F

Facial Palsy: Also called Bell's Palsy. In facial palsy,there is weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles on one side of the face due to damage to the facial nerve.The problem usually clears up without treatment

Causes: The viral infection Herpes Zoster (Shingles) is a known cause of damage to the facial nerve and many other viruses,especially Herpes Simplex,also have the potential to cause facial palsy.The bacterial infection,Lyme disease, carried by ticks,is also a known cause.Inflammation of the facial nerve is somethimes due to a middle ear infection.Rarely,the facial nerve may be compressed by a tumour called an Acoustic Neuroma

Symptoms: 1.In some cases,the symptoms of facial palsy appear suddenly over about 24 hours 2.In other cases,including facial palsy caused by an acoustic neuroma, symptoms may develop slowly 3.The symptoms include partial or complete paralysis of the muscles on one side of the fac 4..Pain behind the ear on the affected side 5. Drooping of the corner of the mouth 6.sometimes associated with drooling 7 Inability to close the eyelid on the affected side and 8.watering of the eye 9.Impairment of taste.If facial palsy is very severe,you may have 10.difficulty speaking and eating. In a few cases 11.sounds seem unnaturally loud in the ear on the affected side 12.If the eyelid cannot be closed,the eye may become infected,possibly leading to ulceration of the cornea,the transparent front part of the eye 13.In facial palsy due to shingles, there is also a rash of crusting blisters on the face

Treatment: If your symptoms have appeared in the last 48H,your doctor may prescribe Corticoserioids for up to 2 weeks to reduce inflammation of the nerve.Analgesics will relieve pain. To prevent damage to the cornea,you may be given artificial tears and you will probably be advised to tape the affected eye shut when you go to sleep.Bell's palsy usually clears up without further treatment.If facial palsy has and underlying cause,it will be treated too. e.g If facial palsy is due to shingles,antiviral drugs such as acyclover will be prescribed.To be effective,treatment with acyclovir should begin as soon as the rash appears.If there is an acuositc neuroma,it will be removed surgically to relieve compression of the facial nerve.If muscle paralysis persist,plastic surgery may be used to re-route another nerve to the face.Facial exercise and massage may help maintian tone and facial symmetry.With appropriate treatment,facial palsy usually improves in about 2 weeks.However a full recovery may take up to 3 months.Some people are left with weakness in the affected area and facial palsy may occur

Faecal Impaction: A mass of Faeces lodged in the Rectum.Usually affects the elderly or invalids

Faecal Test: The faeces may be examined for small amounts of blood that cannot be seen by the naked eye.This blood,known as OCCULT BLOOD - because it is not immediately visible,can indicate a disorder that causes bleeding from the digestive tract,such as a peptic ulcer,polyps in the colon or bowel cancer.The test is usually repeated several times over a period of days,because blood may not appear in every sample.If blood is found in the faeces,other tests may be done to look for the cause,including endoscopy of the digestive tract and contrast X-rays to look for ulcers or tumours

Fallopian Tubes: Tubes linking the Uterus and the Ovaries in females

Fallot's Tetralogy: Heart Disorder from birth

Femur: Thigh Bone.Longest bone in the Human body

Febrile: Characterized by fever and a high temperature as in a febrile Convulsion

Fertility: Ability in a woman to conceive a child or in a man to induce conception

Fever: A fever is a temperature of 37 0C or over.Consult your doctor if your baby's temperature remains high, despite tepid sponging.IMMEDIATE attention is needed if the child's temperature is as high as 40 0/C

Fibroadenoma-Breast: A soft slippery lump in the Breast that is usually non-cancerous.Common is teenagers and women in theri 20's, fibroadenomas are simply over-developed lobules and are almost always completely benign.You do not always need to have one removed, as long as you agree to a futher ultrasound scan and examination in six month's time.The majority of women, when offered excision or observaton, oft for the latter.Fibroadenomas can be very large - they vary from pea size to larger than a lemon.While they can grwo anywhere in the brest, quite often they are found near the nipple.They feel smooth and firm and quite distinct and move freely in your breast.Most doctors can recognize one simply by feeling it, but the diagnosis should be clinced with mammography or uitrasound and Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) or Core Needle Biopsy.Although they are most common in young women, Fibroadenomas can occur at any age up to the menopause or later if you are on HRT.Most women who get a Fibroadenoma will never get another one, but a few women will have several over a lifetime.It is possible to have more than one at a time or a single large Fibroadenoma involving more than one lobule, in very rare cases there may be a tendancy for them to run in families

Fibroids - Uterine: Benign (non-cancerous) tumours of the Uterine Muscles.They vary in size & number.They can be anything from the size of a pea to larger than a tennis ball.About 1 in 5 women develops fibroids by the time she is 45years old.There is often no reason for concern because fibroids may never grow large enough to distort the uterus or cause symptoms.Large fibroids cause the surface of the uterus to feel lumpy and bumpy to the doctor when he examines your abdomen during routine pelvic examination

