mentioned she had a good support system, and her two year old she already has brings her a lot of joy which was really nice to hear. It seemed she took the trauma really well.
1/22/19: Scarlet Fever
“Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that develops in some people who have strep throat. Also known as scarlatina, scarlet fever features a bright red rash that covers most of the body. Scarlet fever is almost always accompanied by a sore throat and a high fever.”
Yep, we had a kid with strep who also had a nasty case of scarlet fever. It can also accompany flu, however, though this is less common.
1/14/19: Varicella vs Shingles
Varicella: “Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. Chickenpox used to be very common in the United States. Each year, chickenpox caused about 4 million cases, about 10,600 hospitalizations and 100 to 150 deaths.”
Shingles: “Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.”
So basically, shingles is chicken pox part II. Also, interesting fact coming up. Say you got vaccinated against chickenpox and got the virus anyways. The symptoms wouldn’t be as bad. You might have a few itchy dots or a low grade fever, but not full blown chicken pox. The virus will still stay in your system, and then later in life, you might get shingles even though you never really had chickenpox in the first place! Isn’t that great?
1/9/19: Nursemaid’s Elbow
“Nursemaid’s elbow is a common injury of early childhood. It is sometimes referred to as “pulled elbow” because it occurs when a child’s elbow is pulled and partially dislocates. The medical term for the injury is “radial head subluxation.”
What can I say? It’s a run of the mill, non-serious ailment of childhood. About one in five patients a day, I think, on average have this condition documented in their chart. It really doesn’t affect them, it’s just good to know if they have this history of delocation.
1/7/19: Vaccine Schedule for Pediatric Patients
This isn’t really a word of the day, but it’s important to spread this information. Also, this is information I really need to memorize! At the pediatric practice I work at, we kick out families who refuse to vaccinate their kids. Therefore, you really have to be on top of who has had vaccines and who hasn’t. It’s dangerous and all that.
1/4/19: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
“Radiofrequency ablation (or RFA) is a procedure used to reduce pain. An electrical current produced by a radio wave is used to heat up a small area of nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that specific area.”
This is a common recommendation for our spine center patients who have chronic pain, and who basically have tried everything else feasible. This is a procedure that isn’t a prolonged fix; many patients have to get this every few months, or some procedure like it. Still not entirely sure how it works. I don’t think the patients do either, because it’s always a vague conversation with their doctor about how they tolerated it.
1/3/19: Pyloric stenosis
“Pyloric stenosis is an uncommon condition in infants that blocks food from entering the small intestine. Pyloric stenosis can lead to forceful vomiting, dehydration and weight loss. Babies with pyloric stenosis may seem to be hungry all the time.”
Luckily this is uncommon, because it’s actually pretty heartbreaking. Imagine a new mom, trying everything to feed her child, only to have them throw up everything all the time. The child can only cry in pain and hunger, while the mom is at her wits end trying to figure out why she can’t keep her child fed, one of the basic needs that she’s supposed to provide. Sometimes we have cases where we suspect this, and we get imaging on the child to see if this is the case or not. None of my patients have ever been positive for this, which is for the best as the only cure is surgery.
1/2/19: Keratosis pilaris
“Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition, which appears as tiny bumps on the skin. Some people say these bumps look like goosebumps or the skin of a plucked chicken. Others mistake the bumps for small pimples.”
Moms come into the pediatric clinic all the time with their teenagers, complaining about acne on their child’s arms. It’s probably not acne, it’s probably this. I have this, so does my brother, so does my sister. It’s very common, especially in teens. It’s of no medical significance, and though there’s probably ways to treat it I feel it’s not worth the effort. It’s just a bunch of flesh colored, raised, very small bumps on the upper arm. Perfectly harmless.
1/1/19: Brown’s Syndrome
“Brown Syndrome is a rare eye disorder characterized by defects in eye movements. This disorder may be present at birth (congenital) or may occur as the result of another underlying disorder (acquired).”
Working in peds, I saw a patient one day with this syndrome. It’s also called “superior oblique tendon sheath syndrome”. Good thing the doctor who discovered it had an easy last name, right? Anyways, I was really excited to see this patient, but she ended up not showing. It’s all good.
Undergrad Scribe Chronicles 