If your aquarium looks like it's been filled with watered-down skim milk, you could be dealing with a bacterial bloom. The water will have a distinct haze, and it may be difficult to see from one end of the tank to the other. Learning to deal with a bacterial bloom involves a little knowledge about how bacteria works.
Strep throat is a contagious disease caused by the bacteria Group A streptococcus. Children between the age of 5 and 15 are most likely to get strep throat, which usually causes a sore throat, fever and stomach pain. However, most sore throats are caused by viral infections, not the strep bacteria, according to KidsHealth.org. If you think your child has strep, take her to a pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis.
Sepsis is a severe reaction to an infection that causes the body to attack itself. The condition can be life-threatening if it's not caught early enough or if the infected person doesn't receive immediate medical attention. Though sepsis is more common in infants and those with pre-existing medical conditions, it's possible for a teen to develop the illness as well, according to the KidsHealth website. Because it can threaten your teen's life, knowing the signs and symptoms of sepsis is crucial.
Early recognition of a Staphylococcus infection and ringworm is essential to your dog's well-being. Because the conditions may look similar and are common in dogs with a compromised immune system, it can be challenging to distinguish the two. Regardless of which skin condition you are dealing with, early treatment is important. Some skin conditions in dogs are highly contagious, and treating them early can help prevent additional problems.
Sepsis is a condition that occurs when a bacterial infection spreads to the bloodstream. The bacteria release endotoxins, exotoxins and other substances that cause a body to undergo systemic inflammation or swelling. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can cause system shock, which is fatal. If you suspect that your puppy has sepsis, take her to the vet immediately for treatment.
Anthracnose is a fugal infection that can plague a variety of trees including oak, elm, walnut, birch, maple and sycamore. Severe cases of Anthracnose can kill the tree, but less serious cases may cause light defoliation or leaf loss. Anthracnose is prevalent in cool, wet conditions. In damp weather conditions, more water on the leaves may cause fungi spores to spread to other parts of the tree. The fungus usually causes brown edges along leaves, brown spots, curling leaves or dying branches. Careful treatment with a fungicide can prevent future outbreaks and preserve the health of the tree.
AlloDerm is a tissue implant introduced in 1994 to help treat burn victims. Today, AlloDerm is used in hernia, facial and breast reconstruction surgeries to replace damaged soft tissue. AlloDerm tissue matrix is made by LifeCell from donated human skin tissue that has been processed to remove the tissue antigens. AlloDerm promotes tissue growth and is claimed to reduce risk of tissue rejection and graft failure. However, complications can occur, such as infection and tissue rejection. If you suspect you are having a complication following AlloDerm implantation, seek medical attention immediately.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can spread quickly through your house. Some symptoms of the condition are white patches at the back of the throat, trouble swallowing, fever, swollen neck glands and enlarged tonsils. Most strep throat is treated with a 10-day course of antibiotics combined with rest. Some complications of not treating strep or not finishing your antibiotic regimen include rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, blood infections and kidney disease. With a few steps and some antibiotics, you should have no trouble keeping strep throat from spreading to the rest of your family.
Several diseases cause cankers on trees, shrubs and even herbaceous plants and vegetables. Typically cankers are caused by either a bacteria or a fungi and more often than not they will cause symptoms on the entire plant. Trunk and stem cankers as well as leaf and blossoms spotting, wilting and death are all common symptoms of bacterial and fungal infections.
The maple shoots that grow up from an existing tree's root structure are called "suckers" and are the tree's attempt to propagate itself. Suckers can actually cause damage to surrounding plants, as they will suck up needed resources and nutrients for their own growth. These shoots shouldn't be "trimmed"; they should be cut completely off at the base.
No one wants to see the signs of a septic system buildup or problem appearing at his residence. Septic problems can cause foul odors, sewage leakage and even sewage overflow into the yard or residence. There are numerous plumbing problems that can contribute to causing a septic system buildup.
Hibiscus is a hardy plant that is affected by few fungal diseases, but a white, powdery substance forming on the leaf surface typically indicates your plant has powdery mildew. This fungal infection doesn’t negatively impact healthy hibiscus plants, but if your plant suffers repeated infections, it can affect plant vigor and control of the fungus is necessary. Curing powdery mildew is difficult when several plants are infected, but control can be achieved either naturally or with the use of a fungicide.
