P

Pacemaker (Heart): This is the part of the Heart that sets the rate of Heartbeat.Speeding it up during exertion and slowing it down during sleep. In cases of Heart Block - when the natural stimulation is impaired and the Heart's pumping action is slowed down, an artificial pacemaker is sometimes fitted, when drugs cannot control the condition. Artificial Pacemaker: This is a tiny computrised electrical unit and can be implanted in a patient's chest to regulate the heartbeat if the natural pacemaker fails

Paediatrician: A Doctor who specializes in treating children, usually until the age of puberty

Paget's Disease: Progressive thickening of the Bones, mainly affecting the Skull,Spine,Pelvis and Legs

Painful Arc Syndrome: Condition in which there is pain in the Shoulder Joint when the sufferer raises an arm sideways.The painful 'arc' of movement limits the sufferer's use of the shoulder.his symptom mayarise in Frozen shoulder or Rotator Cuff Lesions

Palpitations: An awareness of the Heart Beating.Normal with fear and after heavy excercise, but it may sometimes be a symptom of Heart disease or other more serious causes

Palsy: Paralysis

Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumour of the main tissue of the pancreas.Smoking, a high-fat diet and alcohol abuse are risk factors.This cancer is more common over the age of 50 and almost twice as common in men.Cancer of the pancreas is a relatively uncommon cancer.The tumour may be symptomless in its early stages

Symptoms: It often develop gradually over a few months and may include - pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to the back.Loss of weight.Reduced appetite.Many Pancratic tumours cause obstruction of the bile ducts through which the digestive liquid bile leaves the liver.Such blockage leads to jaundice,in which the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.Jaundice may be accompanied by itching,dark-coloured urine and lighter than normal faeces

Treatment: Surgery to remove part, or all of the Pancreas offers the only chance of cure.However the cancer has usually spread by the time it is diagnosed. In such cases,surgery to relieve symptoms may be possible. If the bile duct is obstructed by a tumour, a rigid tube known as a stent may be inserted to keep the duct open.This procedure is usually done during Endoscopic examination of the pancreas (ERCP) and helps to reduce jaundice.Treatment such as chomotherapy and radiotherapy may be used to slow the progress of the disease.Pain can often be relieved with analgesics.Severe pain may be treated by a nerve block-a procedure using an injection of a chemical to inactivate the nerves supplying the pancreas

Prognosis: In many cases,Pancreatic Cancer is not diagnosed until it is far advanced, at which time the outlook is poor.Fewer than 1 in 50 people survives more than 5 years.Most people survive for less than a year

Pancreatitits: Pancreas Gland become inflamed.Often linked to excessive Alcohol consumption

Panic Attacks: A panic attack is a short burst of overwhelming anxiety.It occurs without warning and quite unpredictably and tends to happen in public places such as crowded supermarkets or a cramped lift.The symptoms begin suddenly with a sense of breathing difficulty,chest pains,palpitations,feeling light-headed and dizzy,sweating,trembling and faintness, fast,shallow breathing and pins and needles.Although very unpleasant and frightening,panic attacks usually last for only a few minutes,cause no physical harm and are rarely associated with a serious physical illness

Self-Help Treatments: 1. Exercise can be very helpful by diverting the mind and alleviating mental stress.It also increases blood flow to the brain.Studies have shown that jogging for 30 min three times a week is as effective as phsychotherapy in treating depression and will work just as well for you.So if you can, establish a routine of regular exercise - walking,swimming or whatever appeals.Start gradually,building up to a more energetic pace as you progress 2. Watch what you eat & drink.Avoid too much caffein & alcohol, junk food and sugar & increase your intake of wholegrain cereal,vegetables,fruit,lean meats,low-fat dairy products and fish.The amino acid tryptophan has been found to relieve anxiety and natural sources include turkey,chicken,fish,peas,nuts and peanut butter.Where possible you should eat them with a carbohydrate such as potatoes,past or rice,which facilitates the brain's uptake of tryptophan.You might also find it helpful to use essential oil of clary sage (from health shops).This is both a powerful relaxant and mentally uplifting.It eases mental fatigue and depression nd helps bring good sleep.Put two to three drops into a bowl of steaming water and inhale or add a little to your bath water.You could also place four to six drops on a tissue when you are going out and inhale whenever you feep particularly tense.Passion Flower and Valerain Root taken as a tea or tincture have a calming effect.Some people have also found ginger,cayenne pepper,dandelion root and Siberian ginseng to have helpful,calming properties

Instant help during a panic attack: You also need to have a way of relaxing instantly when you are in public - if you feel a panic attack coming on and you will be able to do that once you have got used to practising relaxation techniques in your own time at home. Try the following when you are out 1. Stand as comfortably and as relaxed as you can. 2. Take a deep breath to the count of five and then breathe slowly out 3. Mentally tell all your muscles to relax 4. Repeat this two or three times until you are feeling relaxed.Imagine yourself in a pleasant situation such as walking along a beach,or sitting in a beautiful garden.If you find yourself breathing rapidly and shallowly (hyperventillating) cover your mouth and nose with a small paper bag and breathe into it for a few minutes.You will soon feel much calmer.During an attack concentrate as hard as you can on something you can see,such as the pattern on the carpet or a picture on the wall.Stay calm.Try to continue with what you were doing,but take it slowly

Couselling: Panic attacks may be a symptom of a more deep-seated problem that may be helped by counselling.This could be a way of finding your own inner resources,resources you may have forgotten you possess because of your present anxiety

Papilloedema: Caused by Pressure within the Skull.A the result of one of several serious disorders, among them High Blood Pressure, Meningitis,severe Kidney disease or a Brain tumor, abscess or brain Haemorrhage

Pap-Smear Test: A pap-smear taken regularly can detect the earliest pre-cancerous changes,which can be treated promptly so that the cancer never develops - or incidentally detect infections or any sexually transmitted diseases.A cervical cancer is one of the few cancers over which we can exert some positive control.It is very quick procedure that can help save our lives.Cervical mears should be performed on all woman within a year of her 20th birthday or as soon as she has become sexually active.Cervical smears may be performed by a GP, your Gine or at any Family Plannng Clinic.It is better that you shouldn't be menstruating or have had intercourse within 24hours of having your test - as blood and semen make the result unreliable.Ideally you should be at mid-cycle to obtian the best quality smear.This test is also very important for women who have or have had infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - since some types of this virus can cause cancer of the cervix

Procedure: You lie on your back with your knees bent.A warm speculum is passed into the vagina to separate the walls so the doctor can see your cervix.The cervix is small & cilindrical,several centimetres in lenght and forms the lower part and neck of the uterus.The cervix dips down into the vagina.Running through the centre of the cervix is a canal through which sperm pass from the vagina into the uterus on their way to fertilize an egg and through which blood passes during menstruation.A wooden spatula is wiped across the surface of the cervix to collect cells and the smear is transferred to a glass slide and sent to a laboratory.The whole thing takes less than a minute and although uncomfortable,it isn't painful.The slides are sent to the laboratory for investigation and the results should be available within a day or two or in case of an emergency - within a few hours

The Results-Are classified into 3 categories

Negative: gives an all-clear.No follow-up needed but make sure to go regularly for your annual check-up

Mild Dysplasia (CIN1) - means that your have some infection and/or abnormal changes in your cells - and should be followed up with a repeat smear - within 6 months

Moderate dysplasia (CIN 11) - Colposcopy is recommended for futher investigation

Severe Dysplasia (CIN 111) -Colposcopy is needed urgently for futher investigation

*also see Cervical Cancer for the different stages/symptoms & treatments of pre-cancer and cancer*

Paralysis: Condition occurs when muscular control is lost somewhere along the route from the Brain, via the Nerves to the Muscles.When muscular control is partially lost, the condition is known as Paresis

Paraplegia: Paralysis of Both Legs caused by injury or disease.Loss of sensation in the paralysed area and urinary incontince.With Quadriplegia or Tetraplegia there is paralysis of all four limbs due to injury of neck.Monoplegia only one limb is paralysed caused by may different diseases

Paratyphoid:Highly infectious disease caused by Bacteria called Salmonella Paratyphi.Is a serious cause of Food Poisoning.

