Infectious diseases encompass quite a large category in medicine. We will discuss a lot of current infection topics and emerging diseases.
Sporotrichosis Sporotrichosis is an infection caused by the fungus Sporothrix. The most taught mode of infection is from the prick of a rose thorn. The fungus lives throughout the world on plants and in soil. It gains access usually through a cut in the skin. This nightmare fungus is a mix of the prick of a …
Valley Fever is also called Coccidiomycosis. What is Valley Fever? Valley Fever is finding itself again in the news in the United States (U.S.). Valley fever is a pneumonia that is caused by a fungus called Coccidioides. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs and often causes fever, shortness of breath, and cough. …
What is Chikungunya? Chikungunya is a virus that causes an illness much like Zika or Dengue Fever. Most patients have a fever and arthritis symptoms. It can be quite debilitating and last for months. How can I catch Chikungunya? Mosquito bite: Chikungunya is spread to humans from an infected mosquito bite. The most common bite …
What is Ebola? The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Ebola river. It causes Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas) through direct contact with the virus, an infected person’s bodily fluids or their deceased body. So, you may …
Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria discovered in 1911, causes the disease listeriosis. It was first noted as a food-borne illness in the 1980s and is now the 3rd most common food-borne illness. A recent outbreak of Listeria from deli meat and cheese has it back in the news. About 15-20% of those infected will …
As if a natural disaster isn’t enough, the aftermath can sometimes be worse. Hurricanes churn up a lot of debris, sediment, beach, and anything in their path. Some of these things are bacteria better left hidden that now threaten the very clean-up the hurricane caused. The amount of fuel, sewage and myriad other unknowns …
Flesh-Eating Vibrio is Rearing Its Ugly Head After Hurricane Ian in Florida Read More »
Poliomyelitis Poliovirus causes poliomyelitis, which is a life-threatening disease. Up to 70% of people infected do not have symptoms so it can spread unknown through a community quite rapidly. It is easily prevented by taking very well-known and effective vaccines. Despite this, polio infection is on the rise and can have devastating consequences. There are …
Updated 11-27-22 Have you noticed the rising price of eggs at the grocery store? They are equal to, if not higher, than the novelty, organic and cage-free ones! I had written this Bird Flu article warning of this increasing issue a few months ago. Now that the effects are starting to be felt in the …
Can Antibiotics Kill Me? Yes, antibiotics kill millions of people every year. They have also saved countless lives. Let’s discuss this issue. Most antibiotic-related deaths go unreported. This is because the cause of death on record is often the issue caused by the antibiotic and not the antibiotic itself. Colitis Let’s take colitis for …
The brain-eating disease from swimming is caused by an amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. This thing of nightmares is a single-celled living organism. It loves hot, fresh water up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit and lives all over the world. It loves to live in your favorite lakes in the Southern United States. Though this amoeba can survive …
