Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «B»:
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B and T cell screen
A B and T cell screen is a laboratory test to determine the amount of T and B cells (lymphocytes) in the blood.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health...
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B-cell leukemia/lymphoma panel
B-cell leukemia/lymphoma panel is a test that looks for certain proteins on the surface of white blood cells called B-lymphocytes. The proteins serve as markers that may be helpful in diagnosing leukemia or lymphoma.
How the Test is Performed
A sample of white blood cells is obtained by drawing blo...
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Babies and diarrhea
Normal or healthy baby stools are soft and loose. Babies have frequent stools during the first 1 - 2 months. Because of this, it may be difficult to tell when your baby has diarrhea.
Most babies have a stool pattern that is typical for them. This pattern may change slowly over time. Look for the fol...
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Babies and heat rashes
Heat rash occurs in babies when the pores of the sweat glands become blocked. This generally happens when the weather is hot or humid. As the infant sweats, little red bumps, and possibly tiny blisters, form because the blocked glands cannot clear the sweat.
Information
To avoid heat rash, keep you...
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Babies and shots
Immunizations are important to keep your child healthy. This article discusses how to ease the pain of shots for babies.
See also: Immunizations - general overview
Information
Many parents often wonder how to make shots less painful for their babies. Unfortunately, routine immunizations need to be...
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Babinski's reflex
Babinski's reflex occurs when the big toe moves toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been firmly stroked.
This reflex, or sign, is normal in younger children, but abnormal after the age of 2.
Considerations
Reflexes are specific, predictable, involunt...
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Baby feeding patterns
Baby feeding patterns refer to the time schedule for giving a baby food through a bottle or breast.
Information
Breast milk is digested more rapidly than cow's milk formula. Breastfed babies usually require feeding every 1 - 3 hours. While a pattern may develop, a schedule should not be forced on t...
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Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis is a type of aerobic spore-forming bacteria that causes anthrax disease.
Information
Livestock may become infected by eating or inhaling anthrax spores. Humans, especially farmers and individuals who work in slaughterhouses, may develop cutaneous anthrax through skin exposure to...
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Bacitracin overdose
Bacitracin is a germ-killing medicine called an antibiotic, which is used to treat infections. Small amounts of Bacitracin are dissolved in petroleum jelly to create antibiotic ointments.
Bacitracin overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows products containing this ingredie...
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Bacitracin zinc overdose
Bacitracin zinc is a medicine applied to cuts and other skin wounds to help prevent infection. Bacitracin is a germ-killing medicine called an antibiotic. Small amounts of bacitracin zinc are dissolved in petroleum jelly to create antibiotic ointments.
Bacitracin zinc overdose occurs when someone ac...
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Backaches and stress
Question:
Can stress cause backaches?
Answer:
Stress can make you more likely to get a backache. Also, reducing stress can help you recover more quickly from a back injury. But, be careful not to blame back pain on stress, because you may be overlooking a serious cause.
It is important to see a doct...
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Bacterial gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria.
Causes
Bacterial gastroenteritis can affect one person or a group of people who all ate the same contaminated food. It more commonly occurs after eating at picnics, school cafeterias, large social functions,...
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BAER - brainstem auditory evoked response
Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is a test to measure the brain wave activity that occurs in response to clicks or certain tones.
How the Test is Performed
You lie on a reclining chair or bed and remain still. Electrodes are placed on your scalp and on each earlobe. The earphones give off ...
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Baker’s cyst
Baker's cyst is a buildup of joint fluid (synovial fluid) that forms behind the knee.
Causes
A Baker's cyst is caused by swelling in the knee. The swelling is due to an increase in synovial fluid - the fluid that lubricates the knee joint. When pressure builds up, fluid bulges into the back of the ...
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Balanced diet
A balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth and development.
Function
A well-balanced diet provides enough energy and nutrition for optimal growth and d...