Enteric Fever - Typhoid & Paratyphoid are infections caused by Salmonella bacteria that results in high fever follow by a rash.Typhoid & Parathyphoid are almost identical diseases that are caused by the bateria Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyhi,respectively.The bacteria mutiply in the intestines and spead to the blood and to other organs,such as the spleen,gallbladder and liver.The disease are transmitted through infected faeces and most commonly occur in areas where hygiene and sanitation are poor e.g due to Earthquacks, Tornadoes, extensive Flooding which disrupt sewerage disposal.Infection & contamination is commonly due to food (particularly shellfish) or water contaminated by unwashed hands & flies

Symptoms: Of both diseases apprear 7-14 days after infection and may include 1. headache & high fever 2. dry cough 3. abdominal pain & 4. constipation,usually followed by 5. diarrhoea 6. a rash of rose-coloured spots appearing on the chest,abdomen & back 7. It carries a high mortality rate - if left untreated both infections leads to serious complication,such as intestinal bleeding and rarely perforation of the intestines

Treatment: Typhoid & paratyphoid can be diagnosed by testing blood or faeces samples for the bacteria.The disease are usually treated with antibioticc in hospital.Symptoms usually subside 2-3 days after treatment has begun and most people recover fully in a month.Even with treatment the bacteria are excreted for about 3 months after the symptoms have disappeared.Some people who do not undergo treatment may become life-long carriers of the bacteria and transmit the infection to others,although they appear to be healthy.Good hygiene is the best protection against infection.Several vaccines are availabe and if you intend to travel to a developing country,immunization may be advisable.Consult your doctor before travelling as recommendations change

Parietal Lobe: Part of the Brain. Involved with understanding Speech, this area works with the occipital lobe to work out the size and shape of objects and to read

Parkinson's Disease: Paralysis Agitans.Disease of the Nervous System.In Parkinson's disease there is degeneration of cells in a particular part of the brain - called the Basal Ganglia,which control the smoothness of muscle movements.Cells in the Basal Ganglia produce a neurotransmitter - a chemical that transmits nerve impulses - called Dopamine,which acts with Acetylcholine,another transmitter,to fine-tune muscle movements.In Parkinson's Disease - the level of dopamine realtive to acetylcholine is reduced,and muscle control is lost.Although the cause of Parkinson's is not known,genetic factors are probabley involved.About 3 in 10 people with the disorder have an affected family member.About 1 in 100 people over the age of 60 in the West have Parkinson's disease.Parkinson's is the term given to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease when they are due to another underlying disorder.Certain drugs,including some antipsychotic drugs used to treat severe psychiatric illness as well as antisickness and antivertigo drugs may cause Parkinsonism,as may repeated head injuries

Symptoms: 1. The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease begin gradually over a period of months or even years. 2. Greasiness of the face and excessive salivation 3. Expressionless or mask-like face 4. Tremor of one hand,arm or leg,usually when resting and later occuring on both side 5. muscle stiffness,making it difficult to start moving 6. handwriting that gets smaller and smaller 7. slowness of movement 8. shuffling walk 9. stooped posture 10 . Later stiffness,immobility and a constant trembling of boht hands can make daily tasks difficult to perform.Speech may become slow and hesitant,and swallowing may be difficult.Many with Parkinsons's disease develop depression.About 3 out of 10 people with the condition eventually develop dementia

Treatment: Since Parkinson's disease begins gradually,it is often not possible to diagnose immediately.Your doctor will arrange for you to see a Neurologist.Tests such as CT scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to exclude other possible causes.Sometimes it is only a positive response to antiparkinsonism drugs that confirms the diagnosis.If a specific underlying disorder is found to be causing your symptoms - you will be diagnosed as having Parkinsonism rather that Parkinson's disease.Although there is no specific cure for Parkinsons,drugs,surgery and physical treatments may relieve symptoms

If you have Parkinsonism due to medication your doctor may change your drugs.Symptoms may then disappear in about 8 weeks

If symptoms do not resolve,treatment with antiparkinsonism drugs may be needed 1. Drug Treatment - Drugs such as Amantadine to increase the activity of Dopamine 2. anticholinergic drugs,such as trihexyphenidyl,to decrease acetylcholine activity.Together these drugs help reduce shaking and muscle stiffness and improve mobility.Amantadine may be effective for only a few months.Side effects include nausea,insomnia,loss of appetite, and occasionally hallucinations.Levodopa is usually effective for several years.At first its side effects are mainly nausea and vomiting,although in some cases involuntary movements and hauulcinations may occur.Long-term use of levodopa sometimes results in abrupt changes of symptoms known as the on-off phenomenon.Movements are sluggish and difficult as the drug wears off during the 'off periods'.During the 'on periods' - mobility is impaired by involuntray movements such as tics,spasms and writhing.Levodopa is often prescribed in combination with another drug called carbidopa,which reduces the side effects.Carbidopa prevents the breakdown of levodopa,so smaller doses of levodopa provide the same effect.Anticholinergic drugs can be effective for several years.However - side effects may include vision problems, difficulty urinating and a dry mouth.If you experience any changes in your symptoms - it is important for you to consult your doctor because your drug regimen may need to be altered

Physical treatment - the doctor may arrange physiotherapy to help with mobility problems or speech therapy for speech and swallowing problems.If you are finding it difficult to cope at home,occupational therapy may be useful.The therapist may suggest changes,such as installing grab-rails in your home,to make it easier for you to move around

Surgical treatment - Younger people may have surgery if the tremor cannot be controlled by drugs and they are otherwise in good health.Surgery for Parkinson's disease involves destroying a part of the brain tissue responsible for the tremor

Recent experimental therapies include replacement of damaged brain cells with transplanted fetal adrenal tissue

Deep brain stimulation with electrical impulses to reduce tremor is proving helpful and holds promise as a future treatment.It is important to continue to exercise and take care of your general health.Try to take a walk each day.Stretching exercises can help you maintain your strength and mobility.However you should also rest during the day to avoid getting tired.Encouragement and emotional support from family,friends and support groups is also important

Prognosis:The course of the disease is variable, but drugs may be effective in treatiang the symptoms and improving quality of life.People can lead active lives for many years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.However,most people eventually need daily help,and their symptoms may become increasingly hard to control with drugs

Paronychia: Infection by Bacteria or Fungus at the fold of Skin at the side of the Finger or Toe-nail, which can occur in acute or chronic forms.Bacteria is able to enter the skin if it is soggy because of prolonged immersion in water or if the nail or adjacent skin is constantly picked at or bittern.Pus builds up in the nail fold and is painful

Paroxysmal: Attacks of rapid beating of the heart which start and stop abruptly.Usually occur in otherwise healthy young adults

Patella: Kneecap

Patent Ductus Arteriosus: Relatively rare Congenital Abnormality of the Heart in babies

Pattern Therapy: The use of various shapes and patterns to promote healing based on the belief that they possess their own specific power of energy e.g classical Pyramid

Pectoralis Major: The Large muscle across the top of the chest, helps to move the shoulder and is involved in deep breathing.The Intercostal Muscles between ribs also help with breathing

Pelvic Floor Exercises: The first step is to find the group of muscles that form a figure of 8 around the vagina,urethra and anus.You can do this by stopping the flow several times while you are urinating

Tighten the muscles for 5 seconds,relax them for 5 seconds,then tense them again.Make sure you are not just tightening your buttocks and try not to tighten your tummy muscles at the same time.You may not be able to avoid the tension for the full 5 seconds at first,but you are likely to develop this ability as your pelvic muscles grow stronger

The next stage is to tighten and relax the muscles 10 min as quickly as you can so that they seem to 'flutter'.You will probably need to practise for a while to control the muscles in this way.Next,contract the muscles long and steady as though you were trying to draw an object into your vagina.Hold the contraction for 5 seconds

The final step is to bear down as if emptying the bowels,but pushing more through the vagina than the anus.Hold the tension for 5 seconds.Gradually build up to 10 contractions 10x times daily or more,spaced over several hours,and check your progress once or twice a week by stopping the flow when you urinate

After about 6 weeks of these exercise you should find stopping the flow is much easier than it was in the beginning.The beauty of pelvic floor exercise is that,once your have mastered the technique,you can do them anywhere,any time - lying down,standing,watching television,even when you are washing up or vacuuming

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is grumbling infection or inflammation of any of the pelvic organs - the Uterus, Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries.Pelvic inflammatory disease is a powerful threat to infertility.Irrevocable scarring of the FallopinaTubes and Ovaries is the most serious complication,because it causes sterility.Other complications include painful intercourse (dyspareunia).At one time, the most common cause of PID was tuberculosis.Now it is CHLAMYDIA.There is a little evidence that the use of (IUD's) Inrauterine contraceptive devices,may be a contributing factor.Symptoms: Abdominal pain,Back pain,Persistent menstrual-like cramps,vaginal spotting of blood,,tiredness,pain during and after intercourse,foul=smelling vaginal discharge,flu-like symptoms of fever & chills,sub-fertility or infertility.PID must be treated early to prevent longterm problems.The symptoms can be those of an acute infection with fever,nausea,discomfort and pain, which should alert you to the fact that there is something wrong.A chronic infection may ony cause recurrent mild pain and sometimes backache.But both forms must be investigated.Don't wait for it to go away,see your doctor as soon as possible.If you have an IUD,go to your clinic immediately

Treatment: You will be examined and tested to identify the organism causing the infection.Your doctor will probably prescribe antibioticks and bed rest.Eat well and abstain from sexual intercourse during your treatment.If PID,develops into a chronic infection, it can be difficult to eradicate.You may need investigative laparoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.In severe cases, for a longterm infection,hysterectomy with removal of the Fallopian tubes can be the only course of action,although yu should go into the alterntives fully before agreeing to this operation

Prevention: Don't let any vaginal discharge continue for any length of time without full investigation and treatment.Because PID can recur, have a full check-up to confirm that your infection has been completely eradicated.If you suspect that you or your partner may have a sexually transmitted disease,go to an STD clinic straight away

Pelvis: Hip Bone.Large bone that forms part of the hip joint

Pemphigoid: Auto-immune Disease.Much milder form of Blistering disease than the very dangerous Pemphigus

Pemphigus: Auto-Immune Disease.Rare often fatal disease that gives rise ot Blisters.Affects the 40-60year age range and mostly Jewish

Penis: Male genatals

Penicillin: The first Antibiotic to be discovered - used in the treatment of may infections including Tonsilitis and Otitis Media.Penicilin may however, provoke an Allegric reaction such as asthma or rash.Ensure that you or your child (if allergiwears a medic-alert bracelet so that the drug is not given to you under any conditions

Peptic Ulcer: x2 Different types: Gastric (Stomach) or Duodenal Ulcers - depending on their location.Ulcers occurs when the tissue lining the stomach or duodenum is eroded by acidic digestive juices

