Why are vaccines given to children? Vaccinating your child also helps to prevent the spread of disease to those who cannot be vaccinated, including those newborns who are too young to be vaccinated and people with weak immunity who may not effectively develop antibodies to fight the disease. A vaccine is a dead or weakened...
Dog bite definition and facts In the U.S., there are about 4.5 million dog bites a year. Dog bites account for up to 90% of all animal bites. 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the U.S., and more than 27,000 victims require reconstructive surgery. Injuries may involve structures deep beneath the skin including...
What is an electrocardiogram? An electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) is the same thing. An electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) is the same thing. An EKG is a test that examines the heart function by measuring the electrical activity of the heart. With each heartbeat, an electrical impulse (or wave) travels through the...
What is knee arthrocentesis? Knee arthrocentesis is a relatively quick procedure but may be performed under local anesthesia to avoid pain. Arthrocentesis (joint aspiration) is a diagnostic procedure in which fluid is drained from a joint (synovial fluid) using a sterile needle and syringe. Knee arthrocentesis is an important procedure used for diagnosing arthritis and...
Vitiligo facts Picture of Vitiligo on Back Vitiligo facts* medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Vitiligo is a disease in which the pigment cells of the skin, melanocytes, are destroyed in certain areas. Symptoms and signs of vitiligo include loss of skin color in the form of depigmented, or white, patches of skin in...
What are knee injections? Knee injection is performed to treat the pain arising from various diseases of the knee joint. Knee injection is a procedure in which medications are injected into the knee joint to treat the pain due to various causes. There are different types of knee injections. The most common type of intra-articular...
What is joint aspiration (arthrocentesis)? Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) is a diagnostic procedure that involves the extraction and analysis of the synovial fluid in the joints. It is an important procedure used for diagnosing arthritis and differentiating inflammatory arthritis from noninflammatory arthritis. Joint aspiration is a relatively quick and inexpensive procedure to perform. It can be...
What is the colon? The colon is part of the digestive system. It is also called the large intestine or large bowel. The colon is situated inside the abdominal cavity and travels down the left side of the abdomen and ends at the anus. Laparoscopic colectomy treats and prevents diseases and conditions of the colon....
What is an intra-aortic balloon pump? IABP is performed when the heart isn’t getting enough blood or isn’t pumping out to the rest of the body. Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation or intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a type of therapeutic device which helps the heart to pump more blood. The IABP consists of a thin, flexible...
Ten common reasons for head itching include infectious or autoimmune disease and allergic reactions. When your head itches continuously, there may be many contributory factors. Head itching can be irritating and troublesome. Finding the cause and treating it should be a priority. Ten common reasons for head itching include infectious or autoimmune disease and allergic...