Category: C

A form of irregular alignment (malocclusion) that involves the way the teeth meet when a person bites down. Some of the upper teeth tend to close inside or outside the lower teeth. A crossbite may sometimes be referred to as a deep bite. As with all bite irregularities, the problem may be cosmetic and may…

A particularly addictive form of the drug cocaine that can be smoked to produce an intense, short-lasting state of euphoria or “high.” The most potent stimulant of natural origin, cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant [Erythroxylon coca], which is found in the Andean highlands of South America. The leaves are cooked into…

A congenital deformity of the hip joint in which the neck of the thighbone bends downward. A condition in which the neck of the thighbone is bent so that the lower limbs are turned outwards and lameness results. A deformity produced when the angle made by the head of the femur with the shaft is…

Products available without prescription to help alleviate a cough. Coughing is a useful process in which secretions (mucus) are cleared from the throat and the lungs (a “productive” cough); productive coughs should never be suppressed, since they serve a valuable purpose. Sometimes, however, dry or unproductive coughing hurts the throat or interferes with sleep, and…

Treatments to improve the appearance of the teeth. There are several dental techniques that can make the teeth look better by improving their color or shape. When discolorations of a tooth are superficial, a dentist or a dental hygienist can use a rotary polisher with polishing paste to remove the discoloration. If this process is…

A form of hormonal birth control, administered through soft-plastic tubes that are implanted in a woman’s upper arm. Contraceptive implants provide birth control for up to 5 years after insertion. A hormonal method of contraception involves the insertion of a long-acting progestogen drug beneath the skin in the upper arm. This contraceptive implant is composed…

Products that are used, usually in combination with a barrier method of contraception, to kill sperm in the vagina as a means of birth control. They can be purchased without a prescription. To b e effective, they must be applied no earlier than 30 minutes before intercourse and reapplied if intercourse is repeated.  

Sexual contact between two consenting adults. In contrast, nonconsensual sex refers to sexual contact without mutual consent or agreement. It may range from forced touching or fondling to rape.  

A condition present at birth in which the thyroid gland is absent or produces too little thyroid hormone. Congenital hypothyroidism is usually caused by developmental defects of the thyroid gland. Females are twice as likely to have congenital hypothyroidism as males, and it is much more common among white than among black infants.  

Disorientation regarding time, places, people, or situations that is more commonly experienced by people over age 65 than by younger individuals. It sometimes results from lifestyle-related causes and may pass quickly when the underlying problem is corrected. In other cases, confusion stems from a more serious disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Confusion over time that…