Your tonsils are tissues located in your throat that help ward off infections, although the precise actions or purposes of these clumps of tissue are not fully understood. Tonsil swelling due to infection is one of the most common problems...
Several areas of the body, including the neck and head, have lymph nodes, glands that assist in fighting off infections in the body. During an infection or illness, the lymph nodes usually swell in the area closest to the infection. As the lymph...
Throat cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the tissue of the pharynx and larynx. The pharynx is a hollow tube that begins behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea and esophagus. The larynx is an organ that contains the...
Two viral strains cause herpes: herpes simplex virus Type 1 and herpes simplex virus Type 2. Herpes simplex virus Type 1, or HSV-1, causes oral herpes and spreads through saliva. Herpes simplex virus Type 2, or HSV-2, causes genital herpes and...
Numerous medical conditions may be treated with dietary supplements. According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, most American adults take one or more dietary supplements every day -- including vitamins,...
Cervical lymphadenitis is a term used to describe an infection of the lymph nodes in the neck. Children often have this kind of infection, but it can affect people of any age. Those who develop cervical lymphadenitis symptoms should consult a...
According to the United States (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in the U.S. there are 56,300 people infected with "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" (HIV). NIAID approximates that 33 million people worldwide are...
Following lack of adequate sleep, a stressful day at work or demands of family life, feeling exhausted is only natural. However, feeling chronic exhaustion and unrelenting fatigue may indicate a disorder called chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS....
Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are both considered medical anomalies in the sense that each causes debilitating symptoms for reasons unknown. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, estimates that up to 4 million...
Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that exists naturally in soil, rocks and water. Decomposing uranium releases radon, which can then enter your home through cracks in the foundation, dirt floors, sump holes or other openings. Although radon...
An itchy scalp can result from conditions that range from mild dandruff to severe infections of the skin. Treatments can be as simple as changing shampoo or either increasing or reducing the frequency of washing your hair. Severe cases of itchy...
Tonsils, part of the human body's lymphatic system, assist in with the immune response. Found in the back of the throat, these glands may enlarge, leading to snoring and sleep apnea, recurring sore throats, bad breath and difficulty swallowing....
Lymph glands, or lymph nodes, play a vital role in the immune system, which protects the body from infection. The lymph system is made up of organs, cells and molecules located throughout the body. Lymph nodes are found in the neck, under the...
More than a quarter million Americans are infected with HIV and unaware of it, according to the Centers for Disease Control. One reason for that is people infected with HIV may remain relatively symptom-free for 10 years or more after infection....
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the most advanced stage of HIV, according to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. It mostly spreads by unprotected sex with an infected person, although contact with...
Epistaxis, or a nosebleed, is a common disorder that involves bleeding from the nostrils or, rarely, from the eye. Nosebleeds can result from bleeding at the anterior portion of the nose, or at the posterior, deeper parts of the nose. Although...
Early signs of lung cancer include intense coughing, pain in the chest, changes in the color or volume of your saliva, blood in your saliva and shortness of breath that has caused bronchitis or pneumonia several times in a short period. Smokers...
Formerly referred to as Hodgkin's disease, Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer of the lymph nodes. Because lymph tissue exists throughout the body, Hodgkin's lymphoma can begin almost anywhere, causing lymph nodes to swell before spreading....
Fatigue is a common occurrence most likely caused by everyday stresses such as work and home life. Most people will suffer from minor short-term memory loss, such as misplacing car keys or forgetting to lock their car doors, at some point in their...
Lymph nodes are tiny glands throughout your body that filter and drain wastes. They help your immune system eliminate invading pathogens. The nodes in your neck, including cervical, tonsillar, sub-mandibular and supraclavicular nodes, become...
The structure of the neck is composed of bones, muscles, blood vessels and lymph glands. It is responsible for supporting and turning the head. Babies have short necks and their neck muscles are not strong enough to support their heads. Some...
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an inflammatory condition that affects the lymph nodes, skin and arteries. This disease most commonly affects children of Asian descent who are between 2 and 5 years old, as...
Lymphoma refers to a type of cancer that strikes the lymphatic system. This is a system made of vessels that are responsible for transporting a clear fluid called lymph, which helps the body figh infection. Two types of lymphoma exist: Hodgkin's...
The lymphatic system is a complex network of tissues, including the lymph nodes, spleen and tonsils, that are involved in the immune response of the human body. Lymphatic cancer, which is commonly called lymphoma, occurs when cancerous cells begin...
The human ear has three main parts--the outer ear, the middle ear also known as the auditory canal, and the ear drum or tympanic membrane. The eustachian tubes connect the upper part of the throat to the middle ear. These tubes allow the pressure...
Overview Mononucleosis is a respiratory virus that affects the blood cells and salivary glands (glands responsible for producing saliva). Even though anyone can get mononucleosis, most people who get the illness are between the ages of 15...
Children experience tiredness from time to time, especially during their developmental years when they have growth spurts. Generally a nap and some rest will help to cure fatigue. If your child has an overwhelming need to sleep even after adequate...
Simply stated, a rash is any change in the skin's normal condition, usually affecting the skin's color, appearance and texture. Numerous factors can cause rashes in people of all ages; they could result from contact with irritants, allergens or...
Swollen throat glands represent enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes are bean-like collections of lymphocytes--white blood cells with a prominent role in the immune system. Infections and inflammation commonly causes swollen...
Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system in which cells called lymphocytes (T Lymphocytes and B Lymphocytes) become cancerous. Learn more about this serious condition and how to prevent and treat it in this video.
