Category: C

A type of migraine occurring in clusters — that is, a patient may have an attack daily for several days and then none for weeks or months. The pain is on one side of the head, often centred over the eye. The pain is excruciatingly severe and often associated with tears, nasal discharge and production…

A useful hypnotic, particularly for elderly patients, because of its freedom from hangover effect. It is particularly beneficial in the acute withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism, and is used to treat status epilepticus. The drug’s sedative effects are an adjunct to regional anaesthesia and may also be of help in eclampsia. Dependence may occur occasionally and…

An anti-oestrogen drug that stimulates ovulation, or the production of ova, through the medium of the pituitary gland. When used in the treatment of female infertility, one of its hazards is that, if given in too-big doses, it may result in multiple pregnancies.  

The experiences of a patient as communicated to a doctor, for example, pain, weakness, cough. They may or may not be accompanied by confirmatory clinical signs.  

The physical manifestations of an illness elicited by a doctor when examining a patient — for example, a rash, lump, swelling, fever or altered physical function such as reflexes.  

Initially driven by anxiety about the possibility of medical negligence cases, clinical risk management has evolved into the study of iatrogenic disease. The first priority of risk managers is to ensure that all therapies in medicine are as safe as possible. Allied to this is a recognition that errors may occur even when error-prevention strategies…

Under the strict legal definition, negligence must involve proving a clearly established duty of care which has been breached in a way that has resulted in injury or harm to the recipient of care. There does not need to be any malicious intention. Whether or not a particular injury can be attributed to medical negligence,…

Systematically developed statements which assist clinicians and patients to decide on appropriate treatments for specific conditions. These guidelines are attractive to health managers and patients because they are potentially able to reduce variation in clinical practice. This helps to ensure that patients receive the right treatment of an acceptable standard. In England & Wales, the…

A condition usually occurring in middle-aged people in which the sufferer finds on wakening in the morning that he or she cannot straighten the ring or middle finger spontaneously, but only by a special effort, when it suddenly straightens with a painful click, hence the name. In due course the finger remains bent at all…

A rare congenital abnormality characterised by the absence of one or more fingers and a deep central cleft that divides the hand into two. It is sometimes known as lobster hand. It may be accompanied by other congenital defects, such as cleft foot, absent permanent teeth, cleft palate (and/or lip), absence of the nails and…