The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Diaper Rash article.
Allergic reaction: The hypersensitive response of the immune system of an allergic individual to a substance. See the entire definition of Allergic reaction
Ammonia: A colorless gas with a very sharp odor. Made both by humans and by nature, ammonia dissolves easily in water and evaporates quickly. Liquid ammonia is found in many household cleaners. Ammonia is irritating to the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Exposure to high concentrations in the air can severely burn the skin, eyes, throat, or lungs. In extreme cases, blindness, lung damage, or death can occur. Breathing lower concentrations causes coughing and nose and throat irritation. Swallowing ammonia may burn the mouth, throat, and stomach. See the entire definition of Ammonia
Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. Synthetic antibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks. See the entire definition of Antibiotic
Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life). See the entire definition of Bacteria
Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria. For example, a bacterial lung infection.
Contact dermatitis: A skin condition caused by contact between skin and some substance. Includes irritant contact dermatitis (a rash brought on purely by repeated irritation from a substance such as water causing "dish pan hands") and allergic contact dermatitis (involving a specific sensitivity or allergy to a specific substance such as poison ivy).
Cortisone: An adrenocorticoid hormone , a naturally occurring hormone made by and secreted by the adrenal cortex , the outer part (the cortex ) of the adrenal gland . See the entire definition of Cortisone
Cream: A word with many meanings that, in medicine and pharmacy, refers to a water-soluble preparation applied to the skin. An ointment differs from a cream in that it has an oil base.
Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to direct contact with an irritating substance, or to an allergic reaction. Symptoms of dermatitis include redness, itching, and in some cases blistering. See the entire definition of Dermatitis
Dermatology: 1. The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the skin, hair, nails, oral cavity and genitals. 2. Sometimes also, cosmetic care and enhancement. Dermatology is literally the study of the skin.
Diaper rash: Also called "diaper dermatitis," a diaper rash is a skin inflammatory reaction localized to the area usually covered by the diaper. It can have many causes including infections (yeast, bacterial or viral), friction irritation, chemical allergies (perfumes, soaps), sweat and plugging of sweat glands.
Environment: The sum of the total of the elements, factors and conditions in the surroundings which may have an impact on the development , action or survival of an organism or group of organisms. See the entire definition of Environment
Erythema: A redness of the skin resulting from inflammation, for example, as caused by sunburn.
Fungal: Pertaining to a fungus. For example, a fungal skin infection.
Groin: In anatomy, the area where the upper thigh meets the trunk. More precisely, the fold or depression marking the juncture of the lower abdomen and the inner part of the thigh. See the entire definition of Groin
Infection: The growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment therefrom.) A person with an infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within him, drawing its nourishment from the person. See the entire definition of Infection
Inflammation: A basic way in which the body reacts to infection , irritation or other injury, the key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain . Inflammation is now recognized as a type of nonspecific immune response . See the entire definition of Inflammation
Rash : Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. Medically, a rash is referred to as an exanthem. See the entire definition of Rash
Side effects: Problems that occur when treatment goes beyond the desired effect. Or problems that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect. See the entire definition of Side effects
Sign: Any objective evidence of disease. Gross blood in the stool is a sign of disease. It can be recognized by the patient, doctor, nurse, or others. In contrast, a symptom is, by its nature, subjective. Abdominal pain is a symptom. It is something only the patient can know. See the entire definition of Sign
Skin: The skin is the body's outer covering. It protects us against heat and light, injury, and infection. It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. Weighing about 6 pounds, the skin is the body's largest organ. It is made up of two main layers; the outer epidermis and the inner dermis. See the entire definition of Skin
Staph: Very commonly used shortened form of Staphylococcus, a very common and important group of bacteria. See Staphylococcus.
Stool: The solid matter discharged in a bowel movement.
Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and important group of bacteria. See Streptococcus
Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics , that part of medicine concerned specifically with the treatment of disease . The therapeutic dose of a drug is the amount needed to treat a disease. See the entire definition of Therapeutic
Therapy: The treatment of disease . See the entire definition of Therapy
Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. A topical agent is applied to a certain area of the skin and is intended to affect only the area to which it is applied. Whether its effects are indeed limited to that area depends upon whether the agent stays where it is put or is absorbed into the blood stream. See the entire definition of Topical
Urine: Liquid waste. The urine is a clear, transparent fluid. It normally has an amber color. The average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is from 40 to 60 ounces (about 1,200 cubic centimeters). Chemically, the urine is mainly an aqueous (watery) solution of salt (sodium chloride) and substances called urea and uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts of water to 40 parts of solid matter. Abnormally, it may contain sugar (in diabetes), albumen (a protein) (as in some forms of kidney disease), bile pigments (as in jaundice), or abnormal quantities of one or another of its normal components.
Yeast: A group of single-celled fungi that reproduce by budding. See the entire definition of Yeast
Zinc: A mineral essential to the body, zinc is a constituent of many enzymes that permit chemical reactions to proceed at normal rates. It is involved in the manufacture of protein (protein synthesis) and in cell division. Zinc is also a constituent of insulin , and is concerned with the sense of smell. See the entire definition of Zinc
Zinc oxide: A form of zinc that has antispasmodic qualities. See the entire definition of Zinc oxide
- miconazole, Monistat; Femizol; Vagistat; M-Zole; Micatin; Lotrimin - Explains the medication miconazole (Monistat, Micatin), a drug used to treat vaginal infections due to Candida albicans and several fungal infections of the skin, including tinea versicolor, tinea pedis ("athlete's foot"), tinea cruris ("jock itch") and tinea corporis.
- Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.
- nystatin powder, Bio-Statin, Nilstat - Consumer information about the medication NYSTATIN POWDER (Bio-Statin, Nilstat), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug NYSTATIN POWDER.
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