Chapter 31 The body at the extremes of age Questions What clinical problems arise in particularly young and particularly old individuals? 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. Fig. 3.31.1 Diseases occurring in particular age groups. Congenital malformations Congenital malformations reflect imperfections in prenatal development and include congenital cardiac malformations (Ch. 38) cleft lip and/or palate spina bifida< div class='tao-gold-member'> Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue You may also needand inherited diseasescancer syndromesdefenceand differentiationPneumoniaeffects and management of neoplasiaStrokeand hypertensive heart disease Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related Tags: The Flesh and Bones of Pathology Jul 3, 2016 | Posted by admin in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on body at the extremes of age
Chapter 31 The body at the extremes of age Questions What clinical problems arise in particularly young and particularly old individuals? 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. Fig. 3.31.1 Diseases occurring in particular age groups. Congenital malformations Congenital malformations reflect imperfections in prenatal development and include congenital cardiac malformations (Ch. 38) cleft lip and/or palate spina bifida< div class='tao-gold-member'> Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue You may also needand inherited diseasescancer syndromesdefenceand differentiationPneumoniaeffects and management of neoplasiaStrokeand hypertensive heart disease Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related Tags: The Flesh and Bones of Pathology Jul 3, 2016 | Posted by admin in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on body at the extremes of age
