Urosepsis is the acute condition of a systemic infection in the blood that develops secondary to a urinary tract infection (UTI), and then circulates throughout the entire body. A lay term for this critical condition is blood poisoning because an...
The function of white blood cells in the body is to fight infection. There are several different types of white blood cells that have different 'jobs' in the process of fighting viruses, bacteria and fungi that can infect the body. Your level of...
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to your future, it's important to get all the facts. Before considering abortion, make sure you get an ultrasound picture. You can get a free ultra sound from any one of many...
Sepsis is a severe bacterial infection that involves the entire body. According to MayoClinic.com, the mortality rate for this disease is almost 50 percent. The most important treatment for sepsis is antibiotics, to eradicate the infection, and a...
Heparin is an anticoagulating medication: it works by decreasing the ability of the blood to clot normally. While this may seem like an unwanted effect, in certain circumstances, decreasing the ability of blood to coagulate is exactly what is...
The symptoms of different salmonella strains don't change, regardless of the food source of the original infection. Many types of salmonella bacteria can sicken people; symptoms may vary depending on the type of salmonella bacteria that infects...
A hernia is an opening or weakness allowing structures of the body to slide into unnatural positions. An inguinal hernia occurs in the area of the lower abdominal wall. It involves the path that a testicle travels when it descends into the...
Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, occurs when an illness causes an increase in mucus in the airways. The mucus allows viruses and bacteria to multiply, resulting in the infection. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that viruses...
What causes a high heart rate, or tachycardia can be many things. Tachycardia is identified by how fast the heart is beating and by how the heart rhythm looks on an electrocardiogram. A regular heart rhythm over 100 beats per minute is called...
Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria that commonly affects older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic, as those in good health generally are not affected. Hospitalized older adults or those in long-term care facilities are especailly...
An area of thinned and weak abdominal wall through which intestines can protrude is called an abdominal hernia. The Merck Manual states a hernia can be present at birth or acquired, usually after an abdominal operation. An abdominal hernia usually...
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...
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon that typically involves your rectum. Patients with this disease commonly present with rectal bleeding, rectal pain with urgency and diarrhea. The treatment for ulcerative colitis aims to...
Cider vinegar, or apple cider vinegar as it is more commonly called, has been used for centuries in cooking and as an ingredient in a variety of home remedies. Though its benefits are supposedly linked to skin care, diabetes and digestion, cider...
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a spore-forming bacillus that produces two toxins capable of causing inflammation of the colon and colitis. The symptoms of C. difficile are mild to severe abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. Severe cases...
Apple cider vinegar is filled with nutritious components and has been used in skin care tonics, health drinks and home remedies going all the way back to the ancient Babylonians. People still use apple cider vinegar to treat a variety of...
A perforated bowel is a serious condition, and immediate action such as surgery needs to be taken to prevent infection and death, according to the Merck Manual. Bacteria from the bowel can spill into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, an...
The abnormal presence of bacteria within the bladder can cause a medical condition known as a urinary tract infection. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include pain during urination and increased urinary urgency and frequency. Antibiotic...
The time spent during pregnancy helps a baby to develop physically and prepares him to enter the world. Premature babies are born early and may not have adequate reserves to protect themselves from exposure to illness after birth. Premature babies...
Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile, is a species of bacteria and the most common causative agent for diarrhea in hospitals. It leads to diarrhea, sepsis and death. Antibiotic use is the primary cause of infection, but certain types of...
Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin. It often affects the skin on the lower legs, although it can develop anywhere on the body or face. While its effects are often limited to the surface of the skin, it can sometimes spread to...
Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection that causes death to muscles, skin, underlying tissues and the covering of muscles (fascia). According to the National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation, the cause of this infection is also referred...
Normal body temperature is commonly considered to be close to 98.6 degrees. Normally, the body is able to keep the temperature within a safe range despite outside conditions, explains the PeaceHealth website. A body temperature that is lower than...
Group B streptococcal bacteria can cause serious infections in all age groups, although newborns and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to these bacteria. Meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis (infection of the bloodstream) and serious skin...
During your pregnancy, it is often confusing determining which herbal supplements are safe to use. Angelica sinensis, or dong quai, is a root used by herbalists for centuries to improve circulation, alleviate menstrual pain and help with...
Rashes are the physical manifestations of a variety of ailments. With their developing immune systems, children are more susceptible to these conditions, according to the "Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology." Schools, day-care centers and parks...
When bacteria infect the blood, its is called bacteremia. In most healthy individuals, the immune system responds quickly to the presence of a bacterial infection in the blood and destroy the invaders before complications develop. In some cases,...
Hernias affect more than 500,000 men every year. A hernia occurs when the intestine protrudes through a weak section in the abdominal wall. More than 74 percent of hernias in men occur in the groin area. Often symptoms can present so subtly that...
In vertebrate animals, blood is made up of red blood cells that carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body. The cells flow through the body in blood plasma, which is composed mostly of water, but also includes minerals and nutrients for the blood...