The triangle infection is a virus that infects computer systems by placing a yellow triangle with an exclamation point in the user’s toolbar, warning the user of virus. This infection considerably slows down your computer system and must be promptly removed before you can safely use your computer again. Microsoft provides a free anti-virus tool called Microsoft Safety Scanner that can get rid of the triangle infection on your computer.
There are a number of varieties of fungi that are actually beneficial to soil, adding nutrients to nearby plant roots. However, some fungi are pathogenic and can prevent or stunt growth, or even kill plants. If you have soil infected with harmful fungi, remove the plants and sterilize the soil to prevent further infection. You can sterilize soil at home using either a regular oven -- best for large amounts of soil -- or a microwave oven.
The Svchost.exe file is an executable file included in the Windows operating system that manages system processes. If you find a version of the Svchost.exe file not located in the Windows system files it is likely a malware infection posing as a system file to escape detection. Since the file is an executable file and not an actual program you will not have to use a removal tool to get rid of the infected Svchost.exe.
Sewer gases can enter the home through any drain, including a bathtub, which occurs most often in tubs that are not used on a regular basis. The maintenance process necessary to prevent the sewer gas is fairly simple but must be performed regularly to prevent problems. In some cases pipe failure can also cause sewer gases to enter the home, requiring more serious repairs usually performed by a plumber.
Tomatoes are popular temperate climate plants valued for their fruit and ease of growth. However, canker diseases threaten vitality and crop yield of infected tomato plants. Cankers on tomato fruit are a symptom of fungal and bacterial diseases. Prevention and cultural controls are vital for minimizing the severity of these diseases.
Jasmine is an attractive, fragrant addition to the home landscape. Many varieties, from vines to shrubs, are available, and all of them are potential targets for viral infections. Symptoms vary depending upon the type of virus the plant has contracted. In many cases, no treatment is available for the infection. Proper diagnosis of the virus, best done by laboratory analysis, is essential for both treatment and control. Knowing what symptoms to watch for helps the homeowner act swiftly to save the plants.
Saguaros are iconic cacti, often portrayed in Western movies as lonely silhouettes with the red desert sun peeking over one shoulder. In reality, saguaros are often used as landscape plants on both urban and rural desert properties. While rugged and hardy in general, a disease commonly known as bacterial soft rot or bacterial necrosis can cause these magnificent cacti to leak fluid.
Diseases of carnations are difficult to control. The dense canopy of these plants prevents fungicides from penetrating down to the older leaves, where the disease spores feed on the accumulated debris and detritus created by dead leaves. The different wilt disease conditions in carnations are caused by fungi and bacteria, and are often fatal. The spores associated with most wilt diseases prefer warm temperatures and increased humidity. The symptoms of wilt diseases are normally easily noticeable and frequently involve the leaves turning a yellow, grey or brown color.
Once widely used, polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are now classified as a highly toxic priority pollutant. PCB contamination is prevalent in former industrial areas, and affects surrounding land and water environments. The toxic threat of PCBs entering the human food supply emphasizes the importance of effective removal. Microbes acting as PCB degraders are isolated from soil and sewage treatment plants in a process known as bioremediation.
Parasites can infect humans through foodborne and waterborne contamination. In humans, intestinal parasites are classified as helminths or protozoa. Helminths are multi-cellular worms that you can sometimes view without a microscope. Protozoa are single-celled organisms that you need to view with a microscope. Helminths can include tapeworms, roundworms and pinworms. Protozoa can include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Other common intestinal parasites include Trichinella, Blastocystis hominis and Toxoplasma gondii. In some individuals, symptoms of intestinal parasites will never manifest. However, illnesses can become debilitating and in rare instances, death can result.
It is not difficult to ship a stool sample, but there are very specific requirements associated with doing so. If you don't follow these requirements precisely, the receiver of the sample may not be able to use it. To ensure that you only have to produce and ship a stool sample once, follow these steps very carefully.
Firefighters place their lives at risk each time they answer a fire call. Not only is the fire itself hazardous, but the items burning within the structure can exude harmful chemical gasses and liquids. One particularly dangerous chemical compound, called polychlorinated biphenyls, are common in many items throughout and surrounding a building, from electrical transformers to light fixtures. Firefighters exposed to PCBs need to have their fire gear inspected for contamination.
Some disease processes and pathogens that are found in hospital patients and residents of long-term care facilities require special consideration to prevent spreading diseases or pathogens to health care workers and other patients. Contact and isolation precaution policies are a part of every health care facility's infection control processes and are based on guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These guidelines provide information regarding universal precautions, contact procedures, droplet precautions and airborne contaminants.