The lining of the stomach and duodenum - the first part of the small intestine is normally protedted from the effects of acidic digestive juices by a barrier of mucus.If this barrier is damaged,acid may cause inflammation and erosion of the lining.The resulting eroded areas are known as peptic ulcers and there are 2 different types - Duodenal ulcers and Stomach (Gastric) ulcers

Stomach ulcers are more common over age 50 - but Duodenal ulcers are more common in men between the ages of 20 and 45.Duodenal ulcers sometimes run in families, stress, excess alcohol and smoking are risk factors

Causes: Peptic ulcers are most commonly associated with a Helicobacter pylori infection.This bacterium releases chemicals that increase gastric acid secretion.Acidic digestive juices are then more likely to erode the lining of the stomach or the duodenum,which allows peptic ulcers to develop.Peptic ulcers may sometimes result from the long-term use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),such as ibuprofen,that damages the stomach lining.Other factors that may lead to Peptic ulcers,suggesting that a gene may be at work.It is currently thought that psychological stress is probably not one of the primary causes of Peptic ulcers,however it may make an existing ulcer worse

Symptoms: 1. Many people with a Peptic ulcer do not experience symptoms or dismiss their discomfort as indigestion or heart burn. 2. Those with persistent symptoms may notice - pain or discomfort that is felt in the centre of the upper abdomen,often just under the tip of the breastbone. 3. Pain going through to the back. 4. A loss of appetite and weight loss.5. A feeling of fullness in the abdomen.6. Nausea and 7. sometimes vomiting. 8. Pain comes in attacks and is often present for several weeks and then disappears for months or even years. 9. The pain from a duodenal ulcer can be worse BEFORE meals when the stomach is empty and can be quickly relieved by eating - but usually recurs a few hours afterwards.By contrast,pain caused by a gastric ulcer is often worse AFTER food

Complications: The most common complicaton of peptic ulcer is bleeding as the ulcer becomes deeper and erodes into nearby blood vessels.Minor bleeding from the digestive tract may cause no symptoms except those of Anaemia - such as pale skin,fatigue and faintness.Bleeding from the digestive tract may lead to vomiting of blood.Alternatively blood may pass through the digtestive tract in black,tarry stools.In some cases,an ulcer perforates all the layers of the stomach or duodenum,allowing gastric juices to enter the abdomen and causing severe apin and peritonitis.Bleeding from the digestive tract and perforation of the stomach or the duodenum may be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.In rare cases, stomach ulcers may result in narrowing of the stomach outlet into the duodenum,which prevents the stomach from emptying,which prevents the stomach from emptying fully.Symptoms may the include bloating after meals,vomiting undigested food - hours after eating and weight loss

Treatment: If your doctor suspects that you have a Peptic ulcer, and endoscopy will be arranged to view the stomach and duodenum directly.During endoscopy, - a sample of the stomach lining will be taken to look for evidence of H.pylori infection and exclude stomach cancer, which may cause similar symptoms.In some cases a barium X-ray may be done instead.Your doctor may also arrange for you to have blood tests to detect antibodies against the H.pylori bacterium and to check for evidence of Anaemia

Treatment of a Peptic ulcer is designed to heal the ulcer and to prevent it from recurring.You aill be advises to make some lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking and drinking less alcohol.H.pylori is treated with a combination of antibiotics to kill the bacteria and ulcer-healing drugs to cut acid production and promote healing.Because 3 drugs may be involved - the combination is ofgten called 'triple therapy'.Triple therapy needs to be taken reigiously for 1-2 weeks,which usually eradicates H.pylori and the condition never recurs. Occasionally,however, it may be necessary to take another course. Ulcer-healing drugs are usually given to maximize the chance of healing even if tests for H.pylori prove negative.If long-term treatment with aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is the cause,your doctor may prescribe an alternative drug or an additional drug,such as misoprostol,to protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum.A bleeding or perforated ulcer is an emergency requiring urgent admission to hospital.If blood loss is severe,a blood transfusion may be necessary.Endoscopy may be done to view the stomach lining,during this,bleeding blood vessels may be treated with diathermy,a technique that uses heat to seal them.Alternatively and injection of drugs may be given to stop bleeding.If bleeding is severe or the ulcer is perforated,surgery is usually necessary.With treatment,about 19 in 20 peptic ulcers disappear completely within a few months.However the ulcer may recur if lifestyle changes are not made or if there is reinfection with H.pylori

Perforated Ear Drum: Hole in in Ear-Drum due to injury or infection e.g Otitis Media

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the Pericardium - Sac that forms the Outer covering of the Heart

Periostitis: Inflammation of the Periosteum - thin layer of Tissue Surrounding a Bone due to injury, infection, or several diseases including Tuberculosis

Peristalsis: Wave-like contractions of Muscle in the Walls of certain organs and passages, by which their contents are pushed along e.g food along the digestive tract, or from gullet to rectum, or Ovum down the Fallopian Tubes into the Uterus

Peritonitis: Acute and serious condition.Inflammation of the Peritoneum - membrane that lines the abdominal cavity surrounding the stomach an other soft Internal organs

Peritoneum: Membrane that lines the Abdominal Cavity surrounding the stomach an other soft Internal organs

Perthes' Disease: Condition in which the growing part of the Top of the Femur - thigh bone becomes inflamed and softened

Petit Mal: One of the three Main types of Epilepsy.Mainly affecting young people (4years -adolescence)

Peyronie's Disease: It is a condition in which the shape of the penis is distorted causing it to bend to one side and down when erect.It's very rare under the age of 40 and sometimes runs in families.In Peyornie's Disease, the fibrous tissue of the penis becomes thickened,causing it to bend during erection.The penis may bend so much that sexual inercourse is difficult and painful.Peyronie's disease occurs in about 2 in 100 men.Often no cause can be identified,but previous damage to the penis may be a risk factor.Peyronie's is also associated with Dupuytren's contracture - a condition in which the fibrous tissue in the palm of the hand becomes thick and shortened causing the fingers to bend inwards.Peyronie's Disease can run in families,which implies that a genetic factor is involved

Symptoms: This develop gradually adn include - curvature of the penis to one side during an erection.pain in the penis on erection.A thickened area in the penis,usually be felt as a firm nodule when the penis is flaccid.Eventually the thickened region of the penis may extend to include parts of the erectile tissue.In this case, Peyronie's Disease may lead to impotence if it is not treated

Treatment: In some cases this condition can improve without treatment.Some surgreons excise the fibrosed tissue, others remove a wedge on the opposite side to enourage a straight erection.A vein patch may be inserted.Poor results are rusually due to disease progression or scarring.If the condition is advanced, the best solution, may be to implant a penile prosthesis

Phalanges: Finger Bones

Phenylketonuria (PKU): This is an inherited chemical defect that can cause brain damage.Children with phenylketonuria lack the enzyme that breaks down phenylalanine - a substance that occurs naturally in most food containing protein.As a result,phenylalanne is convereted into harmful substances that build up in the blood and may damage the develping brain.Although phenylketonuria is rare,all newborn babies are screened for it because of the risk of serious brain damage,which can be prevented by following a special diet that is low in phenylalanine.The baby's heel is pricked with a small needle to obtain a few drops of blood for testing

Symptoms: 1. At birth some babies with (PKU) have a red,itchy rash similar to eczema 2. but most affected infants appear healthy 3. If an affected baby is not tested as a newborn and the condition is left untreated,symtoms develop gradually over a period of 6-12 months and 4. include vomiting 5. restlessness and 6. sometimes seizures 7. stale unpleasant skin odour 8.delay in development 9.Left untreated, phenylketonuria may lead to serious brain damage 10.resulting in severe learning disabilities

Treatment: If your baby is diagnosed as having Phenylketonuria,he will probably prescribed a special formula or milk substitute that is rich in protein but contains little phenylalanine.Your child will have to follow a diet low in phenylalanine for life - this is especially improtant for women with the condition who might become pregnant.With early diagnosis and treatment,affected children develop normally and attend regular schools

Pinna: Ear flap.Made of soft cartilage, the ear flap Channels Sound Waves into the ear canal

Phaeochromocytoma: Caused mainly by respiratoryVirses or Bacteria-Streptococci.Usually benign (non cancerous) tumour of certain body cells.Mostly in one or two of the Adrenal Glands which lie on top of the Kidneys, but may occur in various other parts of the body

Pharynx: Passage connecting the back of the Nose with the back of the Mouth - leading into the Larynx & Oesophagus

Pharyngitis: Acute or Chronic Inflammation of the Pharynx

Phimosis: In boys - An abnormal tightness of the foreskin which prevents it from being drawn back over the tip(glans) of the penis.Phimosis can result in infections such as Balantitis,because the penis cannot be properly cleaned - it may also cause problems with urination and pain with erections.If the foreskin fails to loosen naturally,circumsision is usually recommended.Never attempt to force the foreskin back,especially if your child is under 5 years old

Symptoms: 1. Foreskin cannot be drawn back over the tip of the penis 2. Urine does not come out in a steady stream,it either dribbles out slowly or the foreskin balloons with the pressure of the urine,which sprays out in all direction

