Cold sores, also known by the medical term herpes labialis, are painful blisters that usually appear near the mouth and lips. Herpes labialis is a highly contagious form of herpes simplex virus 1. It is common for someone to be a carrier of the...
The varicella-zoster virus (also called herpes zoster), the same virus that causes chicken pox, can cause a viral infection called shingles. If you have had chicken pox, the virus can lay dormant for years and then become activates as shingles,...
Flu, or seasonal influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a viral infection. Most people will suffer from flu at some point in their lives and the vast majority recover completely within a few weeks. Certain people such as...
A virus, considered a microorganism, consists of an ultramicroscopic fragment of either DNA or RNA with a protein sheath wrapped around it. Unlike bacteria, viruses do not grow, play no valuable role in earthly life and show no sign of activity...
Herpes Simplex 1, or HSV-1, is a viral infection that causes common cold sores, those painful blisters or cankers that appear on the lips, tongue, or inside of the mouth. These areas are the most common areas where the infection can appear, but...
It's difficult to tell if your toddler has the flu, just a cold, or another viral illness, because the symptoms are very similar between all of them. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which is a specific airborne bug, and it's usually...
The herpes simplex virus is a common sexually transmitted disease. Many people who live with genital or oral herpes should treat any symptoms of an outbreak quickly. Most people who have the herpes virus don't always have obvious signs of...
Viral illnesses are common in children. Most viruses cause benign, self-resolving and brief illnesses that require only supportive therapy with fluids, and pain and fever control measures. A small group of medicines have been developed for use in...
Although Bell's palsy sometimes disappears without treatment, there are options to help speed recovery. Bell's palsy is treatable with some traditional and alternative methods. Pain medications, antiviral medicine and anti-inflammatories are a...
The mighty oak figures significantly in Native American and colonial history. The acorns of the white oak supplied flour to make breads and puddings, while the wood provided housing and furniture. Even the galls of the tree proved helpful by...
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 500,000 Americans experience their first episode of cold sores each year. From 20 to 40 percent of these people go on to develop recurrent episodes of cold sores. In such...
The seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza are viruses that cause symptoms such as body aches, fever, chills, fatigue and a sore throat. Rest and over-the-counter medication often are enough to help an individual through the virus. Other times,...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two medicines, Tamiflu and Oseltamivir, for the treatment and prevention of swine flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription antiviral medicines for swine...
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is primarily responsible for oral herpes, also called cold sores. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that HSV-1 can cause herpes blisters anywhere on the skin. No permanent cure exists for HSV-1 but sufferers...
Mushrooms are a diverse collection of fungi, constituting many thousands of species. Mushrooms have been consumed for medicinal purposes for countless generations, especially in Asian countries, although only a small percentage have been...
The flu is a contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory tract. The Kids Health website points out that all individuals are susceptible to the flu, but kids tend to get it more often than adults. Medical treatment, even in infants, is...
The flu, or influenza, can have devastating effects on children. Most of the deaths attributed to the H1N1 virus were in children and in adults with chronic health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), around 20,000...
The flu virus is the causative agent of influenza. The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets expelled via cough or sneezing. There are several parts for the virus, which affects how the vaccines against the virus are made and also how...
Shingles is a painful neurological condition caused by a herpes virus. It lies dormant in the nerve cells after a bout with chickenpox--often decades earlier--and recurs as an episode of shingles. Approximately one American out of four develops...
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful, blistering skin disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox in children. Following chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in nerve tissue and may reactivate later in...
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a effective herbal remedy for herpes. The herpes virus belongs to a large family that includes chicken pox, shingles and keratitis as well as oral and genital herpes. All herpes infections display painful...
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the chickenpox virus. Once an individual comes down with chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissues near the spinal cord and brain. MayoClinic.com points out that...
Herpes diseases are caused by two different forms of the herpes simplex virus, known as HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which are ubiquitous and contagious. Herpes is categorized according to the site of infection by the virus, and common forms include...
Influenza is a viral illness that usually occurs during the late fall, winter and early spring months. There are several types of influenza viruses, with influenza A and B being the most common types that cause illness in humans. Each season, a...
Tamiflu, also known by its generic name, oseltamivir, is an antiviral drug used for the treatment of influenza. It works by slowing down the rate at which viruses infect cells. However, in common with other antivirals, Tamiflu does not eliminate...
Herpes is a condition caused by the human simplex virus, or HSV. There are two forms of the virus: HSV-1, which causes oral herpes, or cold sores, and HSV-2, which causes genital herpes. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center,...
The avian influenza virus causes avian bird flu in humans. Primarily found in the intestines of wild birds, these viruses rarely affect them. The avian bird flu virus in domestic poultry, however, is transmittable to human beings and can be fatal...
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus, commonly known as HSV, which causes sore, inflamed lesions to appear around the mouth or genitals. Herpes has no cure, and once you become infected the virus will lay dormant in your body for life. If...
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a potentially fatal immune system disorder. It occurs when the human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV, damages the immune system by attacking T-lymphocytes, white blood cells that help...