Wild coyotes are members of the canine family and can be found throughout North America. The word coyote comes from the Aztec name "coyoti." Its Latin name "canis latrans" means "barking dog." Coyotes often appear as "clever tricksters" in Native American songs, legends and stories. Coyotes are intelligent animals and they adapt easily to diverse landscapes and habitats, including deserts, forests, mountains and cities. The coyote's adaptability allows the species to thrive, despite human attempts to stop it from populating.
The cartoon character Donald Duck makes everything seem tame and safe. Unfortunately, real ducks may harbor nasty diseases and can be annoyingly noisy. Duck droppings have carried "bird flu" that has contributed to global outbreaks. Three of the great flu pandemics of the 20th century were a direct result of bird flu viruses becoming incorporated into human flu viruses. Ducks can also eat a farmer's crops, so scaring them away with noise can be a necessary deterrent.
Polysporin is a commonly prescribed topical ointment for healing superficial eye and ear infections. These infections include conjunctivitis, keratitis and keratoconjunctivitis, blepharitis and blepharoconjunctivitis. In addition to treating ophthalmic and ear infections in humans, Polysporin is also used to treat ear infections in dogs.
Ophthalmic preparations help administer drugs in case of conditions that affect the eye or its immediate surrounding area. These products are available in several different types of dosage forms such as ophthalmic solutions, suspensions and gels. Whatever the type of formulation, all ophthalmic dosage forms are isotonic and sterile to ensure safety and comfort of use.
Although they cannot be seen with the naked eye, bacteria are everywhere. They exist in food, soil, water, surfaces within our homes, and in and on our bodies. Bacteria generally exist in mixed populations. Isolation of a specific bacterium from other bacterial species in a given sample allows microbiologists to study its structure and function, characteristics used in its identification. Microbiologists frequently isolate bacteria using one of several streak plate techniques.
Boils are a skin infection typically caused by staphylococcal bacteria. The bacteria enter the skin through nicks, cuts or hair follicles. These bacteria cause a red, tender lump (a boil) to form, and within 4 to 7 days pus begins to accumulate in the boil. Boils commonly occur on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders and buttocks. In addition to being an eyesore, boils can also be quite painful and even become infected. Fortunately, most boils heal with proper home treatment, and the pain subsides once the boil drains.
The Black Death was a horrific pandemic that quickly spread throughout Europe, killing one-third of its population in the 14th century. Also known as the Black Plague, this historic catastrophe continues to intrigue people today. Learn about the deadly bacteria that caused the Black Death, how it was spread and how it devastated an entire continent to gain insight into one of history's most deadly pathogenic events.
Isolation can be a major symptom and signifier for people with anxiety and depression issues. Defined as withdrawing from people and the world, isolation is an early indicator for mental health issues caused by chemical imbalances or reactions to real-world stressors. In either case, increased isolation can point to worsening mental health. However, some types of isolation are much more severe and indicative of a larger problem than others.
As an antibiotic resistant of a staph infection, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can develop into two types of infection. Health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) is commonly found among patients in a hospital and other healthcare areas including, dialysis centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. HA-MRSA can develop from the use of intravenous tubing, implanted devices, or from surgeries where an area is left open to heal on its own. Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) is spread through skin-to-skin contact and is commonly contracted by child care workers, people living in crowded and unsanitary conditions or high school wrestlers. Especially in the wrestling…
There are many stages to labor, and it can be confusing knowing which stage you are experiencing. Pre-labor is a set of physiological changes that indicate the body is preparing for the birth of your child. These changes help position the baby and strengthen the muscles used for contraction and pushing. Anyone can mistake this part of the process for true labor, but it is only a warm up.
Thin cuts caused by small, sharp-edged objects are called paper cuts. They usually occur on the fingers and are painful because fingers contain many nerve endings. In addition to paper, these cuts can be caused by cardboard, razors, sharp-edged construction materials and scissors. Paper cuts can be superficial or deep and they may cause some bleeding. It is important to properly treat your paper cut to reduce the risk of infection.
The record for the longest living bat is 32 years, which is extremely unusual. This oldster was a brown bat.The majority of bats do not stick around long enough to celebrate their first birthday. Bats are at most risk for an early demise when they are young.
Proper septic tank maintenance and inspections are vital to any home with a septic tank. Common in areas where there are no connections to the main sewage pipes provided by the city or state, septic tanks break down wastes flushed down the toilet in a home. Bacteria in the septic tank break down human fecal matter so it does not contaminate local water supplies. Without proper maintenance and inspections, septic tanks can overflow causing a number of unpleasant problems.