Treatment: Consult your doctor if you are concerned about the condition or if the foreskin has not loosened naturally by the time your child is five or six.Consult your doctor as soon as possible if the foreskin has been forced back and won't slide forwards again. If possible your doctor will return the foreskin to its normal position if it has been pulled back an won't return.Your doctor may refer you to a surgeon for permanent correction of the condition by circumcision.Your child will be admitted to hospital and the foreskin removed under a general anaesthetic.Your child will be discharged from hospital within 24H.Try not to worry about the condition if your son is under 5 years old - it may correct itself in time.Make sure your child bathes frequently.A warm bath is the best way to keep an uncircumcized penis clean and to prevent infection.Retraction of the foreskin to clean the penis should not be necessary

Circumsizion: If your child has just been circumsized,give him baths with a handful of salt x2 a day to promote healing.Let him go about with no pants on - anything rubbing on a recently circimcized penis will make it sore.Give your newly circumcized child a bowl of warm water to pour over his penis when he urinates.There will be some pain on passing uring for about 48H after the operation

Phlebitis: Inflammation of the lining of a Vein, mostly in the legs.If a bloodclot forms it is called Thrombophlebitis

Phobia: Form of Anxiety, similar to compulsive obsessional behaviour.Intense anxiety and abnormal fear may be triggered off by a specific situation or object.Many people have a particular fear,such as a fear of dogs,heights or spiders - that is occasionally upsetting, however - a phobia goes much further than this,being a persistent fear of anxiety that disrups normal life.A phobia is a fear or anxiety that has been carried to extremes - others and the sufferer, recognize that it is irrational.A person with a phobia has such a compelling desire to avoid contact with a feared object or situation that it interferes with normal life.About 1 in 20 people has a phobia.Most phobias have their root in childhood and the problem usually develops in late childhood,adolescence or early adult life.Being exposed to the subject of the phobia causes a panic reaction with crippling anxiety sweating and a rapid heartbeat.Even though aware that this intense fear is irrational,a person with a phobia still fears anxiety that can be alleviated only by avoiding the feared object or situation.The need to this may disrupt routines and limit the person's capacity, to take part in day-to-day activities

Different Types of Phobias: It can take different forms, but they can be broadly divided into 2 types Simple & Complex Phobias & Social Phobias

Simple Phobias - Are Phobias that are specific to a single object,sutuation or activity,such as fear of spiders,heights or air travel,are called simple Phobias.e.g Claustrophobia,a fear of enclosed spaces,is a simple phobia.Another example is a fear of blood,which is a common simple phobia that affects more men than women.Simple phobias appear to run in families,but this is thought to be because children often learn their fears from a family member with a similar phobia

Complex Phobias - These Phobias are more complicated and have a number of component fears.Agoraphobia is an example of a complex phobia that involves multiple anxieties and sometimes develop after an unexplained panic attack.Some people recall a stressful situation as the trigger for their symptoms and then become conditioned to be anxious in these circumstance.Some of these complex phobias may include being alone in an open space or being trapped in a public area with no exit or safety.This kind of situations that provoke agoraphobic anxiety include riding on public transport,using lifts and visiting crowded shops.Tactics to avoid these situations may disrupt work and social life, and a person with severe agoraphobia may eventually become housebound.Agographobia may occasionally develop in middle ages and is more common in women

Social Phobias - Such as excessive shyness, are also classified as complex phobias.People with social phobias have an overwhelming fear of embarrasing themselves or of being humiliated in front of other people in social situations such as when they are eating or speaking in public.Most social phobias also begin with a sudden episode of intense anxiety in a social situation,which then become the main focus of the phobias.A person who is lacking in self-esteem is also more likely to develop agoraphobia or a social phobia.No matter how confident we seen,most of us know what it is to feel shy.For some, the feeling is temporary while for others it is as permanent disabling condition that involves feeling desperately uncomfortable in certain situations

The basic cause is always the same,lack of confidence.The symptoms can vary from strong physical reactions such as palpitations,diarrhoea,sickness,panic attacks,butterflies and sweaty palms,to tension,flushing and being tongue-tied.This is one are where possitive thinking won't work.Telling yourself you feel confident when you don't,won't stop the uncomfortable sensations and may make you feel even worse the next time around.The solution is to decide how you want to feel and when you want to feel it,then work it out.First think about the situation withe these people.Next decide what you are good at.Be honest.Then look at what other people see, the image you are projecting,is it really who you are.It is very hard to project something you are not.People will see through it eventually,if not immediately.Be genuine and people will warm up to your honesty.Once you feel they like what they see,you can relax,and you won't feel shy any more.The first step is to - foucus outwards.You'll quickly find yourself so caught up in what people have to say and you will forget how you are feeling.If you are truly responsive,which means concentrating on what is being said instead of examining yourself for excuses to go home - people will respond to you.Learn to smile - it automatically relaxes you and others.Learn a relaxation technique and use it before you go into difficulty situations.One of the best is to tense and then release each part of the body in turn,moving from your toes to your head.Another is to breathe in and out deeply and slowly

Learn how to start conversation.Talking about the weather is fine,If you are watching a football match,or a tv-programme,use it as a starting point.Ask the other person's opinion.Ask leading questions that require a full answer.If you say 'isn't it hot?' the short answer will be yes or no.Ideally questions should seek opinions e.g what is your opinion about so and so or what is your opinion about divorce? How do you spend your weekends? you should get positive answers and keep the conversation going.Move into interests and hobbies - you might find something in common.Keep it light and and cheerful - do not moan or be dreary!! People do not like negative people or to be sucked into other people's problems - at least not in the first meeting.If you are asked something painful,try to be honest.Do not be embarrassed and don't feel the need to talk more if there is a lull in the conversation.Some lulls can be quite comfortable if you are relaxed

Remember there is nothing wrong with feeling shy,it is normal and quite all right if you are at a party with no one to talk to,to something like 'I'm afraid I get a bit nervous on these occasions,do your?'.If you are at the school date in a new area,choose a friendly face and say ' I am new here,are there any good playgroups/football clubs/mothers/groups to join ? A great way to deal with sitations for which preparation is impossible is to link of the worst that can possibly happen.If you are giving a speech, and you lose the thread of what you are saying.If you are meeing the Queen and you simply dry when she asks you something - it is not going to kill you! No one has ever actually died of embarrassment.Do not take yourelf too seriously.A lot of human failings are quite funny,if you think about them.It would be much better for you to laught afterwards than to go over things again and again until your conficence is knocked futher

Treatment: There is a kind of shyness that is so severe it is crippling and just about prevents normal life.It is called social phobias.Seroxat - beloning to the latest generation of anitdepressants (SSR's) has been shown to help suffereres greatly.You doctor can prescribe it - but all antidepressnats are powerful drugs it should be reserved for people who are seriously afflicted with shyness

Acrophobia - fear of heights,Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces, Ailurophobia - fear of cats,Anthrophobia - fear of people, Aquaphobia - fear of water, Arachnophobia - fear of spiders,Brontophobia - fear of thunder,Claustrophobia - fear of enclosures, Cynophobia - fear of dogs,Equinophobia - fear of horses,Microphobia - fear of germs, Murophobia - fear of mice, Mysophobia - fear of dirt,Ophidiophobia - fear of snakes.Pterophobia - fear of flying, Pyrophobia - fear of fire,Thanatophobia - fear of death,Triskaidekaphobia - fear on number 13, Xenophobia - fear of strangers, Zoophobia - fear of animals

Causes: Often no explanation can be found for a phobia.However,occasionally a simple phobia may be traced to an experience earlier in life e.g being trapped temporarily in a confined enclosed space during childhood may lead to claustrophobia in later life.Or if you are a believer in reincarnation - traumatic incident during one of your previous lives

*see reincarnation section of website*

Symptoms: Exposure to or simply thinking about the object,creature of situation that generates the phobia leads to intense anxiety accompanied by dizziniss and feeling faint,palpitations -the awareness of an abnormally rapid heartbeat,sweating,trembling and nausea,shortness of breath.A factor that is common to every phobia is avoidance.Activities may become so limited because of fear of unexpectedly encountering the subject of the phobia that sufferers become housebound and depressed.Sometimes a person with a phobia attempts to relieve fear by drinking too much or abusing drugs

Treatment: If you have a phobia that interferes with your life,you should seek treatment.Many simple phobias can be treated effectively using a form of behaviour therapy,such as desensitization.During treatment,a therapist gives support while you are safely and gradually exposed to the object or situation that you fear.Inevitably,you will experience some anxiety,but exposure is always kept within bearable limits.Members of your family can be given guidance on how to help you cope with your phobic behaviour.If you have symptoms of depression,your doctor may prescribe antidepressant drugs.Some research has shown that people who suffer phobias experience similar symtoms to people with low blood sugar.Ensuring blood sugar levels remain stable may help prevent attacks.Have many small meals over the day.Eat complex carbohydrates (potatoes,wholegrain breads and cereal,rice or past) avoid simple carbohydrates (sugar,sweets,cakes & biscuit).Keep a snack with you at all times,nuts and fresh or dried fruit are best.A simple phobia often resolves itself as a person gets older.However,complex phobias such as social phobias and agoraphobia,tend to persits unless they are treated.More than 9 in 10 people with agoraphobia are treated successfully with desensitization therapy

Photosensitivity: The abnormal sensitivity of the skin to Ultraviolet light (sunlight) in some people - resulting in redness and discomfort.Various substances may cause photosensitivity, including drugs such as Tetracyclines,Diuretics,Oral contraceptives - as well as chemicals used in the manufacture of cosmetics.The rare metabolic disorder Porphyria can also cause photosensitivity

