Danlos syndrome
Danlos syndrome or better known today as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), this is an inherited disorder with easy bruising, joint hypermobility (loose joints), skin laxity, and weakness of tissues.
There are a number of different Ehlers-Danlos syndromes which share these features but can be categorized into nine different types.
- Type I EDS (the “gravis” form od EDS) is characterized by marked joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility (laxity), and fragility. Joint dislocations and scoliosis. It is inherited as an autosomal (non-sex-linked) dominant genetic trait. Dominant means that a single gene is capable of producing the disease.
- Type II EDS (the “mitis” form of EDS) is similar to type I, but is less severe. It, too, is inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait.
- Type III EDS (the benign hypermobility form of EDS). Joint hypermobility is the major manifestation. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait.
- Type IV EDS (the arterial form) Spontaneous rupture of arteries and bowel is a serious manifestation. Skin laxity is variable. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant and recessive genetic trait.
- Type V EDS is clinically similar to type II but is X-linked. The gene is on the X chromosome). If a woman is carrying the gene, the chance for each of her children her son to receive the gene is 50:50. A son with the gene is affected with the disease while a daughter with the gene is merely a carrier like her mother.
- Type VI EDS (the ocular-scoliotic form of EDS) is characterized by a fragile globe of the eyes, significant skin and joint laxity, and severe curvature of the spine (scoliosis). It is inherited as an autosomal (non-sex-linked) recessive genetic trait. Recessive means that two copies of the gene are required to produce the disease.
- Type VII EDS (arthrochalasis multiplex congenita). Patients with this type of EDS are short in height and severely affected by joint laxity and dislocations. Skin involvement is variable. Autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance is possible.
- Type VIII EDS. Patients have different degrees of joint hypermobility and inflammation of the gums and bone adjacent to the teeth (periodontitis).
- Type IX EDS. Patients have mildly hypermobile joints and can have mitral valve prolapse. It is inherited as autosomal dominant.
Dandy fever
Dandy fever is an acute mosquito- borne viral illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, prostration, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and rash. The presence (the “dengue triad”) of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic. Better known as dengue, the disease is endemic throughout the tropics and subtropics. It goes by other names including breakbone fever. Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain. Hence, the name “breakbone fever.” Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have “dandy fever” because of their postures and gait.
Dandruff
Dandruff is a scalp condition that produces white flakes that may be shed and fall from the hair. One cause of dandruff is overworking of the sebaceous glands. Another cause of dandruff is fungus, especially an abundance of the fungus Pitrosporum ovale. If several weeks of using a good-quality shampoo does not stop the dandruff, treatment options include an antifungal shampoo such as Denorex, DHS Targel, ionil-T plus, MG217, Neutrogena T/Gel, Scalpicin, Sebulex, Selsun Blue, Tegrin, or Zircon. The active ingredients approved for dandruff treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, sulfur, and ketoconazole.
Daltonism
Daltonism is colorblindness of the red-green type (also known as deuteranopia or deuteranomaly).
The term Daltonism is derived from the name of the chemist and physicist, John Dalton (1766-1844).
Dalton described his and his brother’s affliction of colorblindness with defective perception of red and green in the first scientific paper he published. It was entitled “Extraordinary facts relating to the vision of colours, with observation”. It is the first recognized account of red-green colorblindness.
Daily Prayer of a Physician
Daily Prayer of a Physician is a prayer that is said to have been written by the twelfth-century physician/philosopher Moses Maimonides, but possibly penned by German physician Marcus Herz. This prayer is often recited by new medical graduates.
Daily Value
Daily Value or shorter, DV, is a term on food labels based on the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) designed to help consumers use food label information to plan a healthy diet.
The Daily Value serves as a basis for declaring on the label the percent of the DV for each nutrient that a serving of the food provides. For example, the Daily Value for fat, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, is 65 grams (g). A food that has 13 g of fat per serving would state on the label that the “percent Daily Value” for fat is 20 percent.
The DV also provides a basis for thresholds that define descriptive words for nutrient content, called descriptors, such as “high fiber” and “low fat.” For example, the descriptor “high fiber” can be used if a serving of food provides 20 percent or more of the Daily Value for fiber– that is, 5 g or more.
Dactyledema
Dactyledema is the swelling of a finger or toe.
Dacryocystorhinostomy
Dacryocystorhinostomy is the surgical creation of a passage between the lacrimal sac (tear sac) and the nasal cavity to permit the drainage of tears. Dacryocystorhinostomy may be done to remedy an obstructed nasolacrimal duct.
Dacryocyst
Dacryocyst is the lacrimal sac; tear sac. The dilated (widened) upper end of the nasolacrimal duct, the passageway that allows tears to drain into the nasal cavity.
Dacryoadenitis
Dacryoadenitis is the inflammation of a lacrimal gland (a gland that produces tears).