Diseases and Disorders

Study guide

Introduction

• Different periods of life from conception to mature adult years present different
challenges.
• The focus in this lecture is describe the major health risks of the different body systems.

Prenatal Period

•From the moment of conception till birth

•All major organ systems develop in utero
•Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters, 38-40 weeks.
Preembryonic stage
• starting on the day of fertilization till 14 days
Embryonic stage:
• lasts from day 15 till week 8
• Most vulnerable, all body organs are formed by the 8thweek.
Fatal stage:
• From the end of 8thweek till birth
• Teratogens: viruses, chemicals, and drugs can cause abnormal development in the
embryo.
Common discomforts during pregnancy
• Nausea & vomiting
• Breast tenderness
• Urinary frequency
• Heart burn
• Constipation
• Ankle edema
• Backache
Pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth
o Abortion: interruption or termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable,
o Spontaneous abortion: miscarriage occurs early in pregnancy.
o Ectopic pregnancy: extra uterine pregnancy, the fertilized egg is implanted and begins to
develop outside the uterus, e.g., tubal pregnancy.
Preeclempsia:
o Toxemia
o Pregnancy induced hypertension
o High BP, Edema, proteinuria
o Eclampsia: more serious form characterized by convulsions and sometimes coma
New-born

Neonatal jaundice
• a yellowish colour of the skin caused by an accumulation of bilirubin
• Babies have large numbers of red blood
• cells at birth. Their immature liver is unable
• to handle the breakdown of these cells. The waste product
accumulates giving the skin a yellowish tint.

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The Skeletal System Joints

Dislocation:
• May result from an injury or sudden movement.
• Dislocated joint is characterized by pain, swelling, and rapid discoloration of
surrounding tissue.
• Also known as luxation: total displacement of bone
• Subluxation: partial displacement of bone.

Arthritis:
• is an inflammation of the joints causing pain, stiffness, aching, and limited range of
motion (ROM).
Osteoarthritis
• Wear-and-tear arthritis.
• Associated with age, degenerative
Gouty arthritis
• Caused by excess uric acid in the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis
• Autoimmune disease, more severe than osteoarthritis
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Idiopathic, affect children

The Skeletal system Spinal column

Herniated disc:
• Is when one or more intervertebral discs balloon out from inside the cartilage parts of
the vertebrae.
• If the bulge is large enough, it may press on a nerve,
causing severe pain
Treatment
• Rest, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory for pain
relief.
• Surgery may be necessary

Spina bifida:
• is a defect in the spinal column in which the spinal cord is outside the vertebrae.
• It causes varying degrees of paralysis or lack of feeling and movement.

Treatment:
• Surgery

Abnormal Curvatures of the Spine

• Kyphosis: is humpback or rounding at the thoracic vertebrae.
• Lordosis: is swayback, or an abnormal inward curvature of the lumbar vertebrae.
• Scoliosis: is side to side curvature of the spine

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The Skeletal system Bones

Osteoporosis:
• is a softening of the bones due to a lack of calcium.
• More common in women after menopause.
• This condition results in a loss of bone density and easily broken bones.
Osteomyelitis:
• Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bones
• is caused by bacteria in the bone tissue.
• Infection of the bone spreads rapidly.
• Lead to bone damage if not treated.

Rickets
• Occurs in children
• Softening and weakening of the bones caused by lack of vitamin D, calcium, or
phosphate.
Fractures
• Broken bones
• Closed fractures: simple fractures, no open wound on the skin
• Open fractures: compound fracture compound fracture, is a break with an open wound
The Muscular system

Sports injuries
• Strain: an injury that involve stretched or torn muscle or tendon attachment.
• Paralysis: loss of sensation and voluntary muscle movements.
• Hemiplegia: total paralysis of one side of the body, usually associated with stroke or
brain damage.
• Paraplegia: paralysis due to spinal cord, paralysis of both legs.
Treatment of the Musculoskeletal system
1. Medications
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Control pain, reduce swelling and inflammation.
2. Surgery
• Joint Replacement (Knee and hip replacements)
Fracture treatment:
• Manipulation or closed reduction (cast application)
• External fixation: placement of pins through soft tissues

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• Open reduction and Internal fixation (ORIF): pins and plates are placed directly into the
bone to hold the broken pieces.
3. Physical therapy