Symptoms: The reaction occurs in areas of skin frequently exposed to sunlight,such as the face and hands.Not much exposure is needed.The effects usually develop shortly after exposure,but may be delayed for 24-48 hours.The symptoms include: red,often painful rash,small itchy blisters,scaly skin

Treatment: To releive symptoms,the doctor may prescribe topical corticosteroids.Oral antihistamines may be prescribed.Severe cases are treated with controlled exposure to ultraviolet light,sometimes combined with drugs, to desensitize the skin.If a particular drug is causing photosensitivity,your doctor may be able to prescribe a different drug.Self-help: You can help control the reaction by avoiding sunlight as much as possible.When outdoors,cover your skin,wear a hat and use total sunblock

Pigeon Chest: An abnormally prominent Breatbone, which may be present from birth or symptom of Rickets Disease

Pigeon Toes: Turning-in of the toes

Pigmented Naevus: Harmless coloured Birthmark.May be pale or so heavily pigmented as to appear almost black.Start as blotches or firm nodules and occur anywhere on the body.On face may grow as the common domed shaped mole with strong hairs growing from it

Pilar Cyst: Type of Cyst that forms in the Sebaceous (oil) glands in the Skin.Usually appear in the Scalp an is not generally prone to infection

Piles: Haemorrhoids.Varicose (swollen) veins outside or inside the Anal Area.Can be a cause of bleeding from this ara

Pilonidal Sinus or Cyst: An opeing lined with hairs that develops in the skin between the Buttocks.Can become infected an painful.Mainly affects young adults

Pimple: Small raised inflammed spot on the skin that contains pus.Large numbers of pimples and blackheads are known as Acne and common in adolescence

Pins and Needles: A tingling feeling in the Limb, caused by Pinching of a Nerve

Pinta: An infectious Skin disorder.Scaly red or blue patches appear on the face,neck, hands and feet, which later turn white

Pityriasis Rosea: Most common one of a group of diseases in which delicate, bran-like scales form on the skin.Normally in young adults,particulary women especially in spring and autum

Placebo: A Preparation that has No Medicinal Powers.Prescribed when a doctor decides that a patient has no need of a drug but knows that the patient will not be satisfied unless he is given a prescription.In many cases the placebo relieves the patient's condition,simply because he believes it to be a medicine and therefore has Faith in its powers

Placenta Praevia: An abnormal condition of Pregnancy.The Placenta develops not in the upper part of the womb,but in the lower area.Danger in that it may obstruct the passage of the Fetus and cause heavy bleeding during labour

Plague: A serious infectious disease caused by a Bacterium Yersinia Pestis in Animals, mainly in Rats.Transmitted to humans by fleas from infected rats

Plantar Fascia: Muscle Sheats in the Sole of the Foot

Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the Muscle Sheaths in the Sole of the Foot near the heel bone

Plasma: The Liquid part of Blood, which can be used as replacement fluid in the treatment of shock or burns

Pleura: The lungs are seperated from the inside of the chest wall by a delicate membrane Which is lubricated by a thin film of fluid

Pleurisy: Dry Inflammation - when the Pleura membrane in the lung gets inflammed or Wet when excess fluid is produced, seperating hte lungs from the chest wall.Infections causes could range from Bateria,Virusses,Pneumonia,cancer or injury

Pneumonia: Acute Inflammation of the Lungs by Bacterial (Pneumococcus bacterium) or Virus infection or by a foreign body which has been inhaled.In young children, it is nearly always due to an upper respiratory infection such as a Common Cold or Influenza spreading to the lung.Pneumonia is always SERIOUS

Pneumothorax: Normally the membrane covering the lung, is in close contact with the lining of the inner surface of the chest wall, seperated only by a thin layer of moisture between the two.Air gets between between them, causing the lung to collapse

Poliomyelitis: Polio.Is a viral infection of Spinal Cord and Nerves. Is always SERIOUS.If not diagnosed and progresses, permanent paralysis will occur

Polioyelitis: Virus Infection occuring in Epidemics

Polycystic Ovarian Cysts: Polycystic ovaries are ovaries in which multiple benign 'cysts' for,these are not true cysts,but small follicles.The are found in 15-20 percent of women.Women with the condition may have other symptoms, which include a tendency to obesity,excessive body hair and acne.The ovary seems to produce an excessive amount of male hormones.The condition may cause fertility problems and sufferers may have irregular periods

Causes: The exact cause is not known, but there is growing evidence that it is due to a resistance to insulin,leading to high levels of insulin in the blood.This stimulates the ovaries,disrupting normal ovulation

Treatment: Polycystic ovaries are often discovered because of one of the complaints e.g pain during intercourse,Painful heavy periods,If a cyst twists or rapture,it results in severe abdominal pain,nasea and fever.Urinary problems due to pressure on the bladder.The doctor will examine you internally and may arange ultrasound examination of your ovaries adn blood test to confrim the diagnosis.You may be given the pill to stimulate a normal monthly period and combat the excessive male hormones.A special combined pil (Dianette) can help many of the symptoms,especially acne.If you wish, to conceive,but are having difficulty, fertillity treatment could be necessary.Discuss the symptoms fully with your doctor so you understand the nature o all the treatments that are offered to you.The outlook depends on the severity of the problems encountered.Currently available treatments provide good control of the majority of symptoms

Polycystic Ovarian Cysts (POCS): One of the most modern advances in this area has been the definition of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.It is a great step forward largely because once diagnosed there are several treatments to be tried, each with a degree of success.POCS is an important diagnosis to make.The usual clues are a tendency to excess weight,excessive hair and scanty,irregular periods,sometimes absent altogether.Ovulation may be missing but can usually be induced with clomiphene

Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Rheumatic condition usually affecting people over 50.Pain and Stiffness in the Muscles of the neck and shoulders.Other joints may also be affected

Polymyositis: The name Polymyositis means inflammation of many muscles.The disease may affect both skeletal muscles and muscles elsewhere in the body such as in the throat or heart.In Dermatomyositis,the symptoms of Polymyositis are accompnied by a rash

Symptoms: Polymyositis results in - weakness of affected muscles,leading to e.g. difficulty raising the arms or getting up from a sitting or squatting position.Painful,swollen joints.Fatigue.Difficulty swallowing if the muscles of the throat are affected.Shortness of breath if the heart or chest muscles are involved.In cases of Dermatomyositis,the symptoms outlined above may be preceded accompanied or followed by the following additional symptoms - a red rash, often on the face,chest or backs of hands over the knuckles.Swollen reddish-purple eyelids

Treatment: This condition must always be treated by a specialist.Usually high-dose steroids are given along with analgesics for symptomatic relief

Polyneuropathy: Neuritis or Polyneuritis.Collection of Diseases affecting the Peripheral Nerves - the nerves connecting the Brain and Spinal cord with all Other parts of the body

Polyposis Of Colon: Non Malignant growths within a Mucous membrane.Single or multiple growths may occur in the lining of the large Bowl, some with a stalk of variable lenght

Porphyria: Group of Rare,Inherited Disorder.Caused by a disturbance of the Metabolism of Porphyrins, the breakdown products of the red blood pigment.The condition may be in the Liver (Hepatic Porphyria) or in the bone marow (Erythropoietic Porphyria) or both.Characteristic features are discoloration of urine,sensitivity to sunlight which causes blistering skin rashes, bouts of abdominal pain, mental disturbances and Neuritis

Port-Wine Stain: Type of Birthmark.Looks exactly like its name - a flat patch of dark Red staining in the Skin.Appear over much of the face, forehead and limbs.Very small or covering a large area.Present at birth, does not disappear but spread or grow except as the body grows.Can fade to pink and more common in blond children

Possetting: In babies, the harmless habit of regurgitating milk soon after or during a feed

Post-Concussional Syndrome: Concussion is caused by Head Injury.When victim is knocked unconscious or has no memory of events just before or just after the injury.Post-Concussional symptoms may then follow.Loss of Memory for recent events,unexplained Headaches,Irritability,Judgement problems and sufferer may appear to be drunk for an hour or two after the injury, fatigue and Depression

Postmenopausal Bleeding: ANY bleeding after Menstrual Periods have stopped with the Menopause and should be investigated immediately

Postnatal: Literally after Birth, refers to the health of the baby and its mother

Postnatal Depression (PND): Changes in Hormone levels after childbirth can profoundly affect the emotions in most women. Emotional swings last only a few days,but in others they lead to the more prolonged,serious condition called Postnatal Depression

Baby Blues

It is certainly true that nothing can prepare you for caring for a new baby.The physical and emotional upheaval is bound to have and impact.Quite often when most mothers think they are going to be happiest,they feel very low - the baby blues

Postnatal Depression - in most instances this only lasts a few days,but sadly in some, these feelings can continue for months due to a condition known as Postnatal Depression

Recognize the Symptoms

It is important for a father to be aware of the symptoms and recognize the difference between the normal 'blues' and real depression so that he knows how to help and when to seek medical advice

Your hormones, Progesterone & Estrogen will have been high during pregnancy.After your have had your baby,these hormone levels drop and your body may find it difficult to adjust.This can have a marked effect on your emotions.

