Dictionary

diarrhea and dermatitis, zinc deficiency See deficiency, zinc.

diarrhea, travelers’ Illness, including diarrhea, that is associated with travel to a foreign country. Causes include viruses and the bacterium Escherichia coli, which may be transmitted via food or water. Prevention involves drinking bottled water; filtering tap water or, if camping, water from natural sources; washing fruits and vegetables purchased in local markets with a…

diarrhea, rotavirus A leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, often accompanied by fever and dehydration. Treatment includes frequent administration of fluids to prevent dehydration, rest, good nutrition, and in some cases medication. A preventive vaccine has been developed but is not in use at this time. See also rotavirus.

diarrhea, antibiotic-induced Diarrhea caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), one of the most common causes of infection of the large bowel (colon). Patients taking antibiotics are at particular risk of becoming infected with C. difficile. Antibiotics disrupt the normal bacteria of the bowel, allowing C. difficile and other bacteria to become established and…

diarrhea A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. The opposite of constipation. There are many infectious and noninfectious causes of diarrhea. Persistent diarrhea is both uncomfortable and dangerous to the health because it can indicate an underlying infection and may mean that the body is not able to absorb some nutrients…

diaphragmatic hernia Passage of a loop of bowel through the diaphragm muscle. This type of hernia occurs as the bowel from the abdomen protrudes (herniates) upward through the diaphragm into the chest (thoracic) cavity.

diaphragm pacing A procedure to help patients with spinal cord injuries to breathe. Their breathing is helped by setting the respiratory rate by electrical stimulation (pacing) of the phrenic nerve using electrodes surgically implanted into the diaphragm muscle that is innervated by the nerve.

diaphragm 1 The muscle that separates the chest (thoracic) cavity from the abdomen. Contraction of the diaphragm helps to expand the lungs when one breathes in air. 2 A specially fitted contraceptive device that covers the cervix to prevent the entry of sperm. For greatest effectiveness, a diaphragm is used with spermicidal gel or cream….

diaper rash An inflammatory reaction localized to the area of skin usually covered by the diaper. It can have many causes, including infections (yeast, bacterial, or viral), friction irritation, chemical allergies (perfumes, soaps), sweat, decomposed urine, and plugged sweat glands. Most diaper rash problems can be solved by cleansing the skin with nonperfumed, gentle products;…

dialysis machine A machine used in dialysis that filters a patient’s blood to remove excess water and waste products when the kidneys are damaged, dysfunctional, or missing. The dialysis machine itself can be thought of as an artificial kidney. Inside, it consists of more plastic tubing that carries the removed blood to the dialyser, a…

dialysis, peritoneal A dialysis technique that uses the patient’s own body tissues inside the belly (abdominal cavity) as a filter. The intestines lie in the abdominal cavity, the space between the abdominal wall and the spine. A plastic tube called a dialysis catheter is placed through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity. A…

dialysis The process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood. It gives patients with kidney failure a chance to live productive lives. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. A hemodialysis session generally takes about…