Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «I»:
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Ileostomy and your child
Your child had an injury or disease in their digestive system and needed an operation called an ileostomy. The operation changed the way your child’s body gets rid of waste (stool, feces, or poop).
Now your child has an opening called a stoma in their belly. Waste will pass through the stoma ...
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Ileostomy and your diet
You had an injury or disease in your digestive system and needed an operation called an ileostomy. The operation changed the way your body gets rid of waste (stool, feces, or poop).
Now you have an opening called a stoma in your belly. Waste will pass through the stoma into a pouch that collects it....
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Imaging and radiology
Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease.
Radiology may be divided into two different areas, diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. The field of therapeutic radiology, which uses x-rays to treat cancer, is now called radiation oncology....
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Imipramine overdose
Imipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. Imipramine overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If y...
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Immune hemolytic anemia
Immune hemolytic anemia is a condition in which there is a reduced blood cell count due to the premature destruction of red blood cells by the immune system.
Causes
Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies form against the body's own red blood cells. The antibodies destroy the blood cells bec...
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Immune response
The immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful.
Information
The immune system protects the body from potentially harmful substances by recognizing and responding to antigens. Antigens are molecules (usuall...
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Immunizations - general overview
Immunization (vaccination) is a way to trigger your immune system and prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.
See also: Babies and shots
Information
HOW IMMUNIZATIONS WORK
When germs such as viruses or bacteria invade your body, your immune system makes special cells. These cells produce antib...
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Immunodeficiency disorders
Immunodeficiency disorders occur when the body's immune response is reduced or absent.
See also: Autoimmune disorders
Causes
The immune system is made up of lymphoid tissue in the body, which includes the bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils, and parts of the spleen and gastrointestinal tract...
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Immunoelectrophoresis - serum
Serum immunoelectrophoresis is a test that measures immunoglobulins in the blood. Immunoglobulins are proteins that function as antibodies. There are various types of immunoglobulins. Some can be abnormal.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of th...
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Immunoelectrophoresis - urine
Urine immunoelectrophoresis is a test that measures immunoglobulins in a urine sample.
Immunoglobulins are proteins that function as antibodies. There are various types of these proteins. Some can be abnormal.
See also: Immunoelectrophoresis - serum
How the Test is Performed
Collect a "clean-catch...
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Immunofixation - serum
Serum immunofixation is a laboratory technique used to identify proteins, or antibodies, in blood.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is typically 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 ca...
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Immunofixation - urine
Urine immunofixation is a laboratory technique used to identify proteins in urine.
See also: Immunofixation - blood
How the Test is Performed
A clean-catch (midstream) urine sample is needed.
Men or boys should first wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between th...
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Impacted tooth
An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums.
Causes
Teeth start to pass through the gums (emerge) during infancy, and again when the primary (baby) teeth are replaced by the permanent teeth.
If a tooth fails to emerge, or emerges only partially, it is considered to be imp...
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Imperforate anus
Imperforate anus is congenital (present from birth) defect in which the opening to the anus is missing or blocked. The anus is the opening to the rectum through which stools leave the body.
Causes
Imperforate anus may occur in several forms. The rectum may end in a blind pouch that does not connect...
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Imperforate anus repair
Imperforate anus repair is surgery to correct a birth defect involving the rectum and anus.
An imperforate anus defect prevents most or all stool from passing out of the rectum.
See also: Imperforate anus
Description
How this surgery is performed depends on the type of imperforate anus. The proced...