The Cardiovascular system

Atherosclerosis
• Hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by a build-up of cholesterol and fat on
the walls of the arteries.
• Occurs as a result also of aging.
• Can lead to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.
Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD)
• Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that may cause angina pectoris, myocardial
infarction, and sudden death.
Angina pectoris
• also known as angina
• Episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium.
Myocardial infarction
• Heart attack caused by occlusion of one or more coronary arteries resulting in damage
to the Myocardium and impairs its ability to pump blood to the body
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Heart is weakened and cannot pump with its usual force, blood backs up into the heart
and lungs, causing congestion.
Cardiomegaly
• Enlargement of the heart Associated with CHF in order to compensate for the loss in
pumping ability
Hypertension:
• Is high blood pressure.
• essential or primary hypertension
• Secondary hypertension: is caused by a different medical problem such as the kidneys
• Is commonly the result of lifestyle factors.
• Overeating leading to excessive weight,
• Smoking,
• Lack of exercise,Stress
Stroke
• Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.
• Ischemic stroke
• can occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood in a vessel
Thrombosis
• Condition of having a thrombus, a blood clot attached to the walls of an artery or a
vein.
Coronary thrombosis:
• damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus blocking a coronary artery.
Deep vein thrombosis
• having a thrombus attached to the walls of a deep vein.
• Common in patients who are bedridden.
• Dangerous as the thrombus will break loose and travel to lungs where it can be fatal
(Pulmonary embolism)

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Embolism
• Sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus an embolus could be a blood clot,
quantity of air or gas, or a bit of a tissue).

The Cardiovascular system (Blood Disorders )

Hemochromatosis (iron overload disease)

• Genetic disorder in which the intestines absorb too much iron.
• Excess iron enters the blood stream and accumulates in organs casing it to damage.

Septicemia (blood poisoning)

• Disease caused by the spread of microorganisms and their toxins via the circulating
blood.

Hemolytic reaction
• Destruction of erythrocytes occurs when a patient receives a transfusion of mismatched
blood
Cholesterol
• Waxy like substance that travels in the blood in the form od lipoproteins.
• Some cholesterol in the blood is necessary, however, excessive high levels can lead to
heart disease.
Low density lipoprotein (LDL):
• bad cholesterol as excess qualities lead to plaque build up in the arteries
High density lipoprotein:
• good cholesterol because it carries unneeded cholesterol back to the liver, does not
contribute to plaque build up
Triglycerides:
• combination of fatty acids, should be present in limited amounts in the blood.
Leukemia
• Malignancy characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal
leukocytes
• usually treated with bone marrow transplants
People with leukaemia may experience:
• Remissions: during which the disease disappears.
• Relapses: are recurrences of the disease.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
• Progressive condition of dysfunctional bone marrow that may eventually develop in
leukaemia. Usually treated with blood transfusions

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Treatment of the Cardiovascular system system

Medications

• Antihypertensive medications: to lower and control blood pressure.

• Cholesterol lowering drugs: to combat hyperlipidemia by reducing cholesterol levels in the
blood.
• Digoxin: slows and strengthen heart muscle contractions
• Nitroglycerin: vasodilators (under the tongue, patch, spray) used to relieve the pain of
angina.
• Anticoagulants: slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming
• Thrombolytics: lead to dissolving of thrombus

Treatment of the Cardiovascular system

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)

• Balloon on the end of catheter used to open a

partially blocked coronary artery by flattening the
plaque deposit and stretching the artery.
• A stent is implanted to support the arterial wall.
• Coronary artery Bypass Graft
• Open heart surgery
• Replacement of coronary artery with a piece of vein
to improve blood flow

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The Respiratory system

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• is a term used to describe a group of respiratory conditions characterized by chronic
airflow limitations mainly chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Causes: smoking, environmental, autoimmune
Most common symptoms of COPD:
• shortness of breath (dyspnea).
• persistent cough
• sputum or mucus production
• Wheezing
• tiredness.
Bronchitis
• inflammation of the bronchi.
Acute: is characterized by the development of a cough, with or without the production of
sputum.
Chronic: is characterized by the presence of a productive cough that lasts for three months or
more per year for at least two years
Emphysema
• is a long term lung disease, often affect the elderly Characterized by irreversible
progressive loss of the alveoli
• As the alveoli are destroyed, breathing becomes rapid, shallow, and difficult. The lungs
expand and the chest assumes an enlarged barrel shape.
Asthma
• common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and
recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm
Asthmatic attack (bronchospasm) is characterized by:
• Swelling and inflammation of the lining of the airways.
• The production of thick mucus
• Tightening of the muscles that surround the airway.
• Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest
• tightness, and shortness of breath.

