Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

indigestion A common term (known
medically as dyspepsia) covering a var-
iety of symptoms brought on by eating,
including heartburn, abdominal pain,
nausea, and flatulence. Discomfort in
the upper abdomen is often caused by
eating too much, too quickly, or by eat-
ing very rich, spicy, or fatty foods.
Persistent or recurrent indigestion may
be due to a peptic ulcer, gallstones, oes-
ophagitis, or, rarely, stomach cancer.
Antacid drugshelp relieve symptoms,
but they can mask an underlying cause
that needs medical attention. They
should not be taken for longer than 2
weeks without medical advice.
indometacinA nonsteroidal anti-inflam-
matory drug(NSAID) used to relieve
pain, stiffness, and inflammation in dis-
orders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis, and tendinitis. It is also pre-
scribed to relieve pain caused by injury
to soft tissues, such as muscles and lig-
aments. Side effects include abdominal
pain, nausea, heartburn, headache, dizzi-
ness, and increased risk of peptic ulcer.
induction of labourUse of artificial
means to initiate childbirth when the
health of the mother or baby would be at
risk if pregnancy continued. The most
common reason for inducing labour is
that the pregnancy has continued past
the estimated delivery date, which increas-
es the chance of complications during
childbirth. Other reasons for induction

are pre-eclampsia, Rhesus incompatibility,

or intrauterine growth retardation. Differ-

ent methods of induction are used,

depending on the stage of labour: a

prostaglandinpessary may be inserted

into the vagina to encourage the cervix

to open; if the cervix is already open, the

membranes containing the fetus may be

ruptured; or the hormone oxytocinmay

be given intravenously to stimulate

uterine contractions.

industrial diseasesSee occupational

disease and injury.

infantA term usually applied to a baby

up to the age of 12 months.

infantile spasmsA rare type of recur-

rent seizure, also called progressive

myoclonic encephalopathy or salaam

attacks, that affects babies. The condi-

tion is a form of epilepsyand occurs

most commonly from 4–9 months of age.

Spasms may occur hundreds of times a

day, each lasting a few seconds. These

seizures are usually a sign of brain dam-

age; affected babies usually have severe

developmental delay.

infant mortalityThe number of infants

who die during the 1st year of life per

1,000 live births, usually expressed as

per year. About 2 in 3 of all infant

deaths occur during the neonatal period

(the 1st month of life). Most of those

who die are very premature (born before

the 30th week of pregnancy) or have

severe birth defects.

INDUCTION OF LABOUR

INDIGESTION INFANT MORTALITY

I

Closed

cervix

Amniotic Fetus Cervix Placenta

fluid

Membranes

surrounding

fetus

Prostaglandin

pessary softens

the cervix

PROSTAGLANDIN PESSARY RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES

Hand guiding hook

that ruptures

membranes