Common Infections: Symptoms, Fevers and Recovery Tips

Infections like scabies or urinary staph require prompt treatment to avoid complications. Learn when a child's fever necessitates a hospital visit and how to properly clean an infected nose piercing site.

Newborn baby sleeps in a basket hairstyle Mohawk

A Below-Normal Temperature Drop in Infants

Providing warmth is an instinctual extension of love that all parents want to give to their baby. But despite best intentions, sometimes an infant's temperature drops below normal. A low temperature in a baby is most often due to a cold environment or not enough clothes or blankets.

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Lesions of the knee.

What Happens If Scabies Goes Untreated?

Scabies is a contagious, parasitic infestation of the skin caused by human itch mites. These microscopic parasites burrow into the superficial skin layer. The presence of the mites and their eggs causes an inflammatory reaction in the skin that manifests as an intensely itchy rash.

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5 Things You Need to Know About Appendectomy Complications

An appendectomy is surgery performed to remove an inflamed or infected appendix. It's a common surgery and mostly goes off without a hitch. Sometimes, however, there may be appendectomy complications. Removal of the appendix may create other problems requiring immediate attention.

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Mother Checking Temperature Of Daughter In Bed

High Fever With a Cough in Children

When a child has a high fever and cough, parents and other caregivers are often understandably alarmed. A number of conditions can cause these symptoms, such as the flu, sinusitis, pneumonia and other airway infections.

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Nurse Caring For Patient

Post Surgery Incision Infection Signs

The major signs of a surgical site infection are pain, fever and changes in the appearance of the incision and surrounding skin. Infection after surgery can lead to more pain, prolonged time in the hospital, readmission to the hospital and, in rare cases, life-threatening illness.

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Worst Foods to Eat if You Have Herpes

The herpes simplex virus is incurable -- once you’re infected, it stays with you for life. That may be a downer, but many people turn to lifestyle changes to help manage the condition and prevent outbreaks of the two types of herpes -- one that brings on cold sores and one that results in genital blisters.

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Woman taking pills from medicine cabinet

The Best Antibiotics for Urinary Staph Infections

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common -- especially among women. Most are caused by bacteria called E. coli. But some types of staph bacteria, primarily one known as Staphylococcus saprophyticus, can also cause a urinary infection.

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close-up of a man gargling

What Is an Antiseptic?

Antiseptics are substances applied to the exterior of the body that kill or inhibit microbes and infective agents. Antiseptics can be effective against one or a combination of bacteria, fungi, viruses or other microorganisms.

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How to Prevent Jock Itch From Coming Back

Jock itch, also referred to as ringworm of the groin or tinea cruris, is a fungus-caused condition that affects the groin area. It is often triggered by prolonged wetness in the groin area and clothing friction. Symptoms typically include scaly patches of skin, itching, and abnormally light or dark skin.

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List of Acute Diseases

Acute diseases are those diseases that come on abruptly and run a short, severe course, while chronic diseases last for a prolonged time and may come and go. An acute disease requires immediate medical attention due to life-threatening possibilities.

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Young people relaxing in hot tub

Hot Tub Illnesses

It can be relaxing and therapeutic to soak in a hot tub, but users should be aware of hot tub dangers. Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) spread easily in hot tubs, and an entire family can become sick at the same time.

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A woman who is worried that she might have a disease

Causes of Fatigue and Low Fever

Fatigue and a low-grade fever commonly occur with a lengthy list of illnesses and conditions. These nonspecific symptoms serve as a general immune system alert, signaling an abnormality somewhere in the body.

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