Viruses cause a broad array of human diseases. These microscopic particles spread easily, typically via person-to-person contact or touching contaminated surfaces. Once inside the body, viruses enter cells and reproduce quickly.
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An abrasion, also called a scrape or graze, is a wound to the superficial layer of the skin. Abrasions are usually caused by trauma, such as a fall, that grinds or scrapes away the skin surface.
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C-ANCA and p-ANCA are two tests used in the diagnosis and evaluation of rheumatologic diseases. These conditions often result from a dysfunction in the immune system, which triggers an attack on certain tissues in the body that it mistakes as foreign or invading microorganisms or poisons.
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Colitis is the medical term that describes inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. Infectious colitis is inflammation of the colon caused by an infectious agent. These include bacteria, viruses and parasites.
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White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells your body uses to fight off infections. There are different types of white blood cell, each responsible for fighting different microbes. For example, neutrophils help fight off bacterial infections, while lymphocytes increase during viral illnesses.
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Abdominal pain is a common complaint. The causes of abdominal pain are usually benign, but certain signs and symptoms should alert you to the possibility of a serious condition. Other characteristics of the pain that are important in assessing its cause include its location, its duration and associated symptoms.
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An elevation of the liver enzymes indicates damage or inflammation to the cells in the liver. These enzymes are normally found inside the liver cells, but when the liver is damaged, the enzymes leak out into the blood stream, where they can be picked up in a blood test.
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The kidneys are important organs that remove excess fluid and toxic waste products from the body. They do so by filtering the blood and excreting noxious chemicals and molecules into the urine.
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Thrombocytopenia is the term used to describe a low platelet count. Platelets are blood cells responsible for clotting blood and preventing excessive bleeding.
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Salmonella is a common bacterium that causes infection in humans, usually through exposure to inadequately processed foods like chicken or eggs, contaminated water, and contact with animals like reptiles and amphibians. The people affected most are usually very young or have underlying immune deficiencies.
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Your heart normally beats in a regular rhythm at a rate of roughly 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. When the resting heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, this is called tachycardia. Many conditions and diseases can cause tachycardia.
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When your child is sick, everything else seems secondary. Abdominal pain with fever is one of the most common reasons for bringing a child to the doctor. Several conditions can cause these symptoms, some far more serious than others.
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Fever and joint pain by themselves are common symptoms in children, but together can be signs of uncommon but potentially serious conditions.
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The liver is a complex organ that carries out many important functions in babies. Located in the right upper part of the abdomen, the liver helps detoxify the body from noxious drugs and substances. It also stores vitamins and minerals, produces proteins and enzymes, and manufactures clotting compounds.
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UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a common bacterial infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic depends on the bacteria that are causing the infection, the severity of symptoms, the possibility of complications and the ability of the patient to take medicine by mouth.
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Bronchitis and whooping cough are two respiratory conditions that have similar symptoms. This similarity makes it particularly challenging to diagnose one over the other. Despite their similar symptoms, the two conditions differ in their causes, their diagnostic testing and their treatment.
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The liver is an important organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Its functions include producing proteins that are important for blood clotting, processing fats, storing sugar for energy use, filtering the blood of waste products and metabolizing ingested medications.
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Urinary tract infections affect your urinary system. The urinary system includes the bladder, the kidneys, the urethra and the ureters. Most infections affecting the bladder are known as lower tract infections, while infection of the kidneys is known as pyelonephritis.
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Infectious mononucleosis, commonly abbreviated as just "mono," is a viral illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is one of the most common viral illnesses in humans. One of the effects of this infection is liver inflammation.
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Cushing’s disease is a condition in which the body secretes or is exposed to too much cortisol, a steroid hormone important in stressful situations.
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