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Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

• Is a viral infection of all or part of the upper respiratory tract that is more commonly
known as the common cold.
• URI is highly contagious.
• Symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat, and cough.
• Acute nasopharyngitis: common cold, inflammation of the nose and pharynx.
• Rhinitis: Inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Sinusitis: Inflammation of the
• Croup: an acute respiratory syndrome in children and infants characterized by
obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and barking cough.
• Diphtheria : bacterial infection of the throat and URI, produces toxins that damage the
heart muscle and peripheral nerves.
• Pertussis : whooping cough, contagious bacterial infection characterized by bouts of
cough followed by breathlessness and noisy inspiration.

Lungs
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome:
• Fatal viral infection that begins as fever and progress to dry non-productive cough and
• severe difficulty in breathing.
Tuberculosis
• caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually attack the lung, but also can affect
other parts of the body.
Pneumonia
• serious infection and inflammation of the lung in which
• the bronchioles and alveoli fill with pus and other liquid.
Bacterial pneumonia: caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, can be prevented by vaccination.
Viral pneumonia: caused by different types of
Lung Cancer: is a disease characterized
by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the
lung.
• The most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Genetics and radon gas exposure.
• Symptoms: coughing (including coughing-up blood), weight loss and shortness of
breath.
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF): genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with
large quantities of abnormally thick mucus.
Treatment procedures of the respiratory system

Medications
• Bronchodilators: agents that expand the opening of the passages into the lungs.
• Metered dose inhaler: single dose of medication with a puff of air.
• Nebulizer: dispenses large doses of medication in the form of mist inhaled via a facemask.
• Antitussives: to prevent and relieve coughing

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• Surgery
• Respiratory therapy
• Supplemental oxygen
• Postural drainage: heat and chest are tilted downward to allow gravity to help drain
secretions from the lungs.
• Diaphragmatic breathing.
• Ventilators

The Digestive System

The oral cavity and Esophagus

Aphthous ulcers: mouth ulcers are Gray white pits with a red border in the lining of the mouth.
Cause unknown, associated with stress and fever.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: (GERD)
• The upward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Leads to pyrosisor heart burn.
The stomach
Gastritis: inflammation of the stomach.
Peptic ulcers: affect the mucous membranes of the digestive system.
Are also known as peptic ulcers.
Ulcer: are sores or erosion of the mucous membranes of any part of
the GI tract.
• A perforating ulcer involves erosion through the entire thickness of the organ wall.
Are caused by the helicobacter pylori bacterium

Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa:
• Is an eating disorder characterized by immoderate food restriction and irrational fear of
gaining weight, as well as a distorted body self-perception.
• This restriction of food intake causes metabolic and hormonal disorders.
• Occurs most often in adolescents, more in females than in males
Bulimia nervosa:
• characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a
short amount of time.
• followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed (purging), typically by
vomiting, taking a laxative or diuretic.
• Symptoms include chronic gastric reflux, oral trauma peptic ulcers and constant weight
fluctuations.
• Pica: eating disorder in which there is persistent eating of non-food substances such as
soil, chalk, or clay.

Nutritional Conditions

• Malnutrition: is a lack of proper food or nutrients either due to shortage of food or the
improper absorption of nutrients.
• Malabsorption: is a condition in which the small intestine cannot absorb nutrients from
food.
• Obesity: an excessive accumulation of fat in the body.
• Morbid obesity: BMI more than 39, obesity that cause disease

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Intestinal Disorders

Inflammatory bowel diseases:

Ulcerative colitis:
• Is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease with recurring ulcers and inflammation
of the large intestine.
Crohn's disease is similar to ulcerative colitis.
• It sometimes includes the production of abnormal openings in tissue walls.
• It affects both the small and the large intestine.
• Autoimmune/ Idiopathic
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): spastic colon is a common condition of unknown cause with
symptoms of that include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and or diarrhea.
IBS is usually aggravated by stress.
Anorectal disorders
• Bowel Incontinence: inability to control the excretion of feces.
• Haemorrhoids’ : swollen, twisted veins that can cause great discomfort in and
around the anal area.
• Melena: the passage of black tarlike stools Caused by the presence of digested blood.

