body at the extremes of age

Chapter 31 The body at the extremes of age




Questions


image What clinical problems arise in particularly young and particularly old individuals?

image Why is neoplasia generally more common in older people?

Many diseases occur throughout life, but the human body is particularly vulnerable when very young or very old. Many of the conditions affecting individuals at each end of the age spectrum are the same as those occurring throughout life but as well as increased susceptibility to these diseases, these people are at increased risk of developing diseases which are relatively or entirely specific to their age group.




Disease in the very young



Prematurity


Prematurity is associated with particular problems, mainly owing to immaturity of organs and body systems (Fig. 3.31.1). Immaturity leads to increased susceptibility to infection and to less tolerance of changes in local environment as homeostasis is poor.


image image image

Fig. 3.31.1 Diseases occurring in particular age groups.



Congenital malformations


Congenital malformations reflect imperfections in prenatal development and include


image congenital cardiac malformations (Ch. 38)

image cleft lip and/or palate

image spina bifida
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Related posts:

lung disease big picture heart disease disease and congenital heart disease and epidemiology of neoplasia

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Jul 3, 2016 | Posted by in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on body at the extremes of age

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