dandruff A scalp condition that produces white flakes that may be shed and fall from the hair. One cause of dandruff is overworking of the sebaceous glands. Another cause of dandruff is fungus, especially an abundance of the fungus Pitrosporum ovale. If several weeks of using a good-quality shampoo does not stop the dandruff, treatment…
dandy fever See dengue fever.
Danlos syndrome See Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Darier disease See keratosis follicularis.
DASH diet An eating plan designed to lower the blood pressure. DASH is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH “combination diet” has been shown to decrease the blood pressure, and so helps to prevent and control high blood pressure. The DASH “combination diet” is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low fat…
daw Abbreviation meaning “dispense as written.”
day sight See nyctanopia.
DDH Developmental dysplasia of the hip. See congenital hip dislocation.
DDX See differential diagnosis.
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis Inflammation of tendons on the side of the wrist at the base of the thumb. These tendons include the extensor pollicis brevis and the abductor pollicis longus tendons. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is typically associated with pain when the thumb is folded across the palm and the fingers are flexed over the thumb…
DEA The Drug Enforcement Administration of the US Department of Justice, which regulates interstate commerce in prescription drugs to prevent them from being used as drugs of abuse. Every prescription written in the US bears the DEA number of the prescribing physician.
cysticercosis An infection caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Infection occurs when the tapeworm larvae enter the body and form cysts called cysticerci. When cysticerci are found in the brain, the condition is called neurocysticercosis. Cysticercosis is contracted by accidentally swallowing pork tapeworm eggs. Tapeworm eggs are passed in the bowel movement of a…