Diseases

Streptococcus agalactiae, or "strep ag," is among the most common causes of neonatal deaths. However, these bacteria can also infect the elderly as well as other adults who have liver disease or...

The liver stores and filters our blood; produces and secretes bile; helps in the formation of blood proteins and in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins; and helps control blood...

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disorder that 5 to 7 percent of women suffer. Most women with PCOS are overweight. PCOS sufferers have a high risk of infertility if not treated....

Interventional Radiology (IR), a medical subspecialty of Radiology, involves placing small imaging instruments--such as ultrasound scanners or catheters--inside the body or into arteries or veins...

Meningitis can be a potentially life-threatening disease if not treated properly. Treatments can vary depending on the type of meningitis you have. Depending on how severe your form of the disease...

Dry skin on the scalp has many causes. While the sebaceous glands on the skin produce sebum that moisturizes the skin, in some cases not enough oil is produced. Health conditions, side effects of...

Typhoid fever is a disease spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water. It also can spread from person to person. Symptoms include fever, stomach pain and digestive issues. Typhoid fever is...

Typhus is a group of diseases caused by the Rickettsia family of bacteria and transmitted to humans by lice, mites, fleas or ticks. Different species of this bacteria cause epidemic (louse-borne),...

Many people suffer from chapped lips that crack and split. This can lead to fissures, especially at the corners of the mouth, that appear as tears, cracks or cuts on the lips. Thankfully, there...

Tuberculosis can be a fatal disease without proper treatments. Latent tuberculosis means that your body is fighting the infection and managing to keep the disease contained. Active TB means the...

Rheumatic diseases are ones that affect the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMSD). Chronic...

Ringworm is not systemic. It is a common fungal infection of the surface of the skin. It can affect the body, scalp, feet or groin. The scientific name for ringworm is tinea.

The aches, pains and disorders of peripheral arterial disease may seem like nothing more than the effects of aging, but could be symptoms of a disease that may lead to stroke, heart attack,...

Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, a disorder in which a person loses control of physical or mental functions. They can last from a few seconds to several minutes. A doctor needs to determine if...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a dangerous, fast-moving bacterial infection that kills human tissue, skin and fat. Streptococcus pyogenes---commonly known as "flesh-eating" bacteria---is one source of...

A buildup of plaque in the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, can lead to circulation problems or peripheral artery disease. When the arteries are clogged with plaque, the blood must flow through a...

Iontophoresis is a transdermal delivery system in which a substance bearing a charge is propelled into the skin by a low electrical current. Iontophoresis is used with the drug pilocarpine in the...

Typhoid (fever) is a serious disease that lives in food and water. Left untreated this highly contagious disease can kill up to 30 percent of people who catch it. It can be prevented with...

While you may have a dry mouth as a result of thirst, there is also a condition called dry mouth or xerostomia, which is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Xerostomia can cause serious health problems.

Salmonella typhimurium is a bacterium that causes salmonellosis, commonly known as salmonella poisoning. Humans usually contract this disease by eating food contaminated with the bacteria,...

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne bacterial infection that is usually transmitted by the Lone Star tick during spring and summer. Ehrlichiosis symptoms vary from nonexistent to severe and in some...

The growth of fungus in the sinuses can lead to chronic sinusitis, a condition characterized by a runny nose, stuffy head, head and facial pain and sometimes a sore throat from persistent...

Some alternative health practitioners believe that acid buildup in the body, or acidosis, causes disease and adverse symptoms such as headaches and frequent colds. Making the body more alkaline...

Botulism is a deadly condition that is caused by the Clostridium bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control records about 145 botulism cases in the United States each year.

A sufferer of cirrhosis of the liver must undergo medical supervision, as well as get a customized diet plan from a registered dietitian. There are commonly three causes for cirrhosis: alcoholism,...

The most common surgery for peripheral arterial disease is a minimally invasive procedure that most patients respond favorably to. In more extreme cases, bypass surgery may be utilized to restore...

When someone is diagnosed with liver disease, a doctor prescribes a special diet to help relieve the symptoms and take stress off the liver. When a liver is not functioning well, the patient...

Peripheral arterial disease can be slowed and symptoms relieved with several commonly prescribed medications. The goal is to unclog arteries and minimize the risk of potentially fatal or disabling...

The stomach produces many substances needed for the digestive process. Among these substances are parietal cells essential for the production of hydrochloric acid and to aid the body's ability to...

You've likely not heard of neuropathy, but you probably know it by its more common term: nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy is more specifically a painful tingling or burning feeling that...

Microorganisms that cause disease in humans are called pathogens. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses fall into this category. These pathogens are able to enter the body and cause disease. This...

Conditions that mimic liver disease includes a gamut of diseases and conditions that affect the cells, tissues and functioning of the liver. These include toxic injury caused by drugs and alcohol,...

Esophageal cancer is one of the more deadly forms of the disease. Although science has worked hard to increase the average survival rate for individuals afflicted with it, it is a long way from...

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, is an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. Receiving treatment in the early stages can make battling the disease easier.

Clogged arteries in the legs typically affect those older than 50 and attack smokers much earlier than others. Basic lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of this disorder leading to stroke...

Peripheral arterial disease affects between 8 and 12 million Americans, mostly over the age of 50, according to the Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition. Many assume the symptoms of this disease...

Your spleen is approximately the size of your fist. It is a soft, spongy organ. It contains white blood cells. Unlike other major organs, you can live without your spleen. However, if you lose...

While it has long been understood that people with high blood sugar due to diabetes have a greater chance of getting cancer, new research from the University of Umea shows that elevated blood...

Clogged leg arteries result in restricted blood flow. Severe edema occurs when the body retains too much fluid. While the two conditions usually are not related, each indicates a larger, more...

Cirrhosis is a disease that causes scarring of the liver. Symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and bloating of the stomach and limbs. There are many different causes of...

The nature of typhoid fever makes it a considerable concern for many people living and traveling in parts of the world where the disease exists. Here are some things to keep in mind when assessing...

DNA fingerprinting has opened the door to a world of new possibilities for the prediction of genetic disease, particularly in those with a strong family history of such illness. At the same time,...

All types of diseases are categorized or classified based on whether they originate from the environment, if they are infectious and/or if they are autoimmune, bacterial, fungal, parasital or...

Myelodyslastic Syndrome (MDS) does not have an official staging method. Rather, it is staged by its risk factors.The risk factors or scoring system based on government guidelines.

Celiac disease occurs when gluten products, such as bread, pasta or wheat, cause a negative reaction in the small intestine. As celiac disease can lead to more serious complications involving your...

Kissing disease sounds like it would be fun to get but in reality, it is not at all enjoyable for those who suffer its symptoms. Known by its scientific name, mononuecleosis, this disease brings...

Atherosclerosis, or arterial clogging, is a disease caused by thickening of the arterial wall. This narrows the arterial lumen, a tube carrying blood, increasing the load on the circulatory system...

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a condition that causes inflammation throughout the body. It is a common condition that occurs in older adults. It is an unpredictable condition that may begin suddenly...

Cryoglobulinemia is a type of vasculitis characterized by abnormal proteins present in the blood. The abnormal proteins may become unusually thick during cold weather. The thickened proteins can...