House flies are such a common insect that it is considered part of everyday life for humans. Most of us see it as just an irritation, buzzing around and trying to feed on any food it can access within the home but flies can also transmit diseases. In fact many common infections are transmitted by house flies. Some diseases >> Read More ...
There are many different types of parasitic worms that can infect humans. Roundworms are one such type. There are some 500,000 species of roundworms and about 60 are known to infect humans. It can infect a number of different organs in the human body, not only the digestive tract as is often though. Most infections are not >> Read More ...
Ticks and fleas are two common parasitic insects that bite and feed on humans. It is largely due to human exposure to animals, be it pets in the home or livestock on a farm. Wild animals in urban areas, like birds, may also bring these insects in close contact with humans. People who camp, hike and hunt frequently may also >> Read More ...
Lice are a type of insect that we often associate with animals. But there are different types of lice, some of which can infest humans. These lice can be very specific for the area of the body that it will infest. Most of us have heard of head lice infestation, a fairly common problem among young schoolchildren. But there >> Read More ...
We are exposed to millions of bacteria in our environment everyday. Some species are harmful, while others are less so. The skin and the various defense mechanisms at the different entry points in the body ensure that these bacteria do not enter the body. One of the common ways to get an infection caused by bacteria is >> Read More ...
Many parents are cautious about using over-the-counter (OTC) medication to treat a cold in very young children and rightfully so. These drugs, while safe for teen and adult use, is not considered safe for young children. Widespread media attention about the dangers of using cold medicines has not been sufficient to stop >> Read More ...
As public awareness about prevalent diseases like HIV increases, there is still some confusion about medical terms and the meaning of some of these words. Many people know what HIV/AIDS is in a broad sense, what it happens in the body to some extent and how it is contracted. Given the prevalence of HIV/AIDS these days, it >> Read More ...
HIV infection and AIDS remains a global health concern. While greater awareness about the disease has helped in curbing the number of new cases in some parts of the world, it continues to spread unabated in other geographical areas. Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) means that people living with HIV and AIDS >> 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 Q fever? Q fever is a bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii that is transmitted from animals to humans. It is a zoontic infection that is primarily contracted through inhalation of the bacteria. Although rare, human-to-human transmission of Coxiella burnetii is possible. Q fever is a very mild disease, >> Read More ...
