Amoebic meningitis is a disease of the central nervous system caused by a microorganism, Naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba typically found in warm, stagnant water. They gain entry to the human body through the nose while...
There are many parasites that commonly affect humans. Among these parasites are the protozoa that share the Earth's water, soil and food supply with the human population. Some may not be able to cause disease if you are healthy, while others can...
Parasites that gain entrance into a patient’s body rarely travel to the brain—but it can happen. Once in the brain, these parasites can cause a variety of symptoms and conditions. The parasites typically interfere with the normal...
Because of its tropical environment and weather, Florida should be a bastion for mosquito-borne infections. It's not, though, because mosquito control is a priority throughout the state. But the warm weather in Florida can result in the warming of...
Interstitial lung disease is not one but a variety of conditions. The lung contains tiny air sacs called alveoli that expand and contract during breathing and help oxygenate the body and remove carbon dioxide. Interstitial lung disease causes the...
Unfortunately, there are many deadly diseases, or diseases for which scientists still have no cure. Some of these diseases affect adults, while others affect children. They affect different parts of the body, including the nerves and skeletal...
Intestinal human parasites can be grouped into two categories---protozoa and helminths. Protozoa are single-celled organisms capable of reproducing inside the body, resulting in potentially serious infections. Protozoan parasites are typically...
Meningitis, a possibly life-threatening disease, is the inflammation of the membranes (menges) and the spinal fluid that surround the brain and the spinal cord. This condition is caused by an infection that travels through the bloodstream to the...
Many different things can affect brain function, from infection, to trauma, to metabolic imbalances, but only a few of them are deadly. Most of these deadly diseases are equal opportunity, infecting just as many people from First World countries...
Bacterial, viral, algal and protozoan infections are common after exposure to contaminated water. Swimming in ponds, lakes and oceans that are near developed areas may increase your risk of exposure to waste-water contamination if the areas have...