Health conditions and diseases starting with S. Understand symptoms, causes, and treatment options to make informed health choices.
Single lesion paucibacillary (SLPB) leprosy is a distinct clinical presentation of Hansen’s disease characterized by a solitary skin lesion with no detectable bacilli on slit-skin smear microscopy. As a subset of paucibacillary leprosy, it falls under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification used for simplified treatment and control. This form is most often associated with
Simple-partial epilepsy, also known as focal aware seizures, is a form of epilepsy where seizures originate in a specific area of the brain and do not impair consciousness. Individuals remain fully alert during the episode, which typically lasts a few seconds to minutes. These seizures are among the most localized forms of epilepsy and can
Sideroblastic anemia is a heterogeneous group of blood disorders characterized by the bone marrow’s inability to properly incorporate iron into hemoglobin despite adequate or increased iron stores. This results in the accumulation of iron within the mitochondria of erythroid precursors, forming ring sideroblasts—a hallmark feature identifiable through bone marrow examination. Pathophysiology: The Mechanism of Iron
Sickle cell disease (SCD) with crisis represents the acute, life-threatening episodes that occur in individuals with SCD, often requiring urgent medical intervention. These crises are primarily caused by vascular occlusion due to abnormally shaped red blood cells obstructing blood flow. The two most severe forms are vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and acute chest syndrome (ACS), though
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders caused by a mutation in the HBB gene leading to the production of abnormal hemoglobin known as hemoglobin S. This mutation causes red blood cells to assume a rigid, sickle-like shape, impairing their ability to transport oxygen efficiently and leading to recurrent
Sialorrhea, commonly known as excessive drooling, refers to the unintentional loss of saliva from the mouth. It results either from hypersalivation or from impaired oral motor control, often associated with neurological conditions. Sialorrhea significantly impacts quality of life, affecting speech, swallowing, social interaction, and increasing the risk of aspiration. Types of Sialorrhea Sialorrhea can be
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) is a disorder characterized by excessive release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin. This hormone regulates water retention in the body, and its overproduction leads to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia—low sodium levels in the blood. SIADH is a form of euvolemic hyponatremia, meaning that despite
Shy-Drager Syndrome, now more commonly referred to as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of autonomic dysfunction, parkinsonism, and cerebellar ataxia. Initially described in the 1960s by Drs. Milton Shy and Glenn Drager, the condition has since been reclassified under the umbrella of MSA due to overlapping
Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are those whose birth weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age. This means that their size at birth is smaller than expected for the number of weeks they have been in the womb. It is important to understand that being born SGA can be caused
Noonan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects multiple systems in the body, including growth, development, and physical features. One of the hallmark features of Noonan syndrome is short stature, which is seen in the majority of individuals affected by this condition. Short stature in Noonan syndrome is not just a cosmetic issue; it can