This list includes 35 Diseases that start with B that begin with B, from “Babesiosis” to “Burkitt lymphoma”. It covers common infections, chronic conditions, and cancers. Use it for quick lookups, classroom review, or as a starting point for deeper research.
Diseases that start with B are medical conditions whose accepted names begin with the letter B. A notable example is Burkitt lymphoma, named after Denis Burkitt after its 1950s description in Africa.
Below you’ll find the table with Disease, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Notes and References.
Disease: The official or widely used name of the condition, helping you identify and search for each entry quickly.
Symptoms: Key signs and typical complaints listed briefly, so you can recognize common presentations at a glance.
Causes: Primary cause and main risk factors or mechanisms summarized, giving you a quick sense of why the condition occurs.
Treatments: Typical first-line therapies and referral notes, so you know usual management and when to seek specialist care.
Notes: Short clarifications, synonyms, or clinical context that help you interpret entries and avoid confusion.
References: Links to authoritative sources and further reading that support the entry and guide deeper investigation.
Diseases that start with B
| Name | Synonyms/Other names | Key symptoms | Typical treatments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal cell carcinoma | Basal cell skin cancer | Pearly skin bump, slow growth, bleeding sore | Surgical excision, Mohs surgery, dermatology referral |
| Barrett esophagus | Barrett’s oesophagus | Heartburn, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing | Acid suppression, surveillance endoscopy, GI referral |
| Bell palsy | Idiopathic facial palsy | Sudden facial weakness, drooping, inability to close eye | Steroids early, eye protection, ENT or neurology referral if atypical |
| Behcet disease | Behcet syndrome | Recurrent mouth ulcers, genital ulcers, eye inflammation | Immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, rheumatology referral |
| Benign prostatic hyperplasia | BPH, prostate enlargement | Frequent urination, weak stream, nocturia | Alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, urology referral |
| Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo | BPPV | Brief dizzy spells with head movement, nausea | Canalith repositioning maneuvers, ENT or physio referral |
| Beriberi | Thiamine deficiency | Weakness, neuropathy, edema or heart failure | Thiamine replacement, nutrition support, medical referral |
| Bipolar disorder | Manic-depressive illness | Mood swings, mania or depression, decreased sleep | Mood stabilizers, psychiatry referral, psychotherapy |
| Bacterial meningitis | Acute bacterial meningitis | Fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion | Immediate IV antibiotics, urgent hospital admission, neurology/infectious disease referral |
| Bacterial vaginosis | BV | Thin gray discharge, fishy odor, vaginal itching | Oral or topical antibiotics, gynecology referral if recurrent |
| Bacterial conjunctivitis | Acute purulent conjunctivitis | Red eye, sticky discharge, eyelid crusting | Topical antibiotics, ophthalmology referral if severe |
| Bacterial endocarditis | Infective endocarditis | Fever, new heart murmur, fatigue, embolic signs | IV antibiotics, cardiology/cardiothoracic referral |
| Bronchitis | Acute or chronic bronchitis | Cough, sputum, shortness of breath | Supportive care, bronchodilators, primary care or pulmonology referral if chronic |
| Bronchiolitis | Infant viral bronchiolitis | Wheeze, cough, difficulty feeding in infants | Supportive care, oxygen if needed, pediatric referral |
| Bronchiectasis | Bronchial dilatation disease | Chronic productive cough, recurrent infections, breathlessness | Airway clearance, antibiotics for exacerbations, pulmonology referral |
| Bronchopneumonia | Lobar or patchy pneumonia | Fever, productive cough, breathlessness | Antibiotics, hospital assessment if severe, medical referral |
| Bronchopulmonary dysplasia | Chronic lung disease of prematurity | Chronic oxygen need, cough, growth issues in infants | Oxygen, nutrition support, pediatric pulmonology referral |
