Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a six-inch-long gland in the abdomen* that is surrounded by the stomach, intestine, and other digestive organs. It is shaped like a long, flattened pear, wide at one end and narrow at the other.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas (PAN-kree-us) is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a flattened pear and lies next to the stomach with its wider end near the Pancreas, gallbladder, duodenum. duodenum (doo-o-DEE-num), the first part of the small intestine.
Paralysis
As she was warming up for her routine at the July 1998 Goodwill Games, 17-year-old Chinese gymnast Sang Lan prepared to jump over the vaulting horse, a move she had performed thousands of times. But Sang flung herself too forcefully into the vault and landed on her head instead of her feet.
Parasitic Diseases
Most of the world's 6 billion people are infected with parasites, which are primitive animals that live in or on the bodies of humans, animals, or insects. Often the parasites do little damage, and people may be unaware they are infected.
Parkinson's Disease
Actor Michael J. Fox first noticed the twitch in his left little finger in 1991 while filming the movie Doc Hollywood.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Two years after Carrie and Reg got married, they decided to start a family. Carrie began looking at the ads for strollers and baby clothes.
Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer, sometimes called a stomach ulcer, is a sore that forms in the lining of the stomach or of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers are often the result of infection by Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
Peritonitis
A number of conditions can cause peritonitis. Usually, peritonitis occurs when an infection develops in the peritoneum from a perforation (per-fo-RAY-shun), or hole, in the stomach, intestines, appendix, or one of the other organs covered by the lining.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
In 1934, a mother with two children with mental retardation went to a Norwegian medical doctor, Asbjørn Følling. Dr.
Phlebitis
Terry decided to visit her doctor because her lower left leg hurt. It also appeared swollen and red and even felt a bit warm to the touch.
Phobias
Whenever Bethani, who recently turned 15, enters a building above two stories, she checks to see if the building has stairs. She is intensely afraid of riding an elevator.
Pinworm (Enterobiasis)
Pinworm, or enterobiasis (en-ter-o-BY-a-sis), is a common intestinal infection caused by the Enterobius vermicularis parasite. It causes anal itching, and it is often spread by children to schoolmates or family members.
Plague
In about 1300, a massive epidemic of a deadly disease known as plague began. The epidemic, sometimes called the Black Death, started in Asia, then spread westward from the Middle East to North Africa and Europe.
Pleurisy
In pleurisy, the membrane covering the lungs and lining the chest cavity becomes inflamed, and excess fluids may build up in the space. When people who have pleurisy breathe in or cough, the inflammation causes pain, which is a result of friction from the inflamed pleura.
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis (noo-mo-ko-nee-O-sis) is a disease of the lungs caused by long-term breathing of dust, especially certain mineral dusts. Forms of pneumoconiosis include black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis), silicosis, and asbestosis.
Pneumonia
Each day a person inhales large amounts of air, often laden with germs, dust, and other partides. The air is drawn deep into the lungs, two spongy air sacs in the chest where oxygen from the air is transferred to the blood.
Poliomyelitis
Remarkable photographs from the mid twentieth century show people—sometimes a large roomful—enclosed in metal tanks being attended to by nurses. The tanks were called iron lungs.
Polyps
Three of the most common types include colorectal, cervical, and nasal polyps.
Porphyria
When a person inherits a defective gene* from one or both parents, he or she may develop a form of porphyria. There are six classifications of this group of disorders.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Sara felt herself trying to scream, but no sound came from her throat. Hands seemed to be gripping her.
Pregnancy, Complications of
Pregnancy is the interval of time beginning when an egg and sperm unite and ending when a baby is born. A full-term pregnancy lasts 9 months (38 to 40 weeks).
Prematurity
In the third trimester* of pregnancy (months 7, 8, and 9), the fetus* adds ounces of body weight and is better prepared for living outside the mother's body. Many premature babies are not ready to live on their own.