Cytomegalovirus, also known as CMV, is a virus that belongs to the herpes virus family. Once infected, CMV stays in the body for a lifetime, a characteristic of all herpes viruses. CMV infects people worldwide and usually causes no symptoms,...
Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by brain damage that occurs prior to, during or shortly after the birth of a child. As the location and extent of the brain damage varies tremendously, so do the symptoms that result from it. In general, however,...
"Encephalitis" describes conditions in which the brain becomes irritated and inflamed. As the Mayo Clinic explains, one of the more common causes of encephalitis is an infection from a virus. These viruses can directly damage the brain, but the...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, each year, approximately 10,000 to 20,000 cases of viral encephalitis are reported in the United States. Most cases are mild, but the condition can be serious and full recovery can be...
A magnetic resonance imaging scan, or MRI, allows doctors to examine the brain without opening the skull. The National Institutes of Health explains that an MRI produces a magnetic field that is 10,000 times greater than the one produced by the...
An inflammation of the brain, encephalitis commonly results from a viral infection, such as the herpes simplex virus. People can contract viral encephalitis by eating contaminated food or getting bitten by an insect carrying the virus. The...
Water on the brain, also called hydrocephalus, is the result of a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the excess CSF "puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and...
The body uses fever -- temperature elevation -- to fight viral or bacterial infection. An increased temperature is a symptom, not the illness itself. Unless the fever is very high or your child is uncomfortable and unable to rest or at risk of...
Communicable diseases, also known as contagious or infectious diseases, are those illnesses that easily transfer from one person to another. Common methods of transfer include direct contact with the source, such as kissing or touching a...
Chronic headaches are headaches that occur two or more times a week for at least three months. According to MayoClinic.com, chronic headaches can be classified on the basis of how long they last. The long-lasting headaches can be classified into...
Viral infections are the most common cause of illness in children. They are highly contagious. Most viruses cause symptoms over a short period of time and produce mild illness. Some viruses can cause significant disease, especially in those who...
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Humans contract Lyme disease from the bite of an infected tick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 28,921 confirmed and 6,277 probable cases...
It is rare for the organism acanthamoeba to cause disease, because it is not a parasite. But it can cause inflammation of the brain in people who have been ill for quite some time and in those who have a weak immune system. It can also cause eye...
Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that is caused by one of several different types of viruses. The herpes simplex 1 virus, which is also responsible for producing cold sores, can lead to a type of viral encephalitis called herpes...
Headaches accompanied by nausea can be caused by any number of reasons, from brain abnormalities to food sensitivities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that patients keep a diary of their headaches and when they felt sick to...
While you've probably seen a lot of West Nile virus coverage in your local media, particularly during the summer, the fact is that most people infected by the virus recover without medical intervention. Very young children and the elderly are the...
The classic symptoms of Parkinson's disease--tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness and clumsiness--are found in other diseases. Up to 25 percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, according to the Dana Guide to Brain Health, are...
Edema is a medical term for swelling. When there is swelling on the brain, it is termed cerebral edema or brain edema, which results in increased pressure inside the skull. The increases in pressure, termed intracranial pressure, can prevent blood...
Seizure episodes are the result of abnormal brain electrical activity. Seizure types include generalized or grand mal, which affects the entire body; partial or focal seizures, which may or may not affect memory; petit mal, which appear as a blank...
Brain atrophy and cerebral atrophy are terms used when there is a loss of tissue in the brain. This means there is a loss of brain cells and, in some cases, a loss of nerve conduction between cells. Atrophy can affect the entire brain or be...
Diabetes insipidus is a disease that results from the body's inability to directly reabsorb water in the kidneys. A person with diabetes insipidus makes large volumes of urine and is often dehydrated and thirsty as a result. Electrolyte imbalance...
A virus refers to a tiny infectious particle that can invade the body via the nose and mouth. Certain viruses can also pass via sexual intercourse. Viruses multiply in the body and can create such symptoms as fever, cough, nasal congestion and...
Herpes is a fairly common viral infection which can be transmitted sexually. This virus can cause skin problems as well as a variety of other complications. Herpes simplex cannot be eliminated by the body's immune system, which means that it can...
Eight forms of herpes virus infect humans, causing a wide range of diseases. The two types of highly contagious herpes simplex viruses cause recurring sores or blisters. Type 1 causes cold sores around the lips and in the mouth, although sores can...
Viral encephalitis is a medical condition characterized by severe brain inflammation caused by a virus. A number of viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus, measles, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, can cause brain...
Chickenpox is a viral infection cause by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes shingles in adults. Although once considered one of the classic diseases of childhood, it is now becoming more rare because of a successful vaccine,...
Chickenpox is often thought of as just a benign children's disease, but chickenpox in children and adults, including pregnant women, can have devastating consequences. Chickenpox, a blistering rash, is caused by the varicella zoster virus and is...
Dr. Joe Klein, the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases of Alfred duPont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, explains that human immunodeficiency syndrome or HIV, attacks T cells in the immune system and spreads. When and if enough cells...
Neonatal herpes is a potentially fatal infection caused by the herpes virus. Neonates catch the virus during the birthing process, especially if it is a vaginal delivery and the mother has active herpes lesions at the time. But most babies with...
Tick bites should be treated immediately, the concern being transmission of Lyme disease. Learn more about tick bites in this medical video.