Symptoms: About a quarter of women have no symptoms.Others may have heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding,swellling and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen,discomfort or pain during intercourse.Pressure on the bladder and bowl,leading to urinary problems and backache.If you have increasing pain or bleeding with your periods or if you have any other change in your normal menstrual cycle,see your doctor at once

Treatment: Your doctor will first perform a routine pelvic examination and question you about any symptoms you may have experienced.If he feels that your condition warrants it, he may then refer you to gine for futher investigation and tests,which will probably include an Ultrasound scan of your uterus,a Hysteroscope or Laparoscopy.Fibroids are treated according to the seriousness of the symptoms.Once you are past your childbearing years,the fibroids usually shrink,and may disappear,unless you take HRT.Anti-oestrogen hormone treatments may be given to shrink your fibroids.This treatment can only be given for a period of about 6 months because of the risk of osteoporosis.If you want to start a family and your fibroids are numerous,your doctor may suggest an operation to remove them (myomectomy) - leaving the uterus normal & intact.If your symptoms are really troublesome and you have already completed your family, a hysterectomy might be advises.It should be considered as a last resort and only after you have had a second opinion and involved your partner in discussions with your doctors.Fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomy operations - so be on guard against having an unnecessary operation of such a radical nature.If you are suffering from profound anaemia, or have unbearable symptoms,obviously you should consider it,otherwise look for alternatives.A very few women with fibroids develop uterine cancer,so any unusual bleeding or other irregularities of your periods should be reported immediately to your doctor

Fibroma: Benign (non-cancerous) tumour which is sometimes found in fibrous tissue, particularly in tissue surrounding the nerves

Fibrositis: Inflammation of the fibrous connective tissue of muscles

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC): One of the procedures in assessing a breast lumps or any other lumps in the body- is FNAC.It is used to sample cells from the lump.Under mammography or ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is inserted painlessly into the lump.A sample of cells is removed and spread on a glass slide for microscopic examination in order for it to be diagnosed as benign or malignant

Finger Bones: Phalanges

Fistual In Ano: An abnormal extra channel that is created between the ano-rectal canal and the skin around the surface of the anus

Flatulence (Breaking of Gas /Wind): Most of us occasionally experience the breaking of wind.But for some it can be a recurring and distressing problem swelling of the abdomen due to a build up of gas (bloating).Flatulence is a feature of many gastrointestinal conditions in particular indigestion and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - which is said to affect many of the population.However, there are other symptoms with IBS,including pain,constipation or diarrhoea or a mixture of both, and as these symptoms also occur in more serious bowel conditions it is important to have them checked out by a doctor.Self-diagnosis is not a good idea.Flatulence is also a feature of Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis and can be a problem in pregnancy.Menopausal women are also prone to flatulence due to a lack of estrogen

Treatment: There are quite a lot we can do to help ourselves.The most common cause of wind is what we eat.So you should look very carefully at your DIET.Keep fry-ups to a minimum as these are not only unhealthy in themselves,they are also a frequent cause of wind.Baked beans and peas are notorious for causing wind - but there are other foods and drinks that should also be taken in moderation.Eat more fish and skinless white meat instead of red meat.Allow enough time to sit down and have a meal rather than snaking on the hoof, as gulping food and drink is often responsible for a bad bout of wind.For those who are lactose intolerant,milk can cause excessive gas and replacing cow's milk with calcium-fortified soya drinks often helps.As we age,small pocketsd of tissue may balloon out from the bowel,giving rise to the condition known as Diverticulosis and Diverticulitits.Within these samll pockets bacteria may accumulate,ferment carbohydrates and produce large amounts of gas.Try to eat foods that can affect fermentation, such as those containing yeast and sugar - only in the early part of the day.A yeast-free alternative to regular bread would be crackers,rice cakes or soda bread.Charcoal tablets available from chemists can provide immediate relief by absorbing gas.Natural herbs and spices contain substances that calm the bowel and prevent a build-up of wind.These include aniseed,camomile,lemon balm,fennel,dill,cloves,black pepper,marjoram,parsley,peppermint,rosemary and spearming.Use them as a garnish on food or as a soothing,herbal tea.Gulping mouthfuls of air can cause or aggravate wind.If you are inclined to do this,try and break yourself of the habiat and you may find the flatulence gradually becomes less frequent.Gum chewing - caused us to take in air.Stress inf another important factor in flatulence and if you are feeling stressed you need to identify the reason so you can find effective ways of reducing anxiety.However as a short-term solution studies have shown essential oil of lavender can reduce stress.Use 5-6 drops in a bath or on a tissue.Exercise can help reduce wind as it tones up our stomach muscles and prevents our intestines being able to swell so much that it holds large pockets of wind.Exercise is also very good for relieving stress and even a walk around the block is beneficial - although it is not sensible to exercise within 2 hours of eating.For some - an upset in bowel bacteria is a problem.Reducing yeast and sugar - e.g bread,wine and beer - may help,along with a supply of beneficial lactobacillus bacteria from a daily pot of 'live' yoghurt

