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A runny nose is a typical symptom of a common cold.Source: Getty Images/Image Source Things to know about common cold The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by many different viruses. The common cold is transmitted by virus-infected airborne droplets or by direct contact with infected secretions. Typical common cold symptoms include...

Facts you should know about bronchiolitis Read Doctor's View Share Your Story Bronchiolitis is a viral illness seen most commonly during the winter season. Bronchiolitis is caused by many viruses. The most common viral trigger is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms of bronchiolitis include nasal congestion and moderate non-purulent (doesn't contain pus) nasal discharge...

Facts you should know about a breast self-exam A breast self-exam is a woman's examination of her breasts for any changes or abnormalities. Although some women prefer to do breast self-exams, their value in detecting early cancers and in saving lives from breast cancer is controversial. For this reason, many medical organizations do not specifically...

What is a venomous (poisonous) snakebite? Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story A venomous (poisonous) snake bite is a bite or a puncture wound made by a snake that is capable of injecting, secreting, or spitting venom into the penetrated skin wound, mucus membranes or the eyes where the toxin can be absorbed. Worldwide, there...

What is hepatitis B? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Hepatitis B infection is transmitted through sexual contact, contact with contaminated blood (for example, through shared needles used for illicit, intravenous drugs), and from mother to child. Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). To avoid confusion, the term...

Upper GI series facts An upper gastrointestinal series involves filling the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines with a white liquid material (barium). An upper gastrointestinal series is an x-ray test used to define the anatomy of the upper digestive tract. Women who are or may be pregnant should notify the doctor requesting the procedure and...

Minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion facts A minimally invasive surgical procedure, the spinal fusion is used to treat lumbar (lower back) pain if the pain hasn't resolved on its own after six to 12 weeks. A spinal fusion operation causes the vertebrae (bones of the spine) in the lower back to grow together, reduce pressure...

Facts you should know about schistosomiasis Life cycle of schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma organisms that can cause acute and chronic infection. Many symptoms of schistosomiasis infection frequently include fever, blood in stools or urine, and abdominal discomfort. The immune response and Schistosoma egg migration through tissues and their deposition in...

How common is back pain? Most back pain occurs in the lower back due to problems with the spine, muscles, ligaments or nerves in the back. The best stretches for back pain include the knee to chest stretch, lying knee twist, cat/cow stretch, cobra stretch and child's pose. Back pain is a common ailment, affecting...

Things to know about leukemia Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and blood-forming cells, such as white blood cells. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or blood-forming cells (and therefore sometimes referred to as blood cancer). While the exact cause(s) of leukemia is not known, risk factors have been identified, including radiation exposure,...