Medical dictionary

What is analysed? Lead analysis involves the examination of lead levels in a patient's blood or tissues. This is crucial to assess potential exposure to lead, a toxic metal with harmful health effects.   What does the result mean? The results indicate the concentration of lead in the sample. Elevated levels may suggest lead exposure, requiring further investigation and interv

What are learning disabilities? The term learning disabilities, also referred to as learning difficulties refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to acquire, process, store, and retrieve information. These disorders can cause impairments in basic cognitive processes, affecting how the brain processes information, and impacting academic achievement, daily

What is Ledderhose disease?Ledderhose disease is an extremely rare condition that causes various amounts of connective tissue to build up. This results in the formation of hard lumps that appear on the soles of the feet most commonly along the plantar fascia, which is the band of tissue that connects our heel bone to our toes.  Ledderhose disease is related to various othe

What is analysed? Legionella is a bacteria found in natural water sources (such as lakes) and man-made water systems (such as hot tubs and air conditioning) that can cause a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. The Legionella test is used to detect the presence of Legionella bacteria, specifically Legionella pneumophila. What does the result mean? The result i

What is leg pain? Pain in the leg is common and normally disappears quickly, either in a matter of moments, days, weeks or months. However, serious cases of leg pain can consistently affect your quality of life such as the ability to walk or bear weight.   What are the causes of leg pain? Leg pain can occur as the result of many causes. For instance: Crepitus, which i

What are leg ulcers? A leg ulcer is a chronic, unhealed sore which generally develops on the inside of the leg. Leg ulcers form when there is a break in the skin of the leg, and bacteria and air get into the tissue underneath.   Prognosis With the right treatment, most leg ulcers are able to heal within 3 to 4 months. However, if you have had one ulcer, it is possible that anothe

What are intraocular lenses?     Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are lenses used to replace damaged lenses. They are placed in the eye so that the light that enters goes to the retina. There are two types of intraocular lenses: Phakic: these are placed without having to take the lens out. Pseudophakic: these are placed after the lens is removed. An example is during 

What is leukaemia? Leukaemia is a group of cancers of the white blood cells. It usually begins in the bone marrow (the spongy centre of our bones), where blood cells are made. Normally, stem cells in the bone marrow mature into different sorts of blood cells (red, white and platelets) in a regulated manner. Different types of leukaemia affect the bone marrow in different ways, but all result

What is analysed? The leukocyte formula, also known as the white blood cell differential count, analyses the proportion of different types of white blood cells present in the blood sample. How is it used? The leukocyte formula provides valuable information about the immune system's status and helps diagnose various infections, inflammatory conditions, and haematological disorders.