Chicken pox is the common name for the disease that results from infection with the varicella-zoster virus. This condition causes a blistering skin rash that can affect the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Armpit boils arise from an infection of the hair follicle under the arm. The infection creates large lesions that form under the armpit and are usually filled with a clear fluid called pus. The infected area may become red and inflamed; it may also easily become irritated when clothes rub across the surface.

A stuffy nose is one of the more uncomfortable symptoms of a cold or the flu. Decongestants are over-the-counter medications used to relieve nasal congestion. Some are taken by mouth, while others are sprayed into the nose. Afrin is a brand of oxymetazoline spray, a topical nasal decongestant.

Disease has always plagued living things. Some diseases are passed from one person to the next through infections such as influenza. Others develop because of environmental problems such as smoking or through cellular mutation. The medical community works to understand and treat all forms of human disease.

Coughing is a brain-controlled reflex that clears mucus and particulate matter from the airways. Nerves in the airways and chest connect with the cough center in the brain to trigger the reflex.

Tuberculosis, an airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs though it can spread to other organs. More than 13,000 new cases of tuberculosis, or TB, were reported in the United States in 2007, according to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.

Tamiflu is an antiviral medication used to prevent the flu in exposed individuals. It is also used to shorten the duration of the flu virus in patients who have had flu symptoms for less than two days. It is available with a doctor’s prescription as an oral suspension or in capsules.

Mononucleosis is a viral infection caused by the Epstein Barr virus. It is spread through saliva and symptoms may include sore throat, fever, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite. It typically lasts for two or three weeks, but it can persist past this time.

Dry coughs are coughs that do not produce phlegm or mucus. A dry cough usually feels like something is irritating or tickling the back of your throat. A constant, dry cough may be a symptom of several different medical conditions.

Influenza is a seasonal viral disease that typically causes symptoms of fever, chills, headache, stuffy nose, sore throat and muscle aches. Fever and muscle aches are typically among the first symptoms to develop.

Staph infections, caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, can be potentially very dangerous. Everyone has staph bacteria in their body, but not everyone develops an infection from the organism. A cut or sore can lead to a reddened area of skin--and the threat of infection if staph bacteria enter the bloodstream.

"Flu symptoms" is a general description for a set of symptoms usually including fever, chills, malaise, dry cough, loss of appetite and body aches. These symptoms are present in many illnesses as these are the symptoms that occur as the body’s natural response to fighting an infection.