The problem with eating raw eggs is not that humans can't digest them. It's that cooking your eggs is the only way to destroy the salmonella bacteria that might be in them. You can't tell whether an egg is infected with salmonella bacteria by...
The GI tract runs from mouth to anus and can be divided into an upper and a lower portion. The upper segment runs from the mouth to the first part of the small intestine, and the lower extends from there to the end of the GI tract. Lower GI bleeds...
The first signs of a salmonella infection (called salmonellosis) usually start within 12 to 72 hours from when you ingest this nasty bacterium. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Older people, babies and people with immune...
Diarrhea is defined as bowel movements that occur more frequently than normal along with a consistency that is softer than usual. Frequent diarrhea can be considered acute, persistent or chronic. Acute diarrhea lasts for up to 14 days. Diarrhea...
Tapeworm infection occurs when your child ingests the egg or larvae of a tapeworm. There are three types of tapeworms that commonly affect humans. They are found in beef, fish and pork. The larvae of beef and fish tapeworms are often directly...
Parasites are infectious organisms which cannot be classified as bacteria, fungi or viruses. There are several different kinds of parasites which can infect the colon; some of the more common ones are Giardia, Cryptosporidia, amoebas and...
Blood in your toddler's stool may be the result of a few different problems, and it is often difficult to determine the cause yourself. Because of the potentially dangerous situations, it is best to seek prompt medical attention if you see blood...
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that affects the colon or large intestine and can cause inflammation, ulcers, bleeding and bowel perforation. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include frequent diarrhea, possibly blood diarrhea and intense...
Infant diarrhea is characterized by an increase in bowel movements that are often watery and foul smelling. eMedTV.com suggests that diarrhea in infants can cause complications, such as dehydration, if the baby's fluid intake is not monitored....
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease commonly affects young children. The disease can be contracted through direct contact with discharges of the nose and throat, saliva, fluid from blisters or infected stool. This viral infection presents with sores...
Known as clostridium difficile or C. difficile, this bacteria can cause a wide range of problems. These may be simple, such as diarrhea, or they may be life-threatening problems, such as colon inflammation. The Mayo Clinic states infections from...
Colostomies divert stool from the colon to an opening on the abdominal wall. While many colostomies are permanent, some are placed temporarily to allow damaged bowel to heal after infection or removal of a portion of the intestine. In these cases,...
Diarrhea, which is characterized by loose, watery and frequent stool, can be caused by an infection or a reaction to foods. If your baby drinks juice and experiences diarrhea, the sugar in juice may be the cause. It is important to understand how...
Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, is a spiral-shaped bacterium that can live in the stomach and in the first part of the small intestine, or duodenum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infection with this type of...
Symptoms for the contagious liver disease Hepatitis B appear in about 70 percent of adults according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A fairly common transmission route for Hepatitis B unique to women occurs during birth,...
Gastrointestinal bleeding or blood when a child passes stool can be, but is not necessarily, a sign of a serious health problem. However, Johns Hopkins Children's Center underscores the importance of finding the source of the bleeding. Bleeding...
Washing hands is one of the easiest ways to prevent illness, says the Mayo Clinic. It is a very simple process, taking only 15 seconds and requiring only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. A person should wash his hands before and...
Breast-feeding is recognized as beneficial in building a bond between mother and child and has been shown to promote a strong immune system for the infant. However, babies can acquire diseases and allergies through the mother's milk that can...
Infants have very sensitive skin that is easily irritated by a number of factors, including chemicals, climate, clothing and allergens. This is why rashes are much more common in babies than in older children or adults. Rashes in infants are...
Hookworm disease is an infestation of a parasitic worm that is approximately 1/2-inch long. The hookworm is a type of roundworm; the species that infect humans are Necator americanus, Ancylostoma brazilliense and Ancylostoma ceylanicum, according...
Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting and nausea are just a few of the symptoms that characterize low blood pressure (hypotension). Blood pressure is the force of blood against vessel walls. As the pressure declines, so does the movement of blood...
Gentamicin sulfate is a prescription antibiotic belonging to the aminoglycoside family. It is instilled into the eye, injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord, rubbed onto the skin, injected into the muscle or administered slowly into...
Diverticulitis can be a very painful condition that may include symptoms of abdominal cramping, abdominal tenderness and fever. Even bleeding from the intestines may occur. Due to the sensitivity of the inflamed areas of the intestines when...
Soaking in a public Jacuzzi can be a nice, relaxing experience. However, if a Jacuzzi is not properly maintained, that relaxing hot tub can turn into a tub full of infectious diseases. Jacuzzis need to be treated with a disinfectant, such as...
A toddler with constipation may have a small amount of blood on the outside of his stool, from trauma to the delicate rectal tissue as the hardened or larger-than-normal stool passes. A toddler with fever along with bloody diarrhea, especially if...
Saliva is a necessary part of the digestive process. It begins when enzymes are produced to initiate the breakdown of foods during chewing. The continual production of saliva keeps the mouth moist. Many communicable diseases, however, find passage...
Spinal meningitis, sometimes just called meningitis, is an infection that attacks the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, causing them to become inflamed. This condition can be mild or life threatening. It can cause symptoms similar...
Bilharzia, or schistosoma, is a parasitical worm that causes schistosomiasis in humans. Schistosomas are classified as trematodes, or flukes. They are present in bodies of water such as rivers and human reservoirs throughout Africa, Asia and the...
Ascariasis is caused by the Ascaris lumbricoides worm, which lives in the intestine. Learn how to treat ascariasis in this video.
Roundworms are popular parasites in the animal world and can have debilitating effects on humans. Learn more about roundworms in this medical video.