Disabilities

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What Is An Autoimmune Disease?

August 6, 2010

An autoimmune disease is an illness that arises when the tissues of the body are attacked by the body’s own immune system.  The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to protect the body from invaders, including infectious agents.  It is common for patients with autoimmune diseases to have [...]

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What Is Tennis Elbow?

July 7, 2010

Tennis elbow is characterized by pain on the outside (also known as the lateral) of the elbow with tenderness on or under the bony prominence of the joint.  The pain usually comes on gradually, and causes discomfort in motions associated with lifting, gripping, and carrying.  Pain is frequent with tennis elbow and may radiate down [...]

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What is Bacterial Meningitis?

June 23, 2010

Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.  It is a form of meningococcal disease, which is an illness caused by the bacteria meningococci, also called Nisseria meningitidis.  Although meningicoccal disease is quite rare, it is extremely serious.  The infection can progress very rapidly and is fatal in [...]

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Arthritis 101: How to Cope with the Pain of Arthritis

May 20, 2010

What does arthritis feel like? If you have ever suffered with an aching back, throbbing knees, or painful joints, you have an idea of what the pain of arthritis feels like. At best, arthritis causes occasional problems for those who suffer from it; at worst, arthritis pain can affect the quality of someone’s life, and [...]

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What Is A Cleft Palate?

May 10, 2010

A cleft palate is a birth defect that happens when the roof of a baby’s mouth does not develop correctly while in the womb.  This causes an opening or “cleft” in the roof of the baby’s mouth that may go all of the way to the baby’s nasal cavity.  It is possible for a cleft [...]

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