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Keratitis
Keratitis An inflammation of the cornea often caused by a virus or bacteria. Scarring and loss of vision may result.
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Inflammation
A reaction to an injury to the body - by infection, chemicals or physical agents. The symptoms can be - depending on the location of the injury- redness, swelling, heat and pain. The purpose of the inflammation is to dilute and destroy the agent causing the inflammation. To do this, the immune system starts a cascade of actions that causes active cells to gather at the affected location. It is these cells and fluids that cause the redness, swelling, heat and pain.
Cornea
The front part of the eye that acts as a window for the entrance of light rays. It is attached to the other outer coat of the eye, the sclera; the white part of the eye. The cornea provides a significant amount of focusing power for the eye (the rest is provided by the lens). Because it has many nerve fibers, an injury or foreign body causes significant pain and discomfort.
Virus
Ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein.
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).
Vision
The sense of sight.
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Kerala Institute of Medical Science
The Kerala Institute of Medical Science is a hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Keratin
The main protein of skin, hair and nails.
Keratoconus
An inherited disease where the cornea becomes progressively shaped like a cone. Wearing a contact lens may slow the progression of the disease. Corneal transplant surgery may be required.
Keratoderma blennorrhagica
A rash on the soles which may occur in Reiter's syndrome. Resembles psoriasis.
Keratoplasty
A corneal transplant.
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Kohler's disease
Osteonecrosis of the navicular bone in the foot.
Kveim test
To diagnose sarcoidosis A biopsy is taken from the site of previous inoculation of splenic material from a patient with sarcoid. A granulomatous lesion is a positive result.
Kyphosis
Posterior curvature of the spine. ('Hump back' deformity).
Koate DVI
Koate-DVI A plasma derived product for the treatment of classic hemophilia (hemophilia A). A product made by Bayer.
Kogenate
Bayer's first recombinantly engineered drug for the treatment of hemophilia.
Keratitis
Keratoconus
An inherited disease where the cornea becomes progressively shaped like a cone. Wearing a contact lens may slow the progression of the disease. Corneal transplant surgery may be required.
Keratoplasty
A corneal transplant.
K cell
An effector lymphocyte with Fc receptors which allow it to bind to and kill antibody-coated target cells.
Killer T cell
A T cell with a particular immune specificity and an endogenously produced receptor for antigen, capable of specifically killing its target cell after attachment to the target cell by this receptor. Also called cytotoxic T cell.
Kallmann's syndrome
A condition characterized by pubertal failure, inactive testicles (or ovaries), failure of the pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropic hormones, and failure of the hypothalamus to stimulate the pituitary gland, in association with absence of the sense of smell secondary to defective olfactory function in the brain.
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