Diarrhea is a common symptom that we all experience several times in our life. In most instances it is acute, meaning that it lasts for a few days, and then eases. It may not even require medical treatment and does not tend to recur shortly after stopping. However, there are instances where diarrhea can be persistent and >> Read More ...
With the 2012-2013 flu season being one of the worst in recent years, there is widespread concern about how the flu should be prevented, treated and managed. The fact is that the same medical guidelines that have applied for preceding flu seasons should be followed closely. There is no ‘cure’ for the flu >> Read More ...
About Cholera Cholera may not be a major concern for most Americans but it is one of the main diarrheal illnesses that causes over 100,000 deaths per year throughout the world. It had been almost totally eliminated in the United States with the last local outbreak being in 1911. However, in recent years, especially after >> Read More ...
Meaning of a Full Stomach What does a full stomach mean? Full stomach is a common term that most of us use to describe the distention of the stomach usually after eating a meal. The term is not entirely inaccurate although it may sound crude at times. When we eat, the stomach fills and its wall stretches. This is one of >> Read More ...
Heart Attack but No Symptoms We all think of a heart attack presenting in a typical manner – the crushing chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness and excessive sweating. These symptoms arise suddenly and are unmistakably due to a heart attack. The first warning signs can help us seek emergency medical >> Read More ...
What is botulism? Botulism is a medical condition caused by nerve toxins (neurotoxins) produced by a specific type of bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum. This neurotoxin blocks nerve impulses thereby leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. It is potentially fatal as it can lead to respiratory arrest. Botulism is >> Read More ...
What is hypermagnesemia? Hypermagnesemia is the medical term for high magnesium levels in the blood. It is an uncommon condition because the kidney is very proficient in getting rid of excess magnesium from the body. Hypermagnesemia is unlikely to occur unless magnesium is being administrated in a person with kidney >> Read More ...
What is H3N2? H3N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, the pathogen that causes the seasonal influenza. There are many subtypes of influenza A and H3N2 is one of them, just like H1N1 which caused the “swine flu” epidemic of 2009. Human H3N2 viruses are a common cause of the seasonal flu but now there is a >> Read More ...
What is leptospirosis? Leptospirosis, or Weil’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by Leptospira bacteria. It is a zoonotic infection meaning that it is transmitted from animals to humans. Leptospirosis in humans is mainly contracted through either direct or indirect contact with urine of the infected animal. >> Read More ...
What is berylliosis? Berylliosis is type of lung disease caused by inhaling beryllium. It only affects a small proportion of people exposed to beryllium and is mainly seen among beryllium workers. Beryllium is a metal that is not commonly encountered in everyday life . Therefore berylliosis is primarily an occupational >> Read More ...
