Medical dictionary

What is autism? Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a range of similar conditions that affect a person’s social skills, communication, interaction, interests and behaviour. There are many types of autism, which are caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. According to the NHS, it is estimated that about 1 in every 100 people in the

What is an autism spectrum test? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction, communication, and behaviour. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning that the symptoms and their severity can vary widely among individuals. The diagnosis of ASD is based on the presence of certain behavioural patterns and symptoms, which can be assessed through a va

What is analysed? Autoantibodies refer to antibodies produced by the immune system that mistakenly target and attack the body's own cells. These can be specific to certain organs or tissues, leading to autoimmune disorders. Why undergo the analysis? Analysing autoantibodies is crucial for diagnosing autoimmune diseases. Detecting these antibodies helps in identifying the specific

How can autoimmune diseases affect a woman's pregnancy? There are various ways that autoimmune diseases during pregnancy can manifest. Women with a pre-existing autoimmune disease may be considered high-risk during their pregnancy and may require more extensive care. What are autoimmune conditions? Autoimmune conditions affect different parts of

What are autoimmune diseases? Autoimmune diseases are a group of conditions where healthy cells in the body are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases that affect any part of the body. This makes diagnosis difficult. The most common autoimmune diseases are: Inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease an

What are autoimmune endocrinopathies? Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body in a variety of ways and some well-known examples include alopecia, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Endocrine refers to the body’s glands, such as the ovaries and the testes as well as the pancreas,

What is autoimmune hepatitis?Autoimmune hepatitis, sometimes abbreviated to AIH, is a chronic condition that affects the liver. As it is autoimmune, the patient's immune system attacks its own cells because the body's immune system recognises the liver cells as foreign and starts to attack them, damaging this vital organ. In the UK, autoimmune hepatitis is not common. It is estimated tha

What is aviation medicine? Aviation medicine is a field of preventative or occupational medicine. Pilots, cabin crews and astronauts are patients, and it is also concerned with the health and safety of passengers. It is an essential component of aviation safety as the discipline applies medical knowledge to the human factors of aviation.   Who practises aviation medicine? Ther

What is aviation psychology? Aviation psychology, also referred to as aerospace psychology, studies behaviour, emotions, actions, and the cognitive processes within the aviation field. It is a subspecialty of psychology where workers in this field use their knowledge of human emotion and behaviour to improve aviation standards and conditions, provide mental health support to pilots, aircrew, an