Introduction

Welcome to the Disease Modules on MerckMedicus! These disease modules provide an overview of various diseases and are intended primarily for health care providers, including:

• physicians

• nurses

• pharmacists

• affiliated health care professionals

• nurse practitioners

• health care students.

• physician assistants

If you are a patient and are accessing this site, you should understand that the information presented here is intended for use by health care providers. You should seek assistance from your physician or other health care provider in interpreting and applying any of this information to individual cases.

Each disease module provides a discussion of medical information, along with multiple tables, figures, and animated graphics. References are presented throughout each module and a complete list of these references is available at the end of each section. Each disease module is divided into the following five sections:

•  Definition & Classification
This section provides a definition of the disease, along with an overview of the disease entity. Additionally, it describes the primary ways in which the disease is classified, whether by site, type, or based on its specific features.

•  Epidemiology
This section describes the distribution and determinants of the disease. In addition to general information on incidence and prevalence, a variety of relevant studies, both classic and current, are discussed or referenced.

•  Pathophysiology
In this section, a discussion of the normal structure and function of the relevant areas precedes a description of the alterations in structure and function seen in the disease.

•  Diagnosis
This section lists the clinical features of the disease and explains how it is diagnosed. In addition to discussing the most prominent clinical signs and symptoms, the various diagnostic modalities (laboratory investigations, imaging techniques, etc.) are reviewed.

•  Treatment Guidelines
This section links to the external websites of various independent medical associations and organizations that have developed or currently support relevant treatment guidelines. These treatment guidelines are generally intended for health care providers. Although these guidelines describe recommended courses of intervention, they are not intended to serve as a substitute for the clinical judgment of a health care provider caring for an individual patient. Merck does not review or control the content of these websites or treatment guidelines; therefore, this link does not constitute an endorsement by Merck of the content of any of these websites or treatment guidelines.

Copyright ©2001-2008 Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

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