Hepatitis B is a liver disease that causes inflammation and injury to the cells of the liver. Hepatitis B can be contracted through mother to child transmission, sexual contact with an infected partner or through contaminated needles. If left...
A vaccine is a treatment utilized to prevent the development of specific infections or diseases in treated patients. In the United States, hepatitis vaccines for both the hepatitis A and B viruses are available for patients as of 2010. Hepatitis...
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness spread through person to person contact. Those considered at high risk for developing the flu and flu-related complications include children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms...
Meningitis, an infection of the membranes (called meninges) and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord, may be caused by either a bacterial or viral infection. Viral meningitis is usually not severe and resolves on its own. Bacterial...
Human papillomavirus, or HPV,affects about 20 million people each year making it the most common of sexually transmitted viruses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Certain strains of human papillomavirus can...
Hemophilus influenza type b, or Hib disease, can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening health problems in infants and young children. The Hib vaccine is very effective in preventing Hib disease. It is recommended for all children under five...
Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is spread via contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B results in serious liver damage ranging from liver cancer, cirrhosis and death The...
A pneumococcal vaccine is an injectable treatment administered to patients to help prevent pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia or meningitis. There are two types of this vaccine: conjugate and polysaccharide. The conjugate pneumococcal...
The hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B causes severe damage to the liver, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver...
Pneumococcal disease is one of the primary causes of bacterial meningitis, according to FamilyDoctor.org. This infection affects the brain and surrounding tissues. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine helps prevent this disease and is administered...
Influenza is a highly contagious viral illness that affects many Americans each year. The flu vaccine helps to protect the body from the influenza virus. Children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals are recommended by...
The risks of not vaccinating children include exposing your children to a variety of severe diseases. It is the choice of the parents whether to vaccinate their children. Consult a doctor, pediatrician or an immunization coordinator at your local...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed a recommended vaccination schedule for infants, with the majority of vaccines scheduled when the child is six to 18 months old. Many parents are justifiably concerned about exposing...
Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are several bacteria that can cause meningitis, including Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib),...
Several vaccines exist to protect people against developing liver inflammation caused by either the hepatitis A or B viruses. Hepatitis vaccines are typically administered as injections within the upper arm. The dangers of hepatitis vaccines are...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the flu vaccine for children who are six months or older. There are two forms of the vaccine--an injection and an inhaled version that's placed inside the nostrils. The flu shot...
Shingles is a disease that is recognized by a very painful rash all over the skin. It usually begins on the face or upper body and spreads. It can last up to four weeks. The main symptoms of the shingles is extreme pain. Other common symptoms...
The human papilloma virus, or HPV, is a viral infection primarily transmitted through sexual contact. It can cause genital warts and cervical cancer in infected people. People can reduce their risk of infection by receiving one of the two HPV...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine to all healthy adults and children except for a few cases. There are two forms of administration of the vaccine. The first is an inactivated flu virus given via...
The pneumonia vaccine--also called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine--is recommended for nearly everyone, but especially for children and adults who have other health conditions that could lead to serious complications if pneumonia is contracted,...
Tetanus is a disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. More specifically, it is the toxins produced by the bacteria that cause the disease. The Centers for Disease Control describe the symptoms of tetanus as muscle spasms, difficulty...
Gardasil is a vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer, vulvar and vaginal cancer, genital warts and other precancerous genital lesions caused by various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in females aged 9 to 26, eMedTV.com states. It has...
Risks and side effects from vaccines have become more widely publicized lately, especially those for children needing a DTP or Tdap, which are bundled vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. For those adults and parents of children needing...
Tetanus and diphtheria are two diseases caused by toxins (poisons) made by bacteria. Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani, and diphtheria is caused by Cornebacterium diphtheriae. The symptoms of tetanus are muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing,...
The virus varicella-zoster causes chickenpox. Spreading through direct contact or by airborne transmission of infected droplets, this highly contagious disease used to infect about 4 million American children per year, according to the Mayo...
The tetanus vaccine is routinely given to children in the early months of life and is part of a shot that immunizes children against diphtheria, whopping cough and tetanus, states the Mayo Clinic. A newborn is likely to receive the shot three...
Flu shots are given to reduce the risk of falling ill after exposure to the influenza virus. It is possible to contract the flu virus after receiving the vaccine, but the illness is often milder than it would have been without the shot. In some...
The World Health Organization reports that microorganisms such as a bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses cause infectious diseases which have the ability to spread from one person to another. Understanding risk factors, modes of transmission and...
Each year, 25 to 50 million flu cases are reported in the United States, which lead to an estimated 30,000 deaths, according to FluFacts.com. Getting a flu shot or vaccination can help to significantly reduce a person's risk of infection by these...
Chickenpox are caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which is closely related to the herpes simplex viruses. Learn more about Varicella-Zoster virus in this health video.
Yellow fever, or American plague, is an acute viral disease leading to many deadly epidemics in its history. Learn about yellow fever, including treatment options, in this health video.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral disease leading to painful blisters or rashes to a local area on the body. Learn more about shingles in this health video.
Uterine cancer is a major problem in women's health. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for cancer of the uterus in this video.
Autism is a genetic brain development disorder that affects social behavior and communication skills. Get professional tips and advice on treatments, causes, and symptoms of autism in this video.
