Infection is defined as the invasion of body tissues by pathogens or disease-causing agents and their proliferation resulting in reaction of host tissues. The reaction could be to the organisms or toxins they produce. The illness so resulted in known as infection or infectious disease. Most of the infectious diseases are can be transmitted from […]
Infections
Polio Causes, Presentation and Treatment
Polio is common usage for poliomyelitis which is an infectious disease caused by poliovirus resulting in acute illness, paralysis and sometimes death and in residual paralytic deformities. Pathophysiology of Polio Poliovirus is a type of enterovirus, a group of RNA viruses that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Three serotypes of poliovirus have been identified. PV1 is […]
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Occurrence and Treatment
A person is said to have drug resistant tuberculosis if the tuberculous bacteria that the person is infected with, will not respond to, and are resistant to, at least one of the main antitubercular drugs. Drug resistant tuberculosis occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug […]
Inflammation – Signs and Treatment
The word inflammation is derived from the Latin word- inflammare which means to set on fire. It is a part of a complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. The process is an attempt by the body to get rid of the injurious stimuli and to […]
Pulmonary Tuberculosis – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Pulmonary tuberculosis or chest tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis appears red when it is stained with carbol fuchsin. The bacterium retains this dye even when it is washed with acid and alcohol in contrast to others which do not retain. That is why it is called acid-fast bacillus or […]
Molluscum Contagiosum – Symptoms and Treatment
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection of the skin or occasionally of the mucous membranes. This condition is also known as water warts. It is caused by a DNA poxvirus called the molluscum contagiosum virus. Molluscum contagiosum virus is the largest virus affecting human beings. This is a cytoplasmic virus that gets implanted on the […]
Viral Hepatitis – Presentation and Treatment
Viral hepatitis can be caused by any one of the Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis E and Delta virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, rubella virus and virus of yellow fever. Hepatitis A Virus This is an RNA virus transmitted by feco-oral route. Incubation period is 2-6 weeks. It leads to acute […]
Candidiasis or Candida Infections
Candidiasis or candida infection can occur in many forms. Thrush or Oral Candidiasis Infection of the oral cavity with Candida albicans produces a curdy white deposit associated with redness and burning sensation in localized areas of the oral mucosa. It is common in infants, extremely debilitated individuals or those being treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Candidal […]
Swine Flu- Causes, Presentation and Treatment
Swine Flu is a respiratory tract infection from the hogs which now is a worldwide virus outbreak. Flu is otherwise a common disease and not dangerous. But when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity it becomes dangerous. Because people were not earlier susceptible to it, therefore, no medication […]
Lymphadenopathy – Sites, Causes and Characteristics in Different Conditions
Lymphadenopathy means lymph nodes which are abnormal in size, number or consistency and is often used as a synonym for swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. Image from Wikipedia under GNFL Causes of Lymphadenopathy Reactive Enlargement of lymph nodes in response to infection or injury somewhere in the body. Inflammatory Lymphadenitis Bacterial infection Tuberculosis Filariasis Syphilis […]