Melena is black tarry feces associated w/ upper GI bleeding, or even the ascending colon. Pathophysiology Black color is caused by the hemoglobin in blood being altered by digestive chemicals and intestinal...

Strep throat (aka strep pharyngitis, or strep tonsillitis) is a type of pharyngitis caused by group A streptococcal infection. Sx Affects the pharynx, including the tonsils and possibly the larynx Fever Sore throat Enlarged lymph...

Lymph nodes are oval-shaped organ of lymphatic system, distributed throughout the body. It is linked by lymphatic vessels. It stores inter alia, B and T lymphocytes, and macrophages. It acts...

Dysuria is painful urination, usually described to be a burning or stinging sensation. Cause Urinary tract: Kidney stones Urethral stricture Cystitis UTI, caused by bacterial infection STD, including chlamydia Urethritis Urinary schistosmiasis Malignancy, e.g. bladder cancer, prostate cancer, urethral cancer Pyelonephritis Hemorrhagic...

ABG (Arterial blood gas) is a blood test performed on arterial blood. It is useful in pulmonology and critical care to determine gas exchange, reflecting gas exchange across the alveolar-capillary...

Ectopic pregnancy (aka eccyesis) is a pregnancy complication, where the embryo attaches outside the uterus. [faq]What's an ectopic? Ectopic generally means something in a location that it's not supposed to. In the...

CT scan (aka computer axial tomography, CAT scan, computer-aided tomography) uses multiple x-rays taken from different angles, to generate a tomographic image (i.e. virtual cross-sectional slice), or even 3D image using a...

Measles (aka morbilli, rubeola) is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus. [faq]What is measles? It's a very contagious infection. It's caused by the measles virus.[/faq] Sx Sx develop 10-12 days after...

Nuchal scan (aka nuchal translucency, nuchal fold) is an U/S prenatal screen assessing the quantity of fluid collecting within the nape of the fetal neck. Method Examined on the early morphology conducted at the...

Pulse is measuring heart beat by palpating a peripheral artery by the fingertip (with the exception of using the thumb). Sometimes, there is delay, which is indicative of pathology. Method Pulses can...