Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, or HBV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, states there were an estimated 43,000 new HBV infections in the U.S. in 2007. The best way to prevent...
Hepatitis A and B are contagious viral liver diseases. The best way to prevent them is vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The potential risks associated with hepatitis are much greater than those...
The influenza virus is a highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. The influenza virus can be highly dangerous and lead to opportunistic infections such as pneumonia in...
According to the Rotavirus Vaccine Program, more than 500,000 children throughout the world die each year because of complications from the rotavirus. An estimated 111 million cases are believed to occur each year throughout the world, with 25...
Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver and is spread by contact with blood, semen or other bodily fluids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United...
Chickenpox is a highly communicable illness, seen most commonly in children under the age of 15, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Typically this illness is mild but it can lead to several serious complications such as brain swelling, pneumonia and...
Chicken pox is not just for kids. Chicken pox is a disease caused by a virus, which means that anyone who is not immune to the virus can contract chicken pox. Adults who contract chicken pox often have serious complications, and symptoms are...
Polio enters the human body through the mouth. According to the World Health Organization, the virus quickly replicates in the throat and intestines and then enters the bloodstream. The Smithsonian states that from the bloodstream the polio virus...
Zinc is a mineral that the body needs in small amounts to function properly. Some people take zinc supplements to treat certain illnesses, including cases of influenza. Although zinc is important for a healthy immune system, it is not clear...
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is spread easily by sneezing, coughing or skin contact, and an infected person might be contagious one to two days prior to symptoms and four to five days after,...
Iron is an essential mineral that is one of the most abundant substances in the world and in your body. Iron carries oxygen through your vascular system and helps maintain the strength of your immune system. Immunity refers to the ways your body...
Once the flu vaccine has been manufactured, it is sent to health facilities approved for administering the vaccine. Each facility then stores the vaccine until it is time for administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is estimated to affect over one million people in the United States. People infected with the virus are at risk for chronic liver disease; the medical textbook "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Family Medicine"...
HIV is an auto-immune virus that weakens the body's immune system. It destroys the defenses that make it possible for the body to fight off bacterial and viral infections. HIV may be transmitted through sexual contact or through contact with...
Rotavirus is an infection that commonly occurs in children and affects the intestines, leading to diarrhea and potentially, vomiting. Children most commonly experience this infection before age 5, and will develop immunity to the virus after...
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the spinal cord and brain, and can be life threatening. Recognizing symptoms of the infection that can affect brain function is important for parents. Children with fever, stiff necks, irritability...
The influenza virus spreads easily from person to person through saliva droplets that travel through the air after a cough or sneeze, according to Drugs.com. The Nasal Flu Mist vaccine is administered to prevent infection with the flu. It helps to...
Stomach flu can go by several different names, but it is almost always uncomfortable. Mom may call it the flu, and it is caused by a virus, but it is not caused by the influenza virus, according to the National Center for Immunization and...
Common warts and mollusca warts are most commonly found on children. These warts are caused from being exposed to either the human papilloma virus or molluscum contagiosum virus. Neither warts are life threatening and are easily treated by your...
A stomach virus, or viral gastroenteritis, is an intestinal virus that's contracted by contact with another infected person or by ingesting contaminated water or food. A variety of signs accompany a stomach virus, ranging from vomiting and pain to...
Squalene is a naturally occurring organic substance found in vegetable oils, bran and wheat germ. It is also produced in animals and humans to synthesize cholesterol, vitamin D and certain hormones. Commercial sources of squalene oil include shark...
Herpes is a commonly occurring sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which can be found in two forms, type 1 and type 2. HSV can cause both oral and genital herpes in women. Symptoms of either type of...
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes all types of warts, including facial warts. HPV has more than 100 known strains, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. More than 60 of these strains cause warts of one form or another....
Warts commonly appear on the feet. Regardless of the type, they are all caused by a virus, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a contagious virus that is transmitted through both direct and indirect contact. Certain strains of HPV cause an...
Individually treating the flu is a moderate task; however, preventing an outbreak of pandemic flu is a much larger task. A disease or illness becomes a pandemic when it spreads at an accelerated rate, limiting the ability of medical professionals...
Fifth disease is a common viral infection that usually affects children but can also cause problems in adults. Much like viruses that affect the respiratory system, fifth disease can lead to a dry cough as a side effect of the infection. Fifth...
Day care centers, classrooms and school buses are often overloaded with germs due to the high number of children and teachers that constantly move in and out. The high number of germs--combined with the fact that children don't yet have fully...
Of the 25 or so known herpes strains, eight can infect human beings, according to the Merck Manuals. The most common of the diseases caused by a herpes infection in humans include chickenpox, genital herpes and oral herpes. In each of these...
The spleen is an organ that plays a vital role in protecting the body from infections, since the special cells present in the spleen kill the bacteria or germs that are present in the blood. An individual may need to get the spleen removed due to...
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus can lead to AIDS. It affects the human immune system which interferes with the body's ability to fight off disease. Learn about HIV in this video on health and diseases.
Warts are commonly caused by a viral infection, and they are highly contagious. However, they are relatively easy to treat with over-the-counter products and with help from medical professionals. Learn how to treat warts in this video.
