Facts you should know about Epstein-Barr virus infections EBV can cause mouth sores. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpes virus that is found worldwide and is a common cause of viral pharyngitis (infectious mononucleosis). The cause of an Epstein-Barr infection (mononucleosis) is EBV; risk factors include intimate contacts with body secretions (especially saliva) and...
About rubella Rubella, sometimes called German measles or three-day measles, is a contagious disease caused by a virus. The infection is usually mild with fever and rash. Symptoms Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Rubella usually causes the following symptoms in children: Rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the...
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus disease) facts Share Your Story Picture of the Ebola virus Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus disease) is a disease caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates. Compared to most illnesses, Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a relatively short history. Health care professionals discovered...
What should I know about acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)? Picture of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) *Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) facts written by Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD What is the medical definition of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)?Acute flaccid myelitis is a rare condition of the nervous system that causes the muscles and reflexes of the body...
Autopsy facts An autopsy (also known as a post-mortem examination or necropsy) is the examination of the body of a dead person and is performed primarily to determine the cause of death, An autopsy is the examination of the body of a dead person. An autopsy may be restricted to a specific organ or region...
Chickenpox facts Readers Comments 55 Share Your Story What does chickenpox look like? Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes shingles. Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads by closeness and contact with someone with chickenpox. Fever, malaise, and a very itchy rash (red spots, fluid-filled tiny blisters, and crusted lesions) are all...
What is Chikungunya virus? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story The infection caused by Chikungunya virus is was first described in East Africa in 1952. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and belongs to the family Togaviridae in the genus Alphavirus. Where is Chikungunya virus most prevalent? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Although Chikungunya...
What is chickenpox? Share Your Story Chickenpox is a disease is caused by a virus (varicella zoster virus, varicella, or VZV) that results in a blister-like rash with intense itching, tiredness, and fever. In normal individuals without immune system problems, chickenpox usually will last about five to 10 days and then resolve. Before vaccination was...
Coxsackievirus facts Picture of the coxsackievirus; SOURCE: CDC Coxsackieviruses are RNA viruses that may cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), as well as disease of muscles, lungs, and heart. HFMD usually occurs in children but can occur in adults. The majority of HFMD infections are self-limited, so no treatment is required. HFMD, caused by...
Ascariasis facts Share Your Story Figure 1: Ascariasis lumbricoides nematode worms (male on left, female on right); females can reach lengths of over 12 inches (26.4 cm); SOURCE: CDC Ascariasis is a disease caused by a parasite named Ascaris lumbricoides. Ascaris lumbricoides is a large nematode (roundworm) that infects the human gastrointestinal tract; the adults...