*also see Bloating & Irritable Bowl Syndrome*

Floaters: This is the name given to the sensation of threads or black dots floating in the field of vision

Follicle: Most commonly, a tiny cavity on the body's surface

Fontanelle: Any of the areas of cartilage between th unfused bones on the skull of a young baby

Food poisoning: Is a form of Gastroenteritis caused by eating contaminated food, usually by bacteria.In babies and children, this condition is SERIOUS,because the symptoms can rapidly lead to DEHYDRATION

Freckles: Brown spots on the skin due to over-production of pigment

Fractures: A break or crack in any bone is known as a fracture.Fractures are usually due to injury from a fall but they can be caused by bouts of coughing or even a hug if the bones are seriously osteoporotic.Fractures due to a bone being twisted or bent occur in athletic sports such as skiing or rugby.Susceptibility to fractrues increase with the bone disorder osteoporosis,which mainly affects women after the menopause and result s in brittle bones.Fractures that occur in homes affected by tumours aer known as pathological fractures and may occur after mininal injury ore even spontaneously.Greenstick fractures occur when a long bone bends and cracks on one side only - these fracutes are especially common in children

Different Types of Fractures: There are 2 main types of fractures - simple (closed), in which the broken bone does not break through the overlying skin and compound (open) - in which the bone pierces the skin and is exposed.Open fractures are more serious because of the risk of infection and damage to nerves and blood vessels

1. Transverse fractures: In a transverse fractures - there is a straight break across a bone.Transverse fractures,often in the arm or leg,are usually due to a powerful blow,such as that sustained in a collision during a road traffic accident

2. Spiral Fractures: Spiral fractures or oblique fractures are usually caused by sudden,violent rotating movements,such as twisting the leg during a fall,especially if there is a ski on the end of it

3. Greenstick Fractures: If a long bone in the arm or leg bends,it may crack on one side only,producing an incomplete break called a 'greenstick' fracture.This type of fractures occurs in children,whose bones are still growing and bendy

4. Comminuted Fractures: The bone is broken into small fragments which increases the likelihood of damage to the soft tissues surrounding the broken bone.These fractures are usually caused by severe direct forces

5. Avulsion Fractures: A piece of bone is pulled away from the main bone by a tendon that attaches a muscle to a bone.It usually results from a sudden violent contraction of the muscles

6. Compression Fractures: A compression fracture occurs if spongy bone,like that in the vertebrae if the spine, is crushed - this type of fractures is often due to osteoporosis

7. Stress Fractures: Fractures are caused by repeated jarring of a bone are called stress fractures.They may occur in the foot bones or shin bones of long-distance runners.In the elderly,fractures may result from minor stress such as a chronic cough,which can break a rib

Symptoms: The symptoms of a fracture depend on its type and include - deformity in the affected area.Pain and tenderness,which limits limits movement swelling and bruising.Crackling noise caused by grating of the ends of the bones on movement or pressure.In an open fracture,damage to skin,bleeding & visible bone.All fractures cause a certain amount of internal bleeding because of damage to blood vessels in the bone.The broken bone ends may cause further bleeding by damaging tissues and blood vessels in the injured area.In some fractures,particularly a break in the thighbone (femur),blood loss may be severe and lead to shock.Various complications may be associated with a fracture e.g if you fractue a rib,there is a risk that the broken rib may puncture a lung,causing pneumothorax.Delay in treating a fracture properly may result in failure of the bone to heal,causing permanent deformity or disability.Consult a doctor immediately if you think you have a fracture

Treatment: Your doctor will arrange for you to have X-rays to reveal the type and extent of the fracture .CT scanning or MRI may be needed to investigate complex fractures.If a fracture was not due to injury,your doctor may check for a possible underlying disorder that may have weakened your bones.If the broken ends of the bone have been displaced,they will be brought into line to restore normal shape by manipulation.This process is known as reduction.arch type of fracture has its won manipulation manoeuvre,which may be carried out under local or general anaesthietic

Frigidity: Lack of sexual desire, or inability to achieve full sexual excitement

Frontal Lobes: Part of Brain that controls the Emotions.The Speech Centre is situated in a small area of the Frontal lobes

Frostbite: Serious condition and should be treated as an EMERGENCY. Severe cases can lead to gangrene and amputations of the affected parts.Damage to the Extremities of the body, such as the ears,nose,fingers and toes, is caused by Freezing of Arteries and Tissues in Cold conditions. Blood flow to exposed areas stop and the skin becomes frozen.First the skin turns red, then shiny and then a dull greyisch colour.Occasionally blisters may form

Frozen Shoulder: A disorder of the shoulder that develops gradually, usually over several weeks in the middle-aged and elderly

info source:

South African Family Medical Adviser

Family Health Guide & The Baby & Child Health Care Handbook - Dr.Miriam Stoppard