to sounds in the body, particularly
those made by the heart or lungs.
Stevens–Johnson syndromeA rare,
life-threatening form of erythema multi-
forme characterized by severe blisters and
bleeding in the mucous membranes of
the eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals.
sticky eyeOne of the symptoms of con-
junctivitis in which the eyelids become
stuck together with discharge.
stiff neckA common symptom, usually
due to spasm in muscles at the side or
back of the neck. In most cases, it occurs
suddenly and for no apparent reason. It
may result from a neck injury, such as a
ligament sprain, disc prolapse,or whip-
lash injury. A rare cause is meningitis.
Mild stiffness may be relieved by mas-
sage, warming, and use of a liniment.
Severe or persistent stiffness requires
medical attention. (See also torticollis.)
stiffnessA term used to describe difficulty
in moving a joint or stretching a muscle.
stilboestrolA drug that mimics the
natural oestrogen hormone estradiol. It
is occasionally used to treat prostate can-
cer. Side effects are those of oestrogens.
stillbirthDelivery of a dead fetus after
the 24th week of pregnancy. The cause is
unknown in many cases. Some stillborn
babies have severe malformations, such
as anencephaly, spina bifida, or hydro-
cephalus. Other possible causes include
a maternal disorder, such as antepartum
haemorrhageor hypertension, or severe
Rhesus incompatibility. The risk of still-
birth is increased if the mother has a
severe infection during pregnancy.Still’s diseaseSee rheumatoid arthritis,
juvenile.
stimulant drugsDrugs that increase
brainactivity by initiating the release of
noradrenaline(norepinephrine). Stimu-
lants are of 2 types: central nervous
system stimulants (for example, amfe-
tamines), which increase alertness; and
respiratory stimulants (see analeptic
drugs), which encourage breathing.
stimulusAnything that directly results
in a change in the activities of the body
as a whole or of any individual part.
stingsStinging animals include scorpi-
ons, some insects, jellyfish, and some
fish (see venomous bites and stings).
Stinging plants may cause an allergic
skin reaction. (See also poisonous plants.)
STIsSee sexually transmitted infections.
stitchA temporary, sudden, sharp pain
in the abdomen or side that occurs dur-
ing severe or unaccustomed exercise.
Stitch is also the common name for a
suture (see suturing) to close a wound.
St. John’s wortA herbal remedy derived
from the plant HYPERICUM PERFORTUM.
Capsules or infusions taken orally are
effective in treating mild depression. St.
John’s wort is also used in creams for
burns, wounds, and joint problems.
However, St John’s wort interacts with a
wide variety of other medications. Peo-
ple should not take a St John’s wort
preparation without first consulting a
doctor or pharmacist.
Stokes–Adams syndromeRecurrent
episodes of temporary loss of conscious-
nesscaused by insufficient blood flow
from the heart to the brain. This is due to
irregularity of the heartbeat (see arrhyth-
mia, cardiac) or to complete heart block.
Most people with the syndrome are fit-
ted with a pacemakerto prevent attacks.
stomaA term meaning mouth or orifice.
A stoma can be created surgically in the
abdominal wall (see colostomy; ileost-
omy) to allow the intestine to empty into
a bag or pouch on the surface of the skin.
stomachA hollow, bag-like organ of the
digestive systemlocated in the left side
of the abdomen under the diaphragm.
Food enters the stomach from the
oesophagus and exits into the duodenum.
The sight and smell of food, and its
arrival in the stomach, stimulate gastricSTEVENS–JOHNSON SYNDROME STOMACHS
STETHOSCOPEDiaphragm of
stethoscopeTubing