424 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
KM
*Keratomalacia A dullness and softening of the
eye, ending in blindness. It is caused by a lack of
vitamin A.
Kidneys Large, bean-shaped organs in the lower
back that filter waste from the blood, forming urine.
Kidney stones Small stones that form in the kidneys
and pass down to the urinary tube. They can cause
a sharp pain in the lower back, side, urinary tube, or
lower belly. In the bladder they may block the urinary
tube and make urination painful or impossible.
Kilogram (kg.) One thousand grams. A ‘kilo’ is
equal to a little over 2 pounds.
Kwashiorkor (wet malnutrition) Severe
malnutrition. A child with kwashiorkor has swollen
feet, hands, and face, and peeling sores.
L
Labor The sudden tightening or contractions of the
womb that mean the baby will soon be born.
Larva (larvae) The young worm-like form that
comes from the egg of many insects or parasites. It
changes form when it becomes and adult.
Latrine An outhouse; privy; a hole or pit in the
ground to use as a toilet.
Laxative A medicine used for constipation that
makes stools softer and more frequent.
Ligaments Tough cords in a person’s joints that
help hold them in place.
*Lingual Of or relating to the tongue.
Liter (l.) A metric measure equal to about one quart.
A liter of water weighs one kilogram.
Liver A large organ under the lower right ribs that
helps clean the blood and get rid of poisons.
Loss of consciousness The condition of a sick or
injured person who seems to be asleep and cannot
be wakened. Unconsciousness.
*Lubricant An oil or cream used to make surfaces
slippery.
Lymph nodes Small lumps under the skin in
different parts of the body that are traps for germs.
They become painful and swollen when they get
infected. In tuberculosis and cancer they are often
swollen but not painful.
Lyophilized Powdered; a way of preparing
injectable medicine so that it does not have to be
kept cold.
Malnutrition Health problems caused by not eating
enough of the foods that the body needs.
Marasmus (dry malnutrition) A condition caused
by not eating enough. Starvation. The person is very
thin and underweight, often with a pot belly.
Mask of pregnancy Dark, olive-colored areas on
face, breasts, or middle of the belly that are normal in
a pregnant woman.
Mastitis (breast abscess) An infection of the
breast, usually in the first weeks or months of nursing
a baby. It causes part of the breast to become hot,
red, and swollen.
Membrane A thin, soft sheet or layer that lines or
protects some part of an animal or plant.
Menopause (climacteric) The time when a woman
naturally stops having monthly bleeding, usually
between the ages of 40 and 50.
Menstrual period, menstruation Monthly bleeding
in women.
Mental Of or relating to the mind (thinking, brain).
Micro-organism A tiny plant or animal so small it
can only be seen with the aid of microscope.
Microscope An instrument with lenses that make
very tiny objects look larger.
Microscopic Something so small that it can only be
seen with a microscope.
Migraine A severe, throbbing headache, sometimes
on one side of the head only. It often causes vomiting.
Milligram (mg.) One thousandth of a gram.
Milliliter (ml.) One thousandth of a liter.
Minerals Simple metals or other things the body
needs, such as iron, calcium, and iodine.
Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) The death of
the developing baby or fetus in the womb, sometimes
followed by heavy bleeding with blood clots.
Mongolism (Down’s syndrome) A disease in which
a child is born mentally slow with slanted eyes, a
round dull face, and wide hands with short fingers.
Morning sickness Nausea and vomiting that occur
especially in the morning in the early months of
pregnancy.
Mouth-to-mouth breathing Artificial respiration.
A method of helping a person who has stopped
breathing to start breathing again.
Mucus A thick, slippery liquid that moistens and
protects the linings of the nose, throat, stomach, guts,
and vagina.