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 ...
Bed Bugs Bed bugs are tiny insects belonging to the Cimicid family of parasites. These bugs survive by feeding on the blood of mammals like humans. The most common of the bed bug species is Cimex lectularius which has a preference for human blood. These insects are commonly referred to as bed bugs as they tend to hide in >> Read More ...
Are you planning to travel soon to a high risk area for malaria? Have you educated yourself about this dangerous infectious disease? Malaria is a life-threatening infection caused by the Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes. It can be prevented and even cured but malaria claims the lives >> Read More ...
Although flu season peaks in January to February in the United States, it starts from as early as October. Therefore the most recent flu vaccines will be available in September. The seasonal flu is not a huge cause for concern. It affects large numbers of the population, most commonly in the flu season, and the virus is >> Read More ...
Any person who previously had the chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles. It is not a separate infection but rather a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Most people have the chickenpox in childhood but the virus stays dormant for long periods of time – sometimes decades, sometimes lifelong. The symptoms of >> Read More ...
Salmonella bacteria mainly cause food poisoning illnesses that more commonly occurs in summer. These bacteria may be acquired from a range of foods, contaminated water and by handling tainted products. It often leads to small outbreaks throughout the year. Organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) keeps track >> Read More ...
The human hair follicle can become infected with bacteria and fungi, but many people do not know that these tiny hair-producing organs can also become infested with insects. The demodex mite is one such insect that can infest the hair follicles. Most people carry a few of these mites without experiencing any problems. >> Read More ...
There are many types of parasitic worms that can infest the human body. Most of us know about worms that live in the gut and feed off nutrients in the food we eat. But there are parasitic worms that can even live within the organs in the body or bloodstream. Flatworms are one category of parasitic worms that live in the >> Read More ...
Of the scores of parasitic diseases that can afflict humans, schistosomiasis is among the most devastating. Yet it is still not a well known disease in developed nations despite global travel placing more people at risk than just residents of endemic areas. Schistosomiasis infects over 200 million people throughout the >> Read More ...
The pesky mosquito is a nuisance to most of us but it can in fact be deadly. Mosquitoes cause more deaths globally than any other insect. However, this has to be put into context because it is not the mosquito itself that is so deadly but rather the parasites that it may spread through its bites. While many of these >> Read More ...
