A serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become abnormally active. this causes small blood clots to develop throughot the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels.
disseminated intravascular coagulation
dissociative disorders
A set of psychiatric conditions in which there is a split or dissociation from the self or surroundings - the person 'steps outside' their personal identity, usually in response to severe physical or mental trauma. Symptoms may range from amnesia to multiple personalities.
distal colitis
Type of ulcerative colitis that affects only the left side of the large intestine.
diuresis
Increased production and excretion of urine, for example due to a drug effect or simply to drinking more fluid than usual.
diuretic drugs
Drugs that help to remove excess water from the body.
diuretics
Drugs that help to remove excess water from the body by increasing the amount lost in urine.
diverticula
Small pouches that protrude from the wall of hollow organs such as the colon.They are very common and are thought to be caused by pressure forcing the lining of the organ through areas of weakness in the wall. They are associated with aging.
diverticular disease
The presence of small protruding sacs called ‘diverticula’ in the wall of the intestines and the symptoms caused by them.
diverticulitis
Inflammation of the diverticula in the intestine, particularly in the colon. Diverticula are small pouches that protrude from the walls of hollow organs such as the colon.
diverticulosis
A form of diverticular disease, in which there are diverticula present in the intestine, particularly in the colon.
DKA
An abbreviation for diabetic ketoacidosis.
DM
An abbreviation for diabetes mellitus.
DNA
The building blocks of the genes in almost all living organisms - spelt out in full as deoxyribonucleic acid.
dopamine
A type of neurotransmitter - chemicals that help the communication between nerve cells (neurons).
Doppler ultasound test
An ultrasound test that uses reflected sound waves to evaluate blood as it flows through a blood vessel.
Down's syndrome
A chromosomal abnormality.
DRE
Abbreviation for Digital rectal examination.
drip
A means for the continuous injection into a vein.
DU
An abbreviation for duodenal ulcer.
dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
A means of measuring bone density.
Duane syndrome
A rare congenital (present from birth) eye movement disorder.
DUB
An abbreviation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
Dubin-Johnson syndrome
A rare inherited condition involving impaired metabolism of bilirubin.
ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
A type of non-invasive breast cancer arising in a milk duct, also known as intraduct carcinoma