| Bronchogenic carcinoma | Primary lung cancer | Cough, weight loss, hemoptysis | Surgery/chemotherapy/radiation, oncology referral |
| Brugada syndrome | Inherited arrhythmia | Syncope, palpitations, sudden death risk | ICD placement, antiarrhythmics, cardiology referral |
| Brucellosis | Undulant fever | Fever, joint pain, sweats, fatigue | Doxycycline with rifampicin, infectious disease referral |
| Bruton agammaglobulinemia | X-linked agammaglobulinemia | Recurrent bacterial infections, absent tonsils, failure to thrive | Immunoglobulin replacement, immunology referral |
| Bubonic plague | Yersinia pestis infection | Fever, painful swollen lymph nodes, chills | Prompt antibiotics, public health and infectious disease referral |
| Budd-Chiari syndrome | Hepatic vein thrombosis | Abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, ascites | Anticoagulation, interventional radiology/hepatology referral |
| Burkitt lymphoma | Aggressive B-cell lymphoma | Rapid tumor growth, abdominal mass, jaw swelling | Chemotherapy urgently, oncology referral |
| Blastomycosis | Blastomyces dermatitidis infection | Fever, cough, skin nodules | Antifungal therapy, infectious disease referral |
| Babesiosis | Babesia infection | Fever, chills, hemolytic anemia | Atovaquone plus azithromycin, infectious disease referral |
| Balantidiasis | Balantidium coli infection | Diarrhea, abdominal pain, sometimes dysentery | Antiprotozoal therapy, infectious disease or gastroenterology referral |
| Biliary atresia | Neonatal bile duct obstruction | Jaundice, pale stools, dark urine in infants | Surgical portoenterostomy, pediatric hepatology referral |
| Bladder cancer | Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder | Blood in urine, urinary frequency, pelvic pain | Surgical resection, intravesical therapy, urology referral |
| Blepharitis | Eyelid margin inflammation | Itchy, red, crusted eyelids | Lid hygiene, topical antibiotics, ophthalmology referral if severe |
| Bloom syndrome | Genomic instability syndrome | Short stature, photosensitivity, cancer risk | Specialist genetic and oncology care, surveillance |
| Bartholin cyst | Bartholin gland cyst | Painful vulvar lump, discomfort with walking | Incision and drainage or marsupialization, gynecology referral |
| Botulism | Clostridium botulinum neurotoxicity | Descending paralysis, blurred vision, difficulty breathing | Botulinum antitoxin, intensive care and neurology referral |
| Bowen disease | Squamous cell carcinoma in situ | Red scaly patch, slow growth on skin | Topical or surgical excision, dermatology referral |
| Bullous pemphigoid | Autoimmune blistering disease | Large tense blisters, itchy rash | Systemic steroids, immunosuppressants, dermatology referral |
Descriptions
Basal cell carcinoma
Common skin cancer caused by UV damage, risk factors fair skin and sun exposure, low metastatic risk; refer urgently for rapidly changing or bleeding lesions.
Barrett esophagus
Metaplasia of esophagus from chronic acid reflux, risk factors GERD and obesity, increases risk of esophageal cancer, requires endoscopic surveillance and GI referral.
Bell palsy
Acute facial nerve paralysis of uncertain cause, linked to viral reactivation and diabetes; usually self-limited but urgent review if progressive or bilateral.
Behcet disease
Inflammatory multisystem vasculitis of unclear cause, stronger risk in Middle Eastern/Asian populations, can cause vision loss so urgent ophthalmology for eye symptoms.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Noncancerous prostate enlargement common with aging, risk factors older age, can cause urinary retention; urgent urology review for inability to urinate or hematuria.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Inner-ear canal calcium crystal displacement causing brief positional vertigo, common in older adults; treatable with repositioning maneuvers, refer if persistent or atypical.
Beriberi
Vitamin B1 deficiency from malnutrition or alcoholism, causes neuropathy or cardiac failure; prompt thiamine urgently needed in suspected cases.
