U

Ulcer: An open sore or an inflammed break in the skin - internally - of in the Mucous Membrane lining of the alimentary tract or - on the external body surface.There are many kinds of Ulcers

Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative colitis is characteriized by chronic intermittent inflammation and ulceration of the rectum and colon. This condition affects 1 in 1000 people,sometimes runs in families and is more common in non-smokers and ex-smokers.The onset of ulcerative colitis most commonly occurs between the ages of 15 and 35

Causes: The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown.However there is some evidence that genetic factors are involved,since about 1 in 10 people with ulcerative colitis has a close relative with the disease

Symptoms: The symptoms of ulcerative colitis are often episodic,with months or years in which there are few or no symptoms.In as mild episode symptoms develop gradually,often over a few days,and include the following.Diarrhoea,sometimes with blood & mucus in the stool.Abdominal pain.Fatigue.Loss of appetite.In a severe attck,the symptoms may begin suddenly developing over just a few hours.Symptoms in a severe attack include.A severe bouts of diarrhoea,at least six times a day.Passage of blood and mucus with or without faeces.Pain and swelling in the abdomen.Fever.Weight loss.People with ulcerative colitis often have other disorders including arthriitis,causing pain in the joints and ankylosing spondylitis, causing pain in the spine,inflammation in the eye (uveitis) and the skin condition erythema nodosum

Treatment: Ulcerative colitis is usually treated with drugs,but surgery may be necessary if you are experiencing frequent severe attacks or if complications develop

Drugs: Your doctor may prescribe the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine to prevent attacks of ulcerative colitis or treat mild episodes.Alternatively you may be given mesalamine,which has fewer side effects.If the inflammation is confined to the rectum or the lower part of the colon,your doctor may prescribe aminosalicylate drugs for you to self-administer in the form of an enema or suppositories

Ultrasound Scanning: Ultrasound scanning is a way of producing a photographic picture by using sound waves.The picture is formed by the echoes of sound waves bouncing off different parts of the body.The echoes differ in their waves according to the density of the organ.Ultrasound scanning can give pictures of soft tissue in great detail.If it is doen during pregnancy,it will show fetal heartbeat and movement and can be used as a non-invasive means of examining the fetus.An accurate picture of the fetus in utero may be printed out.Ultrasound is used in many areas of medicine as a diagnostic tool,particularly to detect breast lumps and the cause of abdominal pain,such as gallstones or hiatus hernia.It can also sometimes be used to treat abnormalities.e.g high levels of ultrasound waves can destroy stones in the bladder.Ultrasound scanning is also used widely in fertility treatment and to tell whether a pregnancy is vialble or not

Umbilical cord: The cord which joins the baby to the Placenta, is clamped and cut close to the baby's body.It then withers and the remaining stump drops off, usually within ten days of birth.It is advised to clean the navel area and the umbilical stump daily since it may become contaminated with urine.If the stump weeps,crusts over, discharges pus or appears red and swollen - it has become infected - consult your doctor

Unconsciousness: Temporary loss of consciousness.May last only a few seconds or several minutes and has many causes.Deep unconsciousness is Coma

Undescended Testicle: Failure of one or both Testicles to descend from the Abdomen to the Srotum before birth.The Testes need to be in th scrotum because there they are at the right temperature for the normal production of Sperm

Upper Arm: Humerus

Uticaria: Nettle Rash /Hives.Urticaria also known as Nettle Rash,is an intensely itchy rash that may affect the whole body or just a small area of skin.It is an allergic reaction to various substances,including foods,drugs and stings

Symptoms: The rash consists of raised,red areas and sometimes white lumps.The inflamed areas usually vary in size and may merge to involve very large areas of skin.Urticaria comes and goes.Typically it lasts for only a few minutes or hours and there may be only one or two attacks.But sometimes it recurs for several months (chronic Urticaria).Sometimes urticaria occurs at the same time as the more serious condition affecting the face called Angioedema.Urticaria is sometimes and early simptom of Anaphylaxis,a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction to something

