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Diseases » Photosensitivity » Glossary

Glossary for Photosensitivity

Albinism: A rare inherited condition characterized by a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and/or eyes.
Amyopathic dermatomyositis: A rare disorder involving a skin rash that normally occurs with inflammation of skeletal muscles (dermatomyositis) but there is no muscle involvement. It is important to monitor patients in case muscle involvement develops.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Inflammation of spinal joints similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
Benazepril Hydrochloride - Teratogenic Agent: Experimental studies on rats indicate that the use of Benazepril Hydrochloride during pregnancy may cause various harmful effects on the fetus. The likelihood and severity of symptoms may be affected by the level of exposure and the stage of pregnancy that the exposure occurred at. The effect on human fetuses has not been conclusively determined.
Bloom Syndrome: A rare genetic inherited genetic disorder which mainly affects Ashkenazic Jewish people and is characterized by short stature, malar hypoplasia, and a telangiectatic erythema of the face.
Botulism food poisoning: Extremely dangerous food poisoning requiring medical attention, but not always recognized because of its non-abdominal symptoms.
Bullis fever syndrome: A disease transmitted through tick bites (Ambylomma americanum). Symptoms include fever, rash and headache. The disease was first observed in soldiers training at Camp Bullis in America.
Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus: A blistering disease that can develop in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The process is mediated by autoantibodies.
CAR syndrome: A progressive autoimmune eye disease caused by cancer that occurs outside the eye area. It is a type of paraneoplasic cancer which refers to distant neurological effects caused by a cancer. Eye symptoms usually occur before the cancer is detected.
Chlorpropamide - Teratogenic Agent: There is evidence to indicate that exposure to Chlorpropamide (an antidiabetic drug) during pregnancy may have a teratogenic effect on the fetus. A teratogen is a substance that can cause birth defects. The likelihood and severity of defects may be affected by the level of exposure and the stage of pregnancy that the exposure occurred at.
Corneal abrasion: Scratch on the cornea
Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.
De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome: A rare genetic ectodermal disorder characterized by sunlight sensitivity, skin atrophy and pigmentation and skin tumors as well asneurologic involvement.
Dermatitis: General name for any type of skin inflammation.
Dobriner syndrome: An inherited metabolic disorder involving a deficiency of coproporphyrinogen oxidase. The condition is similar to but milder than intermittent porphyria and sometimes includes photosensitivity.
Dravet syndrome: A rare, severe form of generalized infant epilepsy that starts after a fever. Initial infant development is normal but once the seizures start, psychomotor development slows and mental decline occurs. The seizures usually occur every month or two to start with.
Eczema: Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by skin inflammation and irritation. The severity of extent of the condition is highly variable. It may be caused by allergies, irritants or other factors such as stress.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is the term for a diverse group of eye diseases, all of which involve progressive damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is usually, but not always, accompanied by high intraocular (internal) fluid pressure. Optic nerve damage produces certain characteristic visual field defects in the individual's peripheral (side), as well as central, vision.
Hartnup Disease: A rare metabolic disorder involving an error in the transport of neutral amino acid and characterized by mental retardation, rash due to light sensitivity and cerebellar ataxia.
Herbal Agent overdose - St John's Wort: St John's Wort can be used to treat depression, stress, insomnia, anxiety and as a topical treatment for vitiligo and wounds. The herbal agent contains a chemical called xanthone which can cause symptoms if excessive doses are taken.
Herbal Agent overdose - Wormwood: Wormwood can be used to treat worm infestations and as a sedative or hair tonic. The herbal agent contains chemicals which can cause various symptoms if excessive quantities are taken.
Hives: Weals on the skin due to an allergic reaction.
Iridocyclitis: Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body (just behind the iris) of the eye.
Lupus: Autoimmune disease with numerous effects on various organs and linings.
Lyme disease: Lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia.
Measles: Once common viral infection now rare due to vaccination.
Mononucleosis: Common infectious virus.
PIBIDS syndrome: A rare inherited skin disorder characterized by photosensitivity (P), red, dry, scaly skin (I - ichthyosis), brittle hair (B), impaired physical and mental development (I), decreased fertility (D) and short stature (S). It is the same as IBIDS syndrome but involves photosensitivity.
Pellagra: Dietary deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin)
Phenylketonuria: A metabolic disorder where there is a deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase which leads to a harmful buildup of the phenylalanine in the body. Normally the phenylalanine is converted into tyrosine. The severity of the symptoms can range from severe enough to cause mental retardation to mild enough not to require treatment. Severity is determined by the level of impairment of enzyme activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase.
Pili torti: Twisted fragile hair shaft - usually a genetic condition.
Pili torti - developmental delay - neurological abnormalities: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by developmental delay, twisted hair shafts and neurological symptoms.
Poikiloderma of Rothmund-Thomson: A rare disease which causes sufferers to have a senile-like appearance with skin, growth, hair and eye abnormalities.
Porphyria: A group of disorders characterized by excess production of porphyrin or its precursors which affects the skin and/or nervous system.
Possible human carcinogenic exposure - Dacarbazine: Some evidence indicates that exposure to Dacarbazine has a possible link to an increased risk of developing cancer in humans. The carcinogenicity of the substance may be influenced by the duration and level of exposure. Dacarbazine is used as a chemotherapy drug.
Psoriasis: Chronic skin rash condition, usually red or silver and blistery.
Reiter’s syndrome: A form of reactive arthritis characterized by arthritis, urethritis, conjunctivitis and skin lesions.
Rosacea: Inflammatory rash affecting cheeks, nose, forehead, chin
SIBIDS syndrome: A rare disorder characterized mainly by sulfur-deficient brittle hair as well as osteosclerosis.
Sarcoidosis: Rare autoimmune disease usually affecting the lungs.
Sjogren's Syndrome: Autoimmune disease damaging the eye tear ducts and other glands.
Skin conditions: Any condition that affects the skin
Solar urticaria: A form of hives that occurs in response to sun exposure. Symptoms usually occur within minutes of the sun exposure. Symptoms usually persist for between half an hour to two hours.
Sun sensitivity: Skin sensitivity to the sun
Syphilis: A sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria (Treponema pallidum). The condition is often asymptomatic in the early stages but one or more sores may be present in the early stages. Untreated syphilis usually results in remission of visible symptoms but further severe damage may occur to internal organs and other body tissues which can result in death.
Trichothiodystrophy - sun sensitivity: A rare condition characterized by short brittle hair
Type A influenza subtype H1: The H1 subtype of influenza is a strain of the type A influenza virus that can cause cause serious illness and result in pandemics. Influenza is viral respiratory infection. The virus is very contagious and can cause severe illness especially in patients who are very young or old or have some other medical condition as well. The severity of symptoms can vary but usually involves respiratory and constitutional (e.g. headache, aching muscles) symptoms. The influenza virus can mutate and produce different strains though the symptoms are the same. This frequent mutation means that people need regular vaccinations to ensure they are protected against new strains as they arise.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.
Uveitis: A condition which is characterised by the inflammation of the uvea of the eye
Viral Hepatitis: hepatitis describes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis may be caused by alcohol, drugs, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, and viruses. Viral infection accounts for more than half the cases of acute hepatitis.
Vitiligo: Skin pigment changes, usually harmless but sometimes embarrassing.
Xeroderma pigmentosum: A rare pigmentary disease that is caused by an enzyme deficiency