Benign warty growths that occur on the skin. They tend to first appear around the age of 40 years.
seborrhoeic wart
secondary cancer
A tumour or abnormal swelling that results from the spread of another malignant (uncontrolled) tumour to a distant part of the body.
secondary leukaemia
Leukaemia that has developed as a result of chemotherapy treatment for another cancer.
seizure
Uncontrolled electrical activity within the brain, leading to convulsions or an alteration in mental state.
selenium
A trace element in the body.
seminal vesicle
Either of a pair of glands in the male that produce the components of semen.
seminal vesicles
A pair of pouch-like glands situated on each side of the bladder in males. These produce the components of semen.
seminoma
A type of testicular disease.
senile purpura
Extreme susceptibility to bruising, often without cause. It is normally seen in older people whose skin is thinner and connective tissue weaker.
sensorineural
Deafness due to problems with the inner ear, nerves or the auditory area of the brain.
sepsis
Infection of a wound or body tissue with bacteria that leads to the formation of pus or to the multiplication of bacteria in the blood.
septic arthritis
Inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial infection.
septicaemia
A serious condition in which there is rapid mulitiplication of bacteria and in which bacterial toxins are present in the blood.
seroconversion rash of HIV
The rash commonly seen during the dormant period of HIV.
serology
Analysis of blood serum.
serum
The clear fluid that separates from blood when it clots. It contains salts, glucose and proteins.
serum calcium test
A test that measures the amount of calcium in the blood.
Sever's disease
A painful inflammation of the growth plate in the bone of the heel. It occurs in children aged seven to fifteen years, and it is caused by overuse.
Sheehan’s syndrome
Reduced production of hormones from the pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) due to damage to the gland from blood loss during or after childbirth.
shingles
A painful rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus many years after chicken pox infection
shock (medical)
A life-threatening condition in which collapse of the circulation means that oxygen delivery to cells and tissues is compromised. It is a medical emergency and not related to emotional shock.
sialogram
X-ray of the salivary ducts and glands.
sickle cell anaemia
The anaemia resulting from sickle cell disease.
sickle cell crisis
A flare up in patients with sickle cell disease