Causes: The tendency to develop Urticaria may run in families - atopic families.It can occur as a result of an allergic reaction to a particular food,such as shellfish,fruits and nuts - peanuts having received publicity.The conditions may also be due to a drug allergy.It may be due to an allergy to plants.It may develop after an insect bite or sting.However when Urticaria occurs for the first time in an adult,it is often difficult to identify the cause

Treatment: A one-off bout of Urticaria generally disappears with treatment within a few hours.The chronic form of the condition may take several weeks or months to clear up.Over-the-counter products such as calamine lotion and oral antihistamines may help relieve itching.If your symptoms persist or recur and the cause of the problem is not obvious,you should consult your doctor.A skin prick test will identify the substances to which you are allergic (allergens).When the substance causing your Urticaria has been identified,you should take all possible steps to avoid coming into contact with it in future in order to prevent a recurrence of the condition.Never again eat a food to which you have been proven to be allergic.Avoid dishes and cutlery that may have touched the food

*also see Angioedema & Anaphylaxis*

Uterine Cancer: Cancer of the Uterus is a tumour that grows in the lining of the Uterus - the endometrium - and is sometimes known as Endometrial Cancer.It has a relatively low malignancy.Causes: Cancer of the Uterus is more common in obese women and those taking the drug tamoxifen,which is used to prevent or treat breat cancer.Hormone Replacement Therapy(HRT) using Estrogen alone also increases the risk but addition of a Progestogen for 14 days at least every 3 months prevents this,and the continuous 'non-bleeding' form of HRT actually reduces the risk of developing this cancer.There has been a lot of controversy in recent years about the possible association of Uterine Cancer with taking HRT for menopausal symptoms.If a menstrual period is induced at least every 3 months by a 14-days course of progestogen,endometrial overgrowth is avoided.Inserting a progesterone IUD that can be left in situ for 5 years accomplishes the same aim

Symptoms: Postmenopausal bleeding or brown discharge.Discomfort in the lower abdomen.Bleeding after intercourse.Heavy menstrual periods

Treatment: If you have any post-menopausal vaginal bleeding or any change in your normal menstrual pattern,consult your doctor immediately.If your doctor suspects that you have a growth in your uterus, the only effective way to check whether there is any malignancy is to undergo an investigation

Treatment: You are likely to have an ultrasound scan, if this shows a thickened endometrium and endometrial biopsy may done via the cervix or the inside of the uterus may be examined using hysteroscopy with a biopsy at the same time.If the Uterine lining contains cancerous cells - your doctor will recommend a Total Hysterectomy with removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes as well as the cervix.Radiotherapy may be advised if the tumour has spread through the wall of the uterus.If the growth is advanced, a radical hysterectomy will be performed to remove some vagina and the lymph nodes of the pelvis too Prognosis: The news is good.Overall cure rate is as high as 90% when the cancer is localized to the lining of the uterus itself.If teh spread is beyond the lining and the muscles of the uterus,the figure after 5 years is reduced to 40%

Uterus: Womb.Organ in which the developing Fetus is carried

Uterine Prolapse: The Uterus drops out of position because the ligaments holding the Uterus, Bladder and Rectum become overstretched

Uterus- The Retroversion of: Common condition of a Uterus (Womb) that slopes backwards instead of forwards.May be a cause of Infertility

Ureters: Tubes connecting the Kindeys and the Bladder.There aris one for every kidney

Urethra: This is theTube leading from the Bladder to the outside of the body. It carries urine and fluid(sperm in the male) out of the body. In most cases, the part infected is the lining of the Bladder and the conditions is known as Cystitis.A urinary tract infection is SERIOUS

Urethritis: Acute of Chronic inflammation of the Urethra - the channel through which Urine is emptied from the Bladder

Urethrocoele: A prolapse where the urethra - bulges into the front of the vaginal wall

Urticaria: Skin Disorder caused by an Allergic Reaction to certain foods e.g nuts,fish,drugs,chocolate ect

info sources:

South African Family Medical Adviser

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