With this and the fact that you are probably completely exhausted from labour and lack of sleep it is not at all surprising that you may not be feeling on top of the world

If symptoms that stated out as the common Baby blues, don't go away

And in fact start to become worse - your could be suffering from Postnatal Depression

This is a temporary and treatable condition that varies from woman to woman

It can develoop slowly and not become obvious until severeal weeks after the baby's birth - but if it is diagnosed and addressed early enough,there is a good chance of a fast cure Health visitors / clinic sisters are trained to recognize the symptoms,and treatments ranges from something as simple as talking to a friend, health visitor or doctor about how you feel,to taking medication,such as antidepressants for more severe cases

Causes of Postnatal Depression

There are many reasons why Postnatal Depression occurs. It depends on you as a person,your personal circumstances and the way your baby behaves.Research has shown that some risk factors may make you more susceptible to Postnatal Depression

1. If you enjoyed a senior position at work or high-flying career before the birth.It can be difficult to adjust to the status change

2. If you already have difficulties in your relationship,the baby may make them worse,this in itself may lead to disillusionment and low self-esteem

3. if you had an unexpectedly difficult birth experience,you could easily feel demorilized and feel that you have failed in some sense

4. If you have had depression in the past,you may be more prone to PND now

5. A very demanding,sleepless baby can trigger Postnatal depression from sheer exhaustion

6. If you have particularly difficult living conditions and no support network,this can exacerbate postnatal depression

7. If you have bottled up your emotions and not sough help early on PND may develop

Solutions & Treatment

Give yourself time,accept that you will feel like this for a short time

And that what you are going through is incredibly common

Accept offers of help and do not try to do everything yourself

Try to talk about your feelings and have a good cry if it helps

Tell your partner you need a lot of love and affection,but remember this is a time of change for him too

Most fathers feel an anti-climax after the birth.There are the extra responsibilities and sudden changes in lifestyle.If your partner is feeling low,you will be called on to be a tower of strength,whch can be a huge strain

Try to think of the first few months as a period of rapid change that is testing for both of you.When you come through it you will emerge closer than you were before

If you get really unhappy,talk things over with the clinic health-practitioner / doctor or a close friend

Many women are too embarrassed to admit how they feel, fearing that it will appear that they have somehow failed

Talking about how you feel is the most important thing you can do

Once you have accept that you are not 'mad' or a 'bad mother' and that there are things you can do to help yourself,you are one step on the road to recovery

Once you seek help you will be guided to

1. understand how you fell and learn to express this 2. devote more time to yourself and find ways to relax 3. visit the health-practitioner / doctor more regularly and seek support 4. begin taking medication if your postnatal derpession is very extreme

What Fathers can do?

As a father, you may feel helpless because you don't understand PND.Rember, it is temporary and treatable,so try to be patient.You can be a huge help if you make an effort to understand and do the following

Talk and listen to your partner

Never tell her to pull herself together,she can't

Don't assume she will snap out of it, she can't

Mother the mother - encourage her to rest and eat and drink properly Encourage her to be with the baby as much as she wnats,so that she can take things slowly and gradually work out how the baby will fit in

Make sure she is not alone too much

See the doctor first for advice - your partner may refuse to accept she is ill

Self-Help

If you are feeling low,there are a number of things you can do to help yourself

Believe in recovery - Convince yourself that you will get better,no matter how much time that takes.Correct potassium deficiency - Severe exhaustion,another possible problem after giving birth,may be made worse by a lack of patassium in your body.Low potassium levels are easily corrected by eating plenty of potassium-rich foods such as bananas or tomatoes.Rest as much as possible - being tired definitely makes depression worse and harder to cope with.Catnap during the day and if possible,get someone to help with night feeds.Maintain a proper diet - Eat plenty of fruit and raw vegetables,don't snack or binge on chocolate,sweets and cookies.Eat little and often.Do not go on a strict diet.Get gentle exercise - Give yourself a rest from being indoors or taking care of the baby.A brisk walk in the fresh air can lift your spirits.Avoid major upheavals - Don't start a new job,redecorate or move to a new home.Try not to worry unduly - Aches and pains are common after childbirth,and more so if you are depressed.Try to take them in stride,they will almost certainly fade away as soon as your can relax Be kind to yourself - Relax, do not force yourself to do things you don't want to do or that might upset you.Don't worry about not keeping the house spotless or letting household tasks lapse.Concern yourself with small,undemanding tasks and reward yourself when you finish them.Talk about your feelings - Don't bottle up your concerns,this can make matters worse.Talk to others,particularly your partner

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD): Is a condition in which intense emotions persist for a considerable time after being first triggered by a traumatic event. About 1 in 10 people has PTSD at some time in life. First-hand experience of a stressful event that threatens life and personal safety or in some cases simply witnessing such an event,can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder in some people.The kind of events that results in PTSD include natural disasters,accidents,being assaulted & abused,crime victims and war experiences.Children and elderly people are more susceptible to PTSD,as are people who lack family support or who have a history of anxiety disorders

Causes:The cause of PTSD is not known,but psychological genetic,physical and social factors all contribute to it.In studies of Vietnam War veterans,those with strong family support were less likely to develop PTSD than those without it

Symptoms: The symptoms of PTSD occur soon after the event or develop weeks,months or rarely years later,They may include - involuntary thoughts about the experience,daytime flashbacks of the event - a sense of reliving the event.Panic attacks with symptoms such as shortness of breath and fainting.Avoidance of reminders of the event and refusal to discuss it.Sleep disturbances and nightmares.poor concentration.Irritability. A person with PTSD may feel emotionally numb,detached from events and estranged from family and friends.He/she may also lose interest in normal day-to-day activities.Other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety,may co-exist with PTSD.Occasionally it leads to alcohol or drug abuse

Treatment: The aim of treatment is to encourage sufferers to express grief and complete the mourning process.Support groups are good at providing a setting where people who have similar experiences can share their feelings and weep openly.Counselling may encourage the person to talk about his or her experiences,and support for the individual and family members is often an important part of treatment.Behaviour Therapy - can be used to help the person 're-enter' the real world and leave behind harrowing memories.Behaviour techniques include graded exposure and flooding (frequent exposure to an object that triggers symptoms) Drugs such as antidepressants may be used with counselling,and this approach often produces an improment within 8 weeks.Newer antidepressants such as Prozac,Pxil and Zoloft, can really improve mood and help sufferers to face the future calmly.Drugs may need to be taken for at least a year.PTSD often disappears after a few months of treatment but some symptoms may persist.In some cases,PTSD may last for years.In susceptible people,the disorder may recur after other traumatic events

Pre-Eclampsia: Condition in Pregnancy when there is a Raised Blood Pressure with Marked Swelling of ankles and Protein in Urine

Premenstrual Tension: Troublesome,but harmless symptoms that effects women before a menstrual period.Moodiness,irritability,tearfulness,listlessnes, headache an fatigue,painful breasts,backache and abdominal discomfort etc

Presbyopia: Condition of the eye.A form of Long-sightedness which comes with middle-age

Priapism: A prolonged Erection of the Penis, usually painful and often unrelated to sexual activity.Normal in sleep, but if it is causing pain,anxiety or occurs at other times - a doctor should be consulted

Prickly Heat: Millaria Ruba.Intense irritating Skin Rash, which may develop in hot, humid weather

Primal Therapy: A technique based on the assumption that neurotic behaviour is the result of a traumatic experience Before or immediatly after Birth or in Early childhood

Proctitis: Inflammation of the Lining of the Rectum

Prolapse: Is when one of several pelvic organs drop down into the vagina if the pelvic floor muscles are weakened.The vaginal walls become displaced,resulting in a prolapse resulting in the forward or downward displacement of part of the body. Most common are of a Spinal Disc and in women the most common is the Uterus. But also can any other pelvic organs - including the bladder,rectum,bowel and urethra.Depending on the severity,the cervix may drip and actually protrude from the vagina.Prolapse tends to occur in older women and hardly ever occurs in those who haven't had children . Pelvic floor muscles can weaken with age,but prolapse is nearly always caused by earlier injury to the pelvic floor muscles during labour.This happens especially if you had a rapid delivery, you were allowed to lgo on too long in labour or if your babies wre on the large side

To understand what your doctor is talking about,these names can be helpful.If the rectum bulges into the back of the vaginal wall - it is called a rectocele.When the urethra bulges into to front of the vaginal wall, it is called a urethrocele.If the bladder drops into the front of the vaginal wall, it is called cystocoele.Symptoms: Backace.A feeling of something bulging from the vagina,difficulty inserting and removing a tampon.Stress incontinence - leaking urine when you lift a heavy weight,cough or sneeze.With uterine prolapse, a dragging down feeling in the pelvis.With a urethrocoele ,discomfort on moving the bowels and difficulty passing a stool.Don't wait for symptoms to become really troublesome,consult your doctor as soon as possible

Treatment: Your doctor will give you an internal pelvic examination to confirm a prolapse and to determine which type you have.You will be asked about the births you've had,whether they were difficult,if your babies were larger than normal,if the second stage of labour lasted a long time and if forceps er used to aid delivery of any of your babies.Being overweight makes a prolapse worse,so you 'll be advised to lose weight.If you have a severe prolapse - your doctor will recommend surgery,This will improve the quality of your life by controlling incontinence and improving your sexual enjoyment.Surgery works by tightening up all the support structures in your pelvis - a sort of pelvic face-lift.Treatment will depend on the type of prolapse and your age.Most prolapse repairs are performed through the vagina and involve a general anaesthetic.Occasionally the operation may be performed with an epidural anaesthetic,especially if the patient is old and infirm.You will probably stay in hospital a few days.A follow-up appointment is made for 6weeks later, after which sexual activity can be resumed if there are no problems.Self-help: If you suffer from backache, try to avoid standing for long periods at a time.Wear a tight girdle to counteract any dragging feeling you may have in your pelvis.If you are having difficulty with sexual intercourse - you and your partner may need to explore alternative non-penetrative ways of achieving sexual pleasure.Wear panti-liners if you are troubled by leakage (stress incontinence).I the leakage becomes worse - see your doctor.The most important preventative treatment is being conscientious about doing pelvic floor exercise regularly during pregnancy and escpecially after the birth of your babies,whether or not you have stitches.You should continue pelvic floor exercise until the day you die,each day going through them on five or six seperate occasions.If you stop your pelvic floor exercises for a few weeks - start again.Mild incontinence can be controlled with pelvic floor exercise alone done 5x a day for a couple of weeks

