Chikungunya and dengue fever are both mosquito-transmitted viral diseases that are endemic in Asia and Africa. Dengue may also occur in other parts of the world such as South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Both chikungunya and dengue should always be considered in case of fever in travelers returning from >> Read More ...
Diarrheal illnesses due to infections are common throughout the world. Most are short-lived and do not lead to any serious complications. It may be caused by a number of different organisms, like viruses and bacteria. One of the most common of these organisms is a protozoan known as Giardia lamblia. However, many people >> Read More ...
Viruses are one of the most common infectious agents, causing disease in millions of people on a daily basis. We all get one or two viral infections in a year. The flu and common cold are frequently seen examples of infections caused by viruses. Most of us know that the flu and cold are not serious and rarely lead to >> Read More ...
What is often termed as an ‘itchy bum’ among children may be a symptom of a pinworm infection. It is not a serious condition but is very common occurrence among young children. However, older children, adolescents and adults may also be at risk of what is sometimes called ‘childhood worms’ if they >> Read More ...
Meningococcal disease is a condition that most parents in the United States have become familiar with in recent times. Immunization against this disease is sometimes mandatory in settings where children and adolescents will be living in close proximity for an extended period of time, like at summer camp or in dormitories. >> Read More ...
Although rabies has posed a threat to animals and humans for centuries, the development of a vaccine in 1885 has greatly reduced the threat of human rabies especially in recent times. There are only about 2 to 3 cases of human rabies in the United States every year. However, popular media has ignited a fear that the rabies >> Read More ...
With new viral outbreaks like SARS (2002-2004) and the swine flu (2009) suddenly causing multiple deaths across the globe, any new virus that emerges among humans is naturally a cause for concern. One of the more recent such viruses is MERS (2012). It has some similarities to SARS and like other viruses it has been traced >> Read More ...
What is SARS? Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral infection that causes a contagious respiratory illness which can lead to death. It should not be confused with the bird flu or swine flu which are also viral infections but caused by different strains of the influenza virus which are related to the seasonal >> Read More ...
Malaria at one time was the cause of as many as 3 million deaths across the globe. Although global efforts have significantly lowered the loss of lives from malaria, it continues to be a dangerous infectious diseases that kills hundreds of thousands of people annually. Malaria is still a major health risk in parts of >> Read More ...
It is the most commonly reported STD and two to three times more common than gonorrhea yet many people, both men and women, do not know that they have chlamydia. In fact as many as 8 out of 10 women and 5 out of 10 men may have no symptoms of chlamydia despite being infected. It can still be spread to partners and even >> Read More ...
