What is cellulitis? Cellulitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the subcutaneous layer of the skin, often involving the lower dermis as well. It is almost always due to an infection. Cellulitis is often confused with erysipelas which is a more superficial infection of the skin, affecting the dermis but also >> Read More ...
Parasitic worms can infest just about any part of the body, and the skin is not immune to these organisms. The idea of a worm living in or under the skin may be scary but these parasites are not the typical worms found in the soil. Instead these skin worms are usually tiny organisms that reside in the body, either within >> Read More ...
E.coli infection is one of the common bacterial infections that cause a number of diseases depending on where the bacteria gains entry into the body. Due to its close relationship with humans and other animals, it is one of the more common species of bacteria that leads to disease in humans. Every now and then, certain >> Read More ...
The lower digestive tract and the lower urinary tract lie very close to each other and sometimes the same cause can affect both structures. This may cause symptoms like diarrhea (sign of a gastrointestinal infection) or frequent and burning urination (signs of a bladder infection) at the same time. However, it is also >> Read More ...
Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus (Gk. staphyle = bunch of grapes; Lat. coccus = spherical bacterium, aureus = golden) or golden staph (pronounced ‘staff’) is the most common species of staphylococcus bacteria causing infections in human. Lab Tests for Staph Staph Epidemiology Staph Infections >> Read More ...
What Is a Superbug? Superbugs, also called Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria are resistant to several antibiotics. Not all superbugs necessary cause a severe infection, though. A common superbug is MRSA. What is MRSA? Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain (a genetic variant within the same >> Read More ...
Drug resistant microbes have become a major public health concern. Some microbes are not only resistant to older generation antibiotics due to overuse and incorrect use, but are now also showing resistance to new generation antibiotics. This has taken the form of extreme drug resistance and the term ‘superbug’ >> Read More ...
What is Leprosy? Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by bacterium Mycobacterium leprae that usually affects skin, peripheral nerves (usually in the limbs and face), upper airways and eyes. Another name for leprosy is Hansen’s disease (after Dr. G.A. Hansen who discovered it in 1873) (1). The first sign of a disease >> Read More ...
HIV is the acronym for human immunodeficiency virus which is responsible for the development of AIDS after prolonged HIV infection. AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which develops in the latter stages of HIV infection. HIV & Immunity HIV is the virus, which is transmitted from person to person and is the >> Read More ...
What Are Microorganisms? Microorganisms (Latin micro = small) are living beings so small (< 40 µm or 0.04 mm) that they are not visible by the naked eye. Microorganisms related to human health include certain bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Synonyms: microbes, germs, bugs. Types of Microorganisms >> Read More ...