Surgery: To correct prolapse,an operation is performed under general anaesthesia to shorten the supporting ligaments and muscles of the uterus.The surgery can usually be performed through the vagina,After teh operation, patients usually remain in hospital for a few days * also see retroverted uterus*

Prophylactic: A Substance or Procedure that helps to prevent disease e.g.immunization

Prophylaxis: Treatment aimed at preventing illness.e.g. Immunisations against diphteria, poliomyelitis and other diseases and in dentistry - the removal of the hard deposit calculus from th teeth to prevent possible gum disease

Prostate: Small Gland at the base of the Bladder in males

Prostate Cancer: Doctors can do tests that show how advanced the Prostate Cancer is, the most important being PSA & Gleason Scores.PSA measures the amount of a protein called prostate-specific antigen in the blood.Because this protein is produced by prostate cancer cells,its levels is an indication of the severity of the disease.As a general rule,PSAs above 10 are considered indicative of advanced cancers that have spread.Gleason scores - based on a biopsy measure the aggressive nature of the cancer cells and may be even more helpful in deciding the best individual treatment.A number below 7 usually means it is safe to opt for not such aggressive treatment.The higher the score,the greater risk to the patient

Testing for Cancer of the Prostate: You may want to know whether PSA can be used as a test to screen for cancer of the prostate in men.This is difficult to answer,because there is no clear difference between the amount of PSA found in the blood of men with cancer and of men with simple benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other benign conditions.It is not straightforward - non-cancerous prostate cells can produce PSA too.So don't get alarmed if your PSA is raised.It could be nothing more than a benign growth

Treatment Options: Once a patient has an idea of the type and state of his cancer,he has several treatment options to choose from

Surgery: Taking out the Prostate is still considered by many to be the mainstay of treatment for cancers confined to the prostate.It is highly effective,but will probably not suffice on its own if the cancer has spread.This has to be weighed against the fact that the after effects of this operation can be severe.Additional surgical options include removal of one or both testicles to stop the production of Testosterone,which feeds the cancer

Radiotherapy: This is usually used to treat Prostate Cancer that is still contained within the gland.Side effects can be quite severe and include impotence,diarrhoea,vomiting & pain when passing urine.A new version of this treatment restricts radiation to the exact shape of the tumour,and this is expected to cut down on unpleasant side effects

Radioactive Seed Therapy: A relatively new treatment involves placing time-release radioactive seeds in specific areas of the prostate.It is just starting to be available at more and more centes in the UK.It is popular too - up to 90% of radioactive seed recipients remain sexually active after treatment.For less aggressive prostate cancers, the is good evidence that seeds may be as effective as more radical surgery.Men with advanced cancers,however,would not be helped by this treatment

Hormonal Treatment: Prostate Cancer needs the male hormone Testosterone,so it's logical to use the hormonal treatments to lower its level in the body,especially for advanced Prostate Cancers.Hormone treatments are often used in combinations with other treatments,such as radiotherapy or surgery.Sexual functions suffers substantially during treatment - but impotence will probably disappear once therapy is complete.Removal of the testicles will fall into the category of hormonal treatments

Research: Medical advances are being made all the time in the field of Prostate Cancer and if a man is willing,he may wish to enrol in clinical trials for treatments not yet approved for general use.These would indicate vaccines aimed at inducing the body's own immune system to attack the cancer,and techniques to shrink tumours by choking their blood supply.If someone feels inclined to go this route,he should talk to his surgeon about it

Prostaglandins: Substance which are contained in various body Tissues and Fluids, including the Brain, Womb and Semen an which have a variety of Functions

Prostatitis: Chronic or Acute Inflammation of the Prostate Gland.Not uncommon and can occur at most ages,affecting approx 1 man in 10.Sometimes it causes symptoms like cystitis - burning with pain while passing urine.In older men it might cause a sudden increase in prostate symptoms.The prostate is very tender when the doctor does an internal rectal examination

Prutis Ani: Anal Itching / Irritation This is a fairly common conditon with chronic itching either around or in the anus.Anal itching is rarely serious,although it may be embarrassing and difficult to treat

Causes & Symptoms: The most common cause of anal itching is Candida (moniliasis,thrush) with redness and scaling of the adjacent skin.Localized itching may also be caused by poor personal hygiene,haemorrhoids or threadworm infestation.Generalized itching around the anal area may be a symptom of a skin disease such as psoriasis or eczema or be due to an allergic reaction to a substance such as laundry detergent or washing soap.It may be either localized around the anus or be part of generalized itching.In postmenopausal women,pruritus ani is often associated with itching around the vagina (pruritus vulva).The condition maybe worse in older people because their skin is drier,less elastic & more sensitive and more easily irritatedOnce the skin has been thickened by chronic scratching (neurodermatitis) it is very difficult to break the itch-scratch-itch cycle

Treatment: There are several measures you can take to relieve anal itching.It is important to keep the anal area clean by washing and drying carefully (but not excessively) after a bowel movement.Avoid using soaps that irritate the skin,and try not to scratch because it will worsen the itching.A warm bath or shower before bed may soothe night-time itching.Loose underclothes made of natural fibres are less likely than synthetic materials to cause irritation.A over-the-counter cream containing a mild topical corticosteroid may give relief.Itching that lasts for longer than 3 days should be assessed by a doctor.Yuur doctor may examine your anus and arrange for tests to look for causes that need treatment.e.g severe haemorrhoids may need to be removed *also see Haemorhoids*

Psionic Medicine: Technique that combines Orthodox treatment with aspects of Radiesthesia an Homeopathy, and is based on the assumption that disease results form the disruption of vital forces within the body.Diagnosis relies heavily on the use of 'Dowsing' in which a pendulum is held over the body or over hair or blood sample

Psittacosis: Infectious disease of Birds, particulartly Parrots, caused by bacteria Chlamydia Psittaci.Humans may develop the disease by Breathing in Germs from infected Droppings or Feather dust rather than a bite from the bird

Psoriasis: A red thickened,scaly rash characterizes this condition.It tends to flare up at different times throughout life.If Psoriasis affects many parts of the body,commonly the fronts of the knees,the backs of the elbows,trunk,scalp and back,it may cause physical discomfort as well as embarrassment in public due to shedding skin scales.The nails can be involved as can the joints.Psoriasisi often runs in families and infections and stress can trigger an attack.In a Psoriasis plaque,new skin cells are produced about ten times faster than normal and at a much faster rate than dead cells are shed.The skin cells pile up to form thick,creamy coloured scales.The cause is not known,but Psoriasis often has a GENETIC component.A flare-up of Psoriasis may be triggered by infection,injury or stress.Certain drugs - such as antidepressants,especially lithium, antihypertensives,beta-blockers and antimalarial drugs, can trigger Psoriasis in some people.Drinking alcohol can worsen existing Psoriasis

Different Types of Psoriasis:

1. PLAQUE PSORIASIS: Areas called plaques,consisting of thickened,red skin with cream-coloured scaly surfaces,usually occur on the knees,elbows,lower back and scalp,behing the ears and at the hairline.There is intermittent itching.Nails become discoloured and covered with small pits.In severe cases,the nails thicken and lift away from the nail beds.Plaques tend to last for weeks or months and may recure intermittently

2. GUTTATE PSORIASIS: This form most commonly affects children and adolescents, often occuring after a bacterial throat infection.Numerous coin-shaped,pink patches of scaly skin about 1 cm across,appear mainly on the back and chest.These is usually intermittent itching.These symptoms usually disappear in 4-6months and do not recur,but more than half of those affected later develop another form of Psoriasis

3. PUSTULAR PSORIASIS: Small blisters filled with pus may appear abruptly on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.There may be widespread areas of red inflamed and acutely tender skin.There may be some thickening and scaling of the inflamed areas

4. INVERSE PSORIASIS: Elderly people are commonly affected by this type of Psoriasis in which large moist red areas develop in skin folds,rather than widespread body areas.The rash often affects the groin,the skin under the breasts and sometimes the armpits.Inverse Psoriasis usually clears up with treatment,but may recur

Complications: About 1 in 10 people with Psoriasis of any type develop a form of arthritis that usually affects the fingers or knee joints.In Pustular and Exfoliative Psoriasis, a massive loss of cells from the surface of the skin may lead to loss of protein,infections and high fever - if it is left untreated,the condition can be life-threatening

Treatment:

TOPICAL TREATMENT: Psoriasis is commonly treated with emollients to soften the skin.Other common treatments are preparations containing coal tar or a substance called anthralin.These reduce inflammation and scaling.Coal tar and anthralin are effective,but have an unpleasnat smell and can stain clothing and bed linen.Anthralin should be applied to affected areas only - because it can irritate healthy skin.Alternatively,your doctor may prescribe a topical preparation containing the vit.D derivative calcipotriol to be applied twice a day.It has no smell,does not stain skin or clothes and is normally effective within about 4 weeks.You should follow the advice of your doctor or dermatologist - because this treatment should not be used on the face or in the creases of the skin.Topical corticosteroids may be also be used sparingly

