What are the causes of a sore throat? You may need to take antibiotics for a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection. Sore throats are usually caused by viruses (such as cold or flu) or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria. Sore throats are very commonly seen during winter or cold season when respiratory diseases...
Molluscum Contagiosum Treatment, Symptoms, Stages & Home Remedies
Molluscum contagiosum facts Pictures of molluscum contagiosum; SOURCE: CDC A viral infection of the skin causes molluscum contagiosum, a mild skin disease. Risk factors include direct and indirect contact with an infected person's skin. Symptoms and signs include painless pinkish raised nodules or bumps on the skin. A doctor's physical exam presumptively diagnoses most molluscum contagiosum infections; tissue biopsy offers...
How Long Does the Stomach Flu Last?
What is the stomach flu? Stomach flu is not a flu, but it is a virus. Stomach flu or viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a virus that infects your stomach. Although the term has flu in it, it is not a true flu. You may experience the following symptoms Watery diarrhea Abdominal cramps/pain Nausea Vomiting Occasional muscle pain...
What Causes Morgellons Disease? Symptoms, Treatment
What is Morgellons disease? Readers Comments 100 Share Your Story People with Morgellons disease often complain of skin itching, burning, feeling like there is something crawling under their skin. Morgellons disease is a delusional disorder that leads to the belief that one has parasites or foreign material moving in, or coming out of, the skin. Morgellons disease is a little-known...
Dermabrasion vs. Microdermabrasion, Side Effects & Cost
What are dermabrasion and microdermabrasion? Dermabrasion vs. microdermabrasion Dermabrasion produces substantial changes in the appearance of the skin by injuring it in a controlled manner using an abrasive. Dermabrasion is most often used to treat certain types of scarring and aged skin. Other options that produce similar results include laser surgery, moderate to deep skin peels, and the injection of fillers....
What Is Cervical Dysplasia? Symptoms, Treatment, Causes
Facts you should know about cervical dysplasia Cervical dysplasia is precancerous change in the lining cells of the cervix of the uterus. Cervical dysplasia is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), but other factors also play a role. HPV infection is common in the general population. It is unclear why some women develop dysplasia and cervical cancer related...
What Vaccines Do Children Get? Are They Safe?
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 germ (bacteria or virus), or...
How Serious Is Crohn’s Disease?
What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease in and of itself is not usually life-threatening, although it can cause serious or fatal complications, which include bowel obstruction, fistulas, anal fissures, and others. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes inflammation in the gut (the digestive tract) and belongs to a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)....
How Long Is Shingles Contagious?
Shingles result from the activation of the chickenpox virus already present, but inactive (dormant), in nerve tissues. The virus remains dormant in spinal nerves usually after the person has had chickenpox as a child. The varicella-zoster virus that causes shingles can spread to others causing chickenpox in patients who have not had it in the past. It is not possible...
How Is Knee Arthrocentesis Performed? Pain Relief
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 differentiating inflammatory arthritis from noninflammatory...