Scientists once considered fungi plants. Now it is clear they are a distinctly different type of organism. Unable to produce their own food as plants do, fungi are opportunistic feeders and can live on decaying matter, foods and living...
Spinal meningitis, sometimes just called meningitis, is an infection that attacks the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, causing them to become inflamed. This condition can be mild or life threatening. It can cause symptoms similar...
Under normal conditions, the skin is adept at keeping pathogens from invading the body. The uppermost layer of skin is composed of dead, flattened cells. The cells form a barrier on the skin's surface. On top of that, skin has an acid mantle. A...
Since 2000 there has been a considerable increase in the number of diseases caused by fungi, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are usually healthy, then it is still rare for fungi to spread throughout your body...
The immune system protects the body from infections. People living with HIV/AIDS have a weakened immune system, which increases their susceptibility to a variety of infections, including pneumonia. The same germs that cause pneumonia in otherwise...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first recognized AIDS in 1981, when five men developed the Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, according to Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institutes of Health, in "Harrison's...
HTLV-I, HTLV-II, HIV-1 and HIV-2 are all retroviruses. All of them keep their genetic information in their RNA, instead of in DNA. After a retrovirus infects a cell, it makes a DNA copy of its genetic information from its RNA, then goes into the...
The word "arthritis" refers to any number of conditions that result in joint inflammation. People often think of arthritis as a wear-and-tear disease of old age, but there are other, more rare types of arthritis. In fact, there are more than 100...
A pulmonary nodule is a small lesion found incidentally in about one out of every 500 chest x-rays, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Most pulmonary nodules are benign, but they can represent early cancer. It is important to...
Some fungi grow as molds, while others exist in two forms, or dimorphic---either as molds or budding yeast. Fungi can cause pneumonia in healthy people who travel to endemic areas in the United States or Central America; they can also cause...
The infection valley fever typically stems from the fungi coccidioides found in the soil of certain geographical areas. Farming, construction and other occupations that involve exposure to disrupted soil have a greater risk for valley fever. Mild...
The lungs are prone to infections because lung tissue is designed to interact with the outside world (via breathing) but is fragile enough that it can be damaged easily. Lung infections, also known as infectious pneumonia, can range from fairly...
Influenza and pneumonia describe disease conditions of the respiratory system. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, fevers, chills, cough, sputum production, malaise, runny nose, muscle aches and chest pain. Severe disease requires...
Many different types of infectious diseases affect the human population. Numerous viruses, bacteria and fungi are all capable of causing disease. They can directly invade and cause disease, or an infectious disease can develop as a result of...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. For the most part, this swelling and inflammation is caused by an infection. The majority of the time, meningitis is caused by a viral infection. However,...
Exposure to viruses, bacteria, bites and irritants can all cause changes in the skins appearance, color and texture. Many rashes go away on their own, while others require treatment by a medical professional.
Pneumonia is "an infection in the lung parenchyma," according to the Cleveland Clinic, decreasing the lungs' ability to supply oxygen to the body. Fungus spores are present in most healthy people, but with the introduction of pneumonia, the body...
The mucous membranes that line the nose and pharynx, and the white blood cells in the lungs, should normally trap any fungal spores. Antibodies also respond to fungal infections. But there are times when fungi can overcome the immune response of...
A fungus is a type of microorganism that can infiltrate the lungs and create severe respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing, a fever and a cough. Sometimes, individuals are more susceptible to fungal lung infections if they live in a...
Valley fever is caused by fungi called coccidioides that are found in the alkaline desert soil of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and California. You can get infected and develop valley fever if you breath the fungal spores. In many cases...
The desert willow, a small tree that grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, has antioxidant and antifungal properties that make it a popular remedy. It is used most often to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails. However,...