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The Liver

Liver Cirrhosis:
• Is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by
fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules
• Caused by alcoholism, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Some cases are idiopathic.
• Ascites (fluid retention in the abdominal cavity)
• Is the most common complication of cirrhosis,
• lead to confusion and coma.
• Treatment: Cirrhosis is generally irreversible, usually focuses on preventing progression
and complications.

The Gall Bladder

Cholecystitis:
• Is an acute or chronic inflammation of
the gallbladder.
• most caused by hardened
• masses known as gallstones (Lithiasis),
• in the ducts of the gallbladder.
Treatment:
• Treatment may include weight loss, a low-fat diet, medication, or surgery.

Medications
• Acid blockers: block acid secretion.
• Antacids: relieves indigestion by neutralizing stomach acids
• Anti-emetics: relieve nausea and vomiting.
• Laxatives: stimulate bowel movements.
Endoscopic procedures
• Colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy
• Ostomies: surgical procedure to create opening on the body surface such as
gastrostomy, colostomy.
• Surgery.

The Nervous System

• Migraine headaches: are headaches characterized by sudden throbbing sharp pain that
is usually more severe on one side of the head. Pain is often accompanied by nausea
and sensitivity to light.
• Cluster headaches: concentrated pain on one side of the head. Less common than
migraines, but more painful, and occur one or more times daily.
• Meningocele: (discussed earlier)
• Hydrocephalus:
• Is an overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid
• in the brain.
• It usually occurs at birth.
• Can be also occur in adults as the result of infection or tumors

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Meningitis:
• Is an inflammation of the meninges.
• Bacterial Meningitis: caused by bacteria; and involves symptoms such as fever,
headache, and stiff neck. And it can be fatal.
• Viral Meningitis: has the same symptoms but not treated with antibiotics.

Alzheimer’s disease:
• Is a progressive degeneration of neurons in the brain.
• Loss of memory, inability to properly use familiar
• objects, inability to receive and understand outside stimuli.
• Mental capacity worsen over time.
• It eventually leads to death
Encephalitis
• Is an inflammation of the brain that result from viral
• infection, or spread of an infection to the brain.
• Symptoms including fever, headache, seizures,
• weakness, visual disturbance, stiff neck and back.
• Severe cases can be fatal.

Parkinson’s Disease
• Is a chronic degenerative disorder in which there is gradual progressive loss of control
over movement resulting from inadequate levels of the chemical dopamine that helps
nerve cells communicate.
• Characterized by fine muscletremors, rigidity, and a slow gait weakness, and difficulty in
walking
Brain Tumors
• Abnormal growth within the brain, that can be benign or malignant, but both are life
threatening.
• Leads to destruction of brain tissues and increased intracranial pressure

Brain Injuries
A concussion
• is a violent shaking of the brain, may result in temporary loss of consciousness.
Cerebral contusion
• is a bruising of the brain tissue as a result of head injury, causes swelling of the brain
• Can lead to coma
• Because they involve structural brain damage, contusions are more serious than
concussions.
• Cerebral hematoma
• Collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain

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Multiple Sclerosis
• An autoimmune disease, in which the body's
• immune system attacks and destroys myelin, the fatty
• substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the
• brain and spinal cord.
• When myelin is damaged, the messages that travel along that nerve may be slowed or
blocked.
• Destruction of the myelin sheath and cause muscle weakness, unsteady walking,
extreme fatigue, and some paralysis
Poliomyelitis (Polio)
• Is a highly contagious viral infection that can inflame spinal cord and brain stem.
• Result in paralysis, prevented through immunization.
Epilepsy
• Is a chronic recurrent seizure activity
• Caused by abnormal conditions in the brain that trigger sudden, excessive electrical
activity.
Cerebral palsy
• Is caused by cerebral damage during gestation or birth and result in lack of motor
coordination

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