The foods you eat can do much more than provide nourishment and sustenance. Certain foods can have a powerful impact on how often you are sick, how long the virus sticks around and how well your body is able to fight it off, Jean Carper reports in...
Swine flu is the common name for the novel H1N1 flu strain first identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April 2009. According to the CDC, antiviral drugs are prescription medications that fight against swine flu...
Cold sores are tiny 1- to 2-mm blisters that develop on the lip and sometimes inside the mouth or on the surrounding facial skin. In the 2008 edition of "Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine," National Institutes of Health researcher...
The effectiveness of herbal remedies in warding off viral and bacterial infections remains a topic of debate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that no scientific evidence supports the use of herbs in preventing the flu, while...
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a virus in the chicken pox family. Outbreaks occur in times of stress and when the immune system is compromised. Shingles tends to be most common in those over 50 and people with autoimmune disease. Outbreaks can be...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. In babies, especially newborns, meningitis can be a serious condition that can lead to death if left untreated. In babies younger...
Commonly known as the flu, influenza refers to illness caused by a number of different influenza viruses that can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. As is common with many illnesses that affect a wide range of people, there...
Chicken pox is a highly infectious disease in children and adults caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Most patients with chicken pox are under age 10. A vaccine is available to prevent chickenpox. It is administered at 12 to 15 months of age and...
Hypericum, or St. John's Wort, is widely prescribed by herbalists, naturopathic doctors and other holistic practitioners. Taken internally, hypericum is primarily used to treat mild to moderate depression. It may also relieve symptoms of nerve...
Antivirals are drugs used to treat or prevent viral infections. Viruses cause major killer diseases around the world, accounting for huge numbers of deaths every year from diseases like the flu, HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. They are also causally...
What is a Bell's palsy? It's a paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. This facial paralysis causes a drooping of the mouth on that side. It also makes closing the eye on that side quite difficult. Bells palsy symptoms leave a person...
Bell's palsy is a temporary paralysis of one of the facial nerves. It usually affects one side of the face and can strike at any age. Bell's palsy is thought to be the result of a virus or trauma to the nerve. It comes on quickly and usually...
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful viral illness that occurs only in people who have had a case of chicken pox in the past. Varicella zoster, the virus that causes chicken pox, is never completely eliminated from the body....
Due to the dangers to both mother and baby of chickenpox infection during pregnancy, the Mayo Clinic recommends preventative chickenpox vaccination for all women of childbearing age who have not had chickenpox or received a vaccination before....
Eye infections may result from different types of bacteria, viruses and fungi. They may cause discomfort, redness, swelling and irritation, but these symptoms may disappear without treatment. Some infections may require medication to prevent...
Herpes simplex is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two primary types, herpes simplex-1 and herpes simplex-2. There is no cure or vaccine for either type, but anti-viral medications like acyclovir can help reduce outbreaks...
H1N1 Novel Influenza, also called swine flu, is a respiratory virus easily spread through coughing, sneezing and contamination of the environment by those who have the disease. It is possible for an infected person to remain symptom-free while...
When avian influenza, or influenza A subtype H5N1, appeared in China a decade ago, it caused the mass slaughter of fowl in an attempt to contain the disease. Today, the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, in the United States have gained much...
Upper respiratory infections affect millions of Americans every year. Although rarely life-threatening, symptoms of the common cold often cause feelings of poor health and lost productivity in the workplace. Fortunately, there are many products...
Vitamins are essential nutrients that help you maintain optimal health by regulating your metabolism. They are also are involved in biochemical processes that produce energy from digested food. Some drugs may deplete vitamins and other nutrients,...
Liver function tests are used to determine the state and function of a patient's liver. Several biochemical tests are used in this evaluation, some of which involve the detection of liver enzymes. Liver enzymes that are commonly detected include...
Hemorrhoids are a painful inflammation of the veins that surround the anus and rectum. The most common sign of hemorrhoids is bleeding during or after a bowel movement, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. In...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, occurs when your intestinal muscles contract too quickly or too slowly. Sufferers may experience periods of diarrhea, constipation and cramping. Apple cider vinegar is thought by some to benefit the symptoms of...
Morphine is a powerful opiate that is used medically to treat pain and other conditions. It is also abused to achieve a high or avoid withdrawal symptoms. The body has opioid receptors throughout the body and each receptor reacts specifically in...
Unlike bacterial diseases, conditions caused by viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. Such conditions include the flu, colds, herpes and HIV. Some foods have antiviral properties by enhancing your immune system and making it more...
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, causes a painful skin rash that usually clears on its own in a few weeks. A weakened immune system triggers an infection and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. The Centers for Disease Control and...
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and usually form around the mouth and on the lips. After appearing on the surface of the skin, the cold sore will blister and then begin to weep fluid about two days later. Once the...
The plant-based polyphenol compounds known as phytoestrogens have a structure similar to the most potent human estrogen hormone estradiol, according to the journal "Integrative Medicine." Phytoestrogens are present in a variety of whole grains,...
The flu is a highly contagious virus that attacks the upper respiratory system. According to Kid'sHealth.org, the illness generally has a quick onset and you may have few symptoms prior to getting sick. The preliminary symptoms you do have may be...
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral disease leading to painful blisters or rashes to a local area on the body. Learn more about shingles in this health video.
Chickenpox are caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which is closely related to the herpes simplex viruses. Learn more about Varicella-Zoster virus in this health video.
