A little girl scratches her head.Source: iStock Facts you should know about head lice Head lice are parasites that are found on human heads. The word lice is plural for louse. Head lice spread from person to person by head-to-head contact through direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Although less common, head...
Infectious mononucleosis (mono) facts An Epstein-Barr virus is the most common cause of infectious mono although there are other illnesses that produce similar symptoms. Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is a contagious illness typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This infectious disease can be spread by saliva, and the incubation period for mono is four to...
Impetigo is most likely to occur in warm and humid environments and is most commonly spread by close contact (such as between family members).Source: Fitzpatrick’s Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology Klaus Wolff, Richard Allen Johnson, Dick Suurmond Copyright 2005, 2001, 1997, 1993 by The McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights reserved. Impetigo facts Impetigo is...
What is Ebola? Share Your Story What Is the Ebola virus? Ebola (also termed Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is a viral disease that, until the 2014 outbreak in West Africa, was considered a rare but deadly disease that causes a potentially fatal fever in humans as well as infection of nonhuman primates (for example monkeys, gorillas,...
Encephalitis facts Picture of Encephalitis (Inflammation of the Brain) Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. Bacteria or viruses, and rarely a fungus, or be noninfectious in origin can cause encephalitis. Symptoms of encephalitis include fever and headache, in addition to lethargy and confusion. Health care professionals make a diagnosis of encephalitis by performing a spinal...
Listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes infection) facts In general, listeria is not contagious from person to person (except in pregnancy); the disease spreads to humans mainly by contaminated food or fluids. Listeriosis is a disease caused by a rod-shaped gram-positive bacterium named Listeria that can penetrate and replicate inside human cells. Symptoms of listeriosis are variable; most...
Gangrene facts Wet gangrene is a medical emergency that needs prompt treatment. Gangrene refers to dead or dying body tissue(s) that occurs because of inadequate blood supply. There are two major types of gangrene, wet gangrene and dry gangrene. Dry gangrene can result from conditions that reduce or block arterial blood flow such as diabetes,...
Diphtheria facts Respiratory tract infections include sore throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that usually produce exotoxins that damage human tissue. The initial symptoms of diphtheria are flu-like but worsen to include fever, swallowing problems, hoarseness, enlarged lymph nodes, coughing, and shortness of breath; some patients may have...
What is tetanus? Children typically get the DTaP vaccine as part of their routine childhood vaccinations. Tetanus, sometimes called lockjaw, is a rare disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani. A toxin produced by the bacteria affects the function of the nerves and leads to severe muscle spasms in the abdomen, neck, stomach, and...
What is an ear infection? Share Your Story Picture of the Outer, Middle, and Inner Ear Structures Ear infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or rarely yeast. There are three areas in the ear where ear infections can occur in adults and children. Outer ear infections (swimmer's ear): An outer ear infection (otitis externa)...