General

An infection caused by the bacterium B. pseudomallei is called melioidosis. It often lives in soil and water surfaces (mostly, in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia). Usually, the bacterium enters the body through small breaks or cracks in the skin or when you breathe it in or swallow it. In general, this bacterial infection is […]

A skin condition that causes brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots is called melasma (less commonly called cholasma). Sometimes, it is called the “mask of pregnancy”, and it occurs due to overproduction of the cells that make the color of the skin. Most of the time, this condition is harmless, and it disappears after […]

An inherited disorder that usually affects the nervous system and muscles and causes lactic acid to build up in the body is called MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) syndrome. In most cases, the symptoms are noticeable before the age of 20, but not always. This syndrome is a mitochondrial disease. Moreover, specific […]

A movement disorder that causes frequent spasms of the eye, jaw, tongue, and lower facial muscles is called Meige syndrome. The spasms caused by this condition may feel like a stabbing sensation, which is very similar to an electric shock. In other words, Meige syndrome is a rare type of dystonia that negatively affects the […]

A health condition in which the glands near the lids do not make enough oil or good-quality oil is called Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This oil is needed to protect the eyes themselves. Usually, dry eyes can cause other problems. Doctors often recommend eye drops and gland probes to treat this condition. In general, Meibomian […]

This is a form of phobia that causes an intense fear of large objects (such as skyscrapers, airplanes, and big statues). However, this is a treatable condition like many other types of phobias. Doctors often treat it with a type of psychological therapy known as exposure therapy. Furthermore, megalophobia (fear of large objects) is a […]

This disease is a form of macrocytic anemia (a blood disorder) that occurs when the bone marrow produces stem cells that make large red blood cells. It is called megaloblastic anemia, and it is a part of vitamin deficiency anemia that occurs when the body does not get enough vitamin B12 and vitamin B9 (folate). […]

The medical term used to describe an enlarged brain size is megalencephaly (also known as macroencephaly). While this condition may occur on its own, sometimes, people develop due to certain genetic conditions. Usually, children who experience megalencephaly have the following symptoms. These include seizures and developmental delays. Unfortunately, there is no way to cure this […]

A health condition that causes inflammation in the mediastinum (the part of the chest between the lungs that contains the heart and other organs) is called mediastinitis. This disease can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Typically, acute mediastinitis occurs due to complications from a median sternotomy or an esophageal tear. While people often experience […]

The medical term used to describe extremely thick meconium blocks in the last part of the baby’s small intestine (the ileum) is meconium ileus. Usually, this condition is a complication of cystic fibrosis, but it may also occur due to other causes. Doctors diagnose it by performing imaging tests. To treat this condition, physicians use […]