General

A life-threatening but treatable reaction to anesthesia that is caused by an inherited gene change (mutation) that negatively affects your muscles is called malignant hyperthermia. The risk of developing this condition increases even more if you have a parent or sibling with malignant hyperthermia. In other words, this is a genetic disorder that causes a […]

A serious parasitic infection that occurs due to an infected mosquito bite is called malaria. It is a potentially life-threatening infection, especially if it is left untreated. Commonly, it occurs in specific parts of the world that are hot and humid (such as Africa and parts of Asia). People who develop it often experience flu-like […]

A behavior in which a person spends an excessive amount of time daydreaming, usually becoming immersed in their imagination, is called maladaptive daydreaming. In most cases, this is a coping mechanism used by people with mental health conditions (such as anxiety). Sometimes, this behavior can disrupt work, hobbies, or friendships and relationships. In other words, […]

A type of digestive disorder that prevents your body from absorbing enough nutrients from food is called malabsorption syndrome. In general, there are multiple causes of this syndrome, and most of them involve damage to the mucous lining of the small intestine (where most absorption occurs). Generally, malabsorption is an umbrella term used to describe […]

A health condition in which the tongue becomes enlarged is called macroglossia (sometimes, it is called giant tongue or enlarged tongue). However, this is a rare disorder that mostly affects children. Commonly, those who develop macroglossia also have other health conditions, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or Down syndrome. Furthermore, people with macroglossia may also develop […]

A disease that causes the baby’s head to become larger compared to other babies of the same age and sex is called macrocephaly. While a larger head size is often harmless, in some cases, it may indicate a serious health condition. These include an enlarged brain, a brain bleed, fluid on the brain, and other […]

An inherited brain disease that negatively affects the ability to control muscles is called Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Usually, it causes a progressive lack of coordination in the arms and legs. Unfortunately, it is not possible to cure this condition, but with early diagnosis and treatment, you can relieve the symptoms […]

A health condition caused by a bacterium from soil or water that occurs in people with weakened immune systems or with respiratory problems is called MAC lung disease. In most cases, people need antibiotics to treat this disease. They are often taken for more than 1 year to clear this infection, but in severe cases, […]

A health condition in which you have pus in the urine is called pyuria. In most cases, this disorder is caused by urinary tract infections (UTIs), but it may also happen due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), viral infections, or chronic use of certain medicines. While the primary symptom of pyuria is cloudy and foul-smelling […]

A rare genetic disease that causes red blood cells to break down faster than they should is called pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency). It may also cause hemolytic anemia and the following symptoms. For example, extreme tiredness (fatigue), weakness, and a fast heart rate. In general, there are some treatments available that may help relieve […]