Glossary

Nonspecific back pain is typically mechanical in nature, in that it is brought on when the spine moves.

An infection which can be extremely serious and can cause death within hours, but in most cases patients do recover.

The condition can lead to permanent disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage and learning disabilities.

The illness usually affects young children, teenagers and the elderly.

Symptoms include headaches, a stiff neck and a fever.

A rare and fatal condition which usually starts in childhood.

As the illness progresses the patient’s nervous system, movement disorders and co-ordination will drastically deteriorate.

People with batten disease will eventually become wheelchair-bound, bedridden and pass away prematurely.

An inherited condition that weakens and the skeletal and cardiac muscles. Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is more common in men and symptoms are likely to start between the ages of 5 and 15. The progressive condition can make it difficult to walk and people with BMD can have frequent falls due to a lack of balance. Over time a person with the condition is likely to require a wheelchair. In later life Becker muscular dystrophy prevents the heart pumping blood leading to a heart condition known as cardiomyopathy. People with BMD may live into their 40s or beyond.

Behçet's syndrome is a rare and poorly understood condition that results in inflammation of the blood vessels and tissues.

Symptoms - which usually start in a person's 20s and 30s,  include genital and mouth ulcers, red painful eyes and blurred vision, acne-like spots, headaches, painful and stiff and swollen joints.

A condition which temporary weakens or paralysis muscles on one side of the face.

Bell’s Palsy is the most common form of facial paralysis, but it can also be triggered by a stroke, injury to the facial nerve or an injury from surgery.

A common form of diarrhoea which is often found in people who have irritable bowel syndrome.

Formally known as manic depression, people coping with Bipolar can experience irregular mood swings from one extreme to the other.

During these times they can feel highly overactive or very low and depressed. People with Bipolar are usually diagnosed with depression first, they will then experience manic episodes where they can feel very high before being told they are living with the condition.

It can be rare for a Bipolar patient to feel in a ‘normal state of mind’ on a regular basis.

A rare condition which can affect both sexes which develops from inside the womb. The bladder grows inside out so when the baby is born urine can drip down onto the skin causing irritation.

Only one out of 20,000 babies are born with the condition and there is no known cure.

Blepharitis is the term for when the eyelids become inflamed. The condition usually affects both eyelids and commonly occurs when the small oil glands next to the eyelid’s edges become clogged which can cause redness and irritation.

Blindness is the inability to see or a lack of vision. In the most severe cases, there's an inability to see even light. It also means that you can't correct your vision with eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye drops or other medical therapy, or surgery.

Also known as BDD body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition which makes people worried about any flaws they may have in their physical appearance.

The condition is more common in teenagers and young adults.

A rare condition, also known as BIID, which makes a person to have the desire to have a disability by undergoing amputation or live with a discomfort which usually starts in childhood.

People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - also known as Emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) - can experience bursts of anxiety, depression and episodes of anger which can last from a few hours to days.

A percentage of people with the condition also prone to self-harm, anxiety, eating disorders, mood swings and suicidal thoughts.

A common condition in babies where they have a small gap between their knees and ankles.

If the gap doesn’t fix itself overtime you are advised to seek medical attention.