"Both creativity and curiosity are bred through contemplation," states Ester Bucholz in her book The Call of Solitude, which champions the positive aspects of isolation. However, those facing isolation frequently encounter its negative consequences, including loneliness and depression. Overcoming these problems when you are alone involves sticking to a regimen of mental and physical engagement. Creative activities and exercise keep your mind focused on personal development rather than the lack of personal connection in your life.
We all want our faces to have a healthy glow. After all, we do use them to present ourselves to the world. This being the case, an unidentified blister, bump or rash can be particularly unnerving. Powders and makeup may cover the redness, but they will not treat the underlying causes and, in some cases, may worsen the problem. Fortunately, most facial rashes are very treatable.
Coyotes are found throughout the United States, with the exception of Hawaii. They usually avoid interactions with humans. However, coyotes can become comfortable around people when food is involved, and they sometimes encroach upon suburban areas in search of nourishment. Coyotes can subsist on a wide variety of foods, ranging from your garbage to your pet. To deter coyotes away from your home, you need to appear dominant.
A stool card, more formally known as a stool guaiac or fecal occult blood test, is used to evaluate the stool for hidden blood that cannot be visualized with the unaided eye. The stool is generally collected at home and smeared on the card. The card is then returned to a medical laboratory, where it can be microscopically examined for the presence of blood. Common disorders that may cause hidden blood in the stool include colon cancer, peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel disease, and gastritis.
Meningococcal disease is the bacterial form of meningitis, a disease that causes swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord by infecting the blood stream. Early diagnosis of this deadly disease is important for survival. Consult a doctor immediately if symptoms occur. While viral meningitis is rarely fatal, bacterial meningitis such as meningococcal is extremely deadly.
Stool sample testing requires a certain amount of caution, because you don't want your sample to be unintentionally contaminated by other bodily fluids. Stool samples can be taken at home or the hospital and the steps will be the same, no matter where it is collected. Stool samples are collected for a number of reasons which include testing for bacteria, viruses, and parasites that might be making you sick.
Breast implants are a form of plastic surgery aimed at augmenting the breasts. During the procedure, either silicone or saline filled sacs are surgically inserted between the breast tissues and the pectoral muscles. After insertion, the cut tissue is stitched together, and then the individual must allow their body time to heal. After surgical scars have adequately healed, there are some complications of having breast implants that one should watch out for. A condition know as capsular contracture, or breast encapsulation, occurs when the body creates hardened tissue surrounding the implant. The hardened tissue begins to encapsulate the breast implant,…
Metrogel treats rosacea and has various ingredients that treat all of the symptoms of skin irritation and acne. Metrogel is a topical medicine that is 92 percent water-based. The gel reduces the lesions or bumps commonly associated with acne rosacea and works specifically on adults with this problem. The ingredients in Metrogel are also in other acne and skin care products.
Bacterial skin infections can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. Therefore, early detection is key. Knowing the signs and symptoms of different bacterial skin infections will help you detect an issue before it becomes a serious problem. We all have bacteria on our skin at any given time. Some bacteria is good and some bad. Problems occur when bad bacteria multiply out of control or release harmful toxins. Bacterial skin infections are caused by the growth of microorganisms that damage the skin. Most skin infections enter through wounds or scratches on the skin surface.
Eye infections can impair your vision, cause itchiness and make you feel insecure about showing your face. Eye infections usually present with symptoms such as mild swelling, a white discharge, dryness or even slight pain; this is why getting rid of the infection is important in getting your eyes back to working their best. While eye infections vary, there are some general rules and steps to take to help you get rid of your eye infection.
Do you have a red, swollen, tender bump above your eyelash line? If so, you may have an infected eyelash follicle, also known as a sty. This type of infection occurs when bacteria from the skin clogs a follicle gland. According to MedicineNet.com, 90 to 95 percent of the time, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is behind this type of infection. Although a sty may look and feel awful, the majority of sties are harmless and can easily be treated at home with a warm compress.
A viral infection is caused by a virus. Most people have had a virus at one time or another. A viral infection can produce a multitude of different symptoms. A viral infection cannot be cured with antibiotics. Bacterial infections do respond to antibiotics. A bacterial infection is typically characterized by pain, swelling and redness but it can often be difficult to distinguish between a bacterial and viral infection. Learn to identify the symptoms of a viral infection.