SPECIAL TREATMENTS: For widespread Psoriasis that does not respond to topical treatments,therapeutic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light if often effective.PUVA therapy involves using UV therapy together with Psoralen,an oral drug that is taken before the ultraviolet light treatment and helps make the skin more sensitive to the effects of light.Regular short doses of sunlight often help clear up Psoriasis.Moderate exposure of affected areas to sunligh can be beneficial during the summer months.In severe cases of Pustual Psoriasis,for which topical preparations may not be effective,treatment with oral or intravenous drugs may be recommended.The drugs used for this treatment include Retinoids,the anticancer drug Methotrexate,and the immunosuppresant drug Cyclosporin.However,both retinoids and methotrexate - can cause abnormalities in the developing fetus.For this reason,you should not take either of these drugs if you are pregnant or you are plannning to have a child.Chinese herbs in tablet,infusion and cream form can be very successful and are always worth trying.The Dead Sea Treatment claims a 3year remission.No one knowns how it works,but it is not solely due to immersion in the Dead Sea.Fellow patients lend support akin to group therapy.But then you have to travel to the Dead Sea for the treatment

SELF HELP: It may help to reduce your intake of meat,animal fat,sugar and alcohol.And increase intake of fibre - that is wholegrain, cereals,fruit,vegetables,cooked dried beans and peas,nuts & seeds.Eat more oily fish,particularly mackerel,sardines,herring,salmon.An oatmeal bath can help to soothe irritated skin.Put 1kg of oatmeal in cheesecloth bags in a hot bath and soak for 15 min.Apply your treatment afterwards

Prognosis: Although there is no cure for Psoriasis,treatment normally relieves the symptoms and helps many people with the condition lead a normal life.If Psoriasis is a long-term problem,you may want to join a self-help group or the Psoriassis Association

Psychiatrist: A medically qualified Specialist in Mental illness

Psychoanalysis: In its purest form is inevitably lenghty and therefore expensive.It is not uncommon for a course of therapy to demand daily attendance at the analyst's office for serveral years.An acceptable minimum might still involve two to three visits a week for more than a year.One of the reasons why psychoanalysis is so protracted - is that the analyst and the patient join in a contract to explore every aspect of the patient's feelings in a close intimate way in order to understand all facets of the patient's feelings in a close intimate way in order to understand all facets of the patient's life as far back as the patient can remember.During the therapy,the analyst will attempt to interpret the patient's personality,motivations,inadequacies and symptoms and relate them to family,personal & social and professional relationships.Such a complex exploration is necessarily long.The aim of psychoanalysis and every other form of psychoanalysis - is to help people to have insight into themselves in doing so,it attemtps to explain the underlying reasons for psychological disturbances and symptoms.Once explained the technique, then builds in a positive way to provide support while patients face their difficulties and cope with it

Psychological Therapies: Counselling: A counsellor is trained to listen while you talk through your personal problems,a counsellor can support you through a bad patch and help you see the overall picture. Counselling is gentle and supportive,relying on trust.The aim is to help your develop your own insights into what is gone wrong so you can approach the problem in a fresh way.That should mean you feel less like a victim of circumstances and have more control over your life.In the course of counselling you can reassess your coping skills - how you deal with problems,challenges,relationships or work - and learn new ways that would be more affective.It can also help to make you clearer and more direct when communicating with others,saying what your mean and asking for what you want,being assertive without being aggressive

Sort term counselling for a specific difficulty may only take a few weekly sessions while more complex deep-rooted problems will need longer,perhaps an hour every week for several months.Some family practices have a counsellor as a member of their primary care team

Community counselling services exist in many areas and there is almost certainly an individual practitioner within travelling distance of your home

Self-help groups have branches in most part of the country.Counselling is about trust - so it is important that you feel comfortable with a counsellor.The more open you can be,the more you gain from the experience.Shop around if you can and see which counsellor / practitioner is the right one for you

Cognitive Therapy: Is based on the idea that some psychological problems stem from inappropriate ways of thinking.It helps people to recognize and understand their current thought patterns and shows them ways to consciously charge the way they think.Cognitive therapy does not look into past events and is often used in conjunction with behaviour therapy

Psychoanaysis: In its purest form is inevitably lenghty and therefore expensive.It is not uncommon for a course of therapy to demand daily attendance at the analyst's office for serveral years.An acceptable minimum might still involve two to three visits a week for more than a year.One of the reasons why psychoanalysis is so protracted - is that the analyst and the patient join in a contract to explore every aspect of the patient's feelings in a close intimate way in order to understand all facets of the patient's feelings in a close intimate way in order to understand all facets of the patient's life as far back as the patient can remember.During the therapy,the analyst will attempt to interpret the patient's personality,motivations,inadequacies and symptoms and relate them to family,personal & social and professional relationships.Such a complex exploration is necessarily long.The aim of psychoanalysis and every other form of psychoanalysis - is to help people to have insight into themselves in doing so,it attemtps to explain the underlying reasons for psychological disturbances and symptoms.Once explained the technique, then builds in a positive way to provide support while patients face their difficulties and cope with it

Short-Term Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is an important form of treatment because it does not require hospital admission and can be fitted into daily life.As with most forms of psychological treatment,psychotherapy must cover all aspects of the patient's life, it is useless to embark on a course of psychotherpay if you are not prepared to explore your feelings candidly and acceept the involvement of yur psychotherapist in the intimate details of your problems and in forming a treatment plan.In the broadest sense,psychotherpy is useful for mangaging any illness that has a psychological component,the commonest being an inability to adjust to stress.Most of us could probably be benefit from having psychotherapy

Group Therapy: There are many forms of group therapy - but all rely on one basic premise - they set out to help individuals to take well-defined steps towards being able to deal with their problems alone.There are usually four steps 1. to discover what the real problems are 2. to rationalize them 3. to adjust to them 4. to cope with them.Whatever the form of group therapy,this step-by-step progress is facilitated by the presence of others.It may be possible to identify with another group members and share experiences.It may be possible to assess behaviour in others as irrational even though it is difficult to recognize and admit to the same thing in oneself when alone.In group therapy members use the group as a crutch,a cathartic and an instrument to work through their own difficulties.With successful group therapy,however,the patient ceases to be dependant on the group and has the confidence to face life alone

Psychopaths: Individuals who behave in persistently Antisocial ways are often loosely described as Psychopaths

Psychologist: A non-medically qualified person trained to assess Behavioural problems, measure intelligence quotients (IQ) and development quotients (DQ)

Psittacosis: Virus-like germ which usually infects birds,especially Parrots.Humans contracts it by inhaling the Germ from the Dried dropping of infected birds

Pterophobia: Fear of Flying

Pulmonary Embolism: Blockage of Blood Vessel in the Lung, usually caused by a Clot of Blood

Purpura: The characteristic rash of Purpura causes reddish-purple spots that do not disappear when pressed by a glass.The spots are small areas of bleeding under the skin and may be caused by damaged blood vessels or by an Abnormality in the Blood,such as Thrombocytopaenia - that affects clotting.They can range from the size of a pinhead to about 2,5cm in diameter.Purpura is a classic sign of one kind of Bacterial Meningitis.The most common of all types of Purpura - Senile Purpura - mainly affects middle-aged and elderly women.Purpura is sometimes a sign of potentially serious disorder so you should always consult your doctor as a matter of urgency - if you note a Purpuric rash

Pus: A yellow/ greenish semi-liquid substance, made up of decomposed tissue, bacteria and dead white blood cells. It is a sign of the body's fight against infection

Pyloric Stenosis: Is a congenital condition- that is present at birth.The ring muscle (pylorys), which links the stomach to the Duodenum,thickens an narrows, preventing the contents of the stomach from passing through it to the intestine.The cause is unknown, but when the baby is one month old, the symptoms begin.Food builds up in the stomach which contracts powerfully in an attempt to force the food through the thickened pylorus.Because it is impossible, milk is vomited up violently after a feed.This in known as Projectile Vomiting and the unpleasant-smelling milk curds and mucus can be thrown a metre or two away - not to be confused with Possetting which is naturally regurgitates milk after a feed.Pyloric stenosis is much more common in boys.This condition is very serious.Vomiting eventually leads to DEHYDRATION an a failure to thrive

Symptoms: 1. Projectile vomiting after a feed,beginning at around 4 weeks of age. 2. Failure to thrive 3. Weakness and listlessness 4. Lack of bowel movements 5. Consult your doctor immediately if your baby vomits violenty after every meal

Treatment: If Pyloric stenosis is supected - your doctor will refer your baby to hospital.A paediatrician will examine your baby's abdomen during a feed to see if the enlarged pylorus can be felt.If pyloric stenosis is diagnosed, a simple surgical operation will be performed,giving a complete cure.Stay with your baby in hospital.After the operation you will be advised to feed your baby gradually increasing amounts of milk. 48 hours after the operation,his feeding routine should be back to normal

Pyelonephritis: Acute or Chronic Inflammation of one or both Kidneys due to Bactrial Infection, usually the result of another condition e.g enlargement of the Prostate Gland or Cystitis or an Abnormality of the Urninary tract that is present from birth

Pyloris: Is a Strong Muscle Valve at the outlet of the Stomach, controls movement of food down into the Duodenum and Small Intestines

Pyloeix Stenosis: An Obstruction of the Pyloris, the strong Muscle Valve of the Stomach

info sources:

South African Family Medical Adviser

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