Bipolar disorder
Mood disorder with depressive and manic episodes, genetic and psychosocial risks, affects millions; urgent psychiatric review for suicide risk or severe mania.
Bacterial meningitis
Life-threatening bacterial infection of meninges; risk factors include close contact and asplenia, rapid treatment and hospital referral required.
Bacterial vaginosis
Disruption of vaginal flora usually from Gardnerella vaginalis, risk factors sexual activity and douching, common and treatable; gynecology if recurrent.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Bacterial infection of conjunctiva causing redness and discharge, spreads easily; urgent referral if vision affected or severe pain.
Bacterial endocarditis
Infection of heart valves usually from bloodstream bacteria; risk factors prosthetic valves, IVDU; serious, needs hospital admission and specialist care.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of bronchi often viral (acute) or smoking-related (chronic); chronic form linked to COPD, seek specialist for persistent or worsening symptoms.
Bronchiolitis
Viral lower-airway infection in infants (often RSV), risk in prematurity; hospitalize for breathing difficulty or dehydration.
Bronchiectasis
Permanent airway damage from infection or immune defects, risk from recurrent infections, chronic and requires specialist care.
Bronchopneumonia
Patchy bacterial pneumonia causing lung inflammation, risk higher in elderly and immunocompromised; urgent review for severe symptoms or hypoxia.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Lung injury from prematurity and ventilation, affects preterm infants; long-term follow-up by pediatric specialists.
Bronchogenic carcinoma
Lung cancer often caused by smoking, leading cause of cancer death; urgent oncology and imaging for suspected cases.
Brugada syndrome
Genetic sodium-channel disorder causing dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, higher sudden-death risk, cardiology referral for evaluation and family screening.
Brucellosis
Zoonotic bacterial infection from unpasteurized dairy or animals, causes chronic fever and arthritis; treatable but refer for prolonged therapy.
Bruton agammaglobulinemia
Inherited failure of B-cell development causing severe recurrent infections from early childhood; urgent immunology for lifelong therapy.
Bubonic plague
Severe flea-borne bacterial infection; rare but high mortality untreated, requires urgent antibiotics and public health measures.
Budd-Chiari syndrome
Venous outflow obstruction of liver from thrombosis, risk factors hypercoagulable states; urgent specialist care for liver failure risk.
Burkitt lymphoma
Highly aggressive B-cell cancer often linked to EBV and immunodeficiency, rapid progression requires immediate oncology treatment.
Blastomycosis
Fungal infection from environmental exposure in endemic regions causes lung and skin disease; needs antifungal treatment and specialist care.
Babesiosis
Tick-borne red cell parasite causing malaria-like illness, risk higher in asplenic or elderly patients; treat promptly.
Balantidiasis
Rare protozoan intestinal infection often from pigs or contaminated water, can cause severe colitis; treat with specific antiparasitic drugs.
Biliary atresia
Progressive obliteration of bile ducts in newborns causing cholestasis and liver failure; early surgical referral critical for outcomes.
Bladder cancer
Common urologic cancer linked to smoking and chemical exposure; hematuria needs prompt urology assessment.
Blepharitis
Chronic eyelid inflammation from bacteria or skin conditions causing irritation; ophthalmology if vision affected or unresponsive.
Bloom syndrome
Rare autosomal recessive disorder causing DNA repair defects, high cancer risk and growth problems; requires genetic counselling and specialist follow-up.
Bartholin cyst
Blocked Bartholin gland causing cyst or abscess in reproductive-age women; gynecology review for painful or recurrent lesions.
Botulism
Neuroparalysis from toxin exposure (foodborne, wound), can cause respiratory failure; urgent antitoxin and ICU care essential.
Bowen disease
Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma, often sun-exposed skin; treat early to prevent invasive cancer, dermatology review recommended.
Bullous pemphigoid
Autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder in older adults, can be severe; specialist dermatology care advised.