Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

boutonneuse
See 
typhus, African tick.
bowel
The small and large intestine.
bowel disease, inflammatory
A group of
chronic intestinal diseases characterized by inflam-
mation of the bowel (the small and large intestine).
Abbreviated IBD. The most common types of IBD
are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The por-
tion of the intestine that is affected becomes irritated
and swollen, and ulcers may form. IBD can be lim-
ited to the intestine or associated with disease
involving the skin, joints, spine, liver, eyes, and
other organs. The cause is not always known,
although it can be caused or made worse by infec-
tion. Symptoms include abdominal pain and diar-
rhea. Symptoms tend to wax and wane, and long
remissions and even spontaneous resolution of
symptoms are well known. Although people of any
age can be affected, IBD is most common in young
adults. Treatment involves dietary changes, the use
of medicines, and sometimes surgery, depending on
the type and course of the disease under care.
Effective therapy exists for the majority of cases.
Narcotics, codeine, and antidiarrheal medications
should be avoided during severe episodes of IBD
because they may cause dangerous colon swelling
(toxic megacolon). See also 
Crohn’s disease; coli-
tis, ulcerative.
bowel disorders and fiber
High-fiber diets
help delay the progression of and number of bouts
with diverticulosis. In many cases, high-fiber diets
help reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syn-
drome (IBS). It is generally accepted that a diet
high in fiber is protective or at least reduces the
incidence of colon polyps and colon cancer.
Bowen’s disease
See 
cancer, skin.
bowlegs
A condition in which the legs curve out,
leaving a gap between the knees, after infancy.
Bowlegs can be corrected with surgery or casting.
Also known as genu varum and tibia vara.
BP
In general medicine, blood pressure. On a
medical chart, you might see “BP90/60 T98.6
Ht60/reg R15,” which signifies that the blood pres-
sure (BP) is 90/60 mm Hg, the temperature (T) is
98.6° Fahrenheit, the heart rate (Ht) is 60 beats per
minute and regular, and respirations are occurring
at 15 per minute.