Tuberculosis Testing and Treatments
Tuberculosis (TB) is a worldwide health issue. The World Heath Organization estimated over 10 million new cases of TB in 2018 alone. While TB is treatable with antibiotics the associated mortality was still more than 1.5 million in 2018. The prevalence of TB is much higher in developing counties. South East Asia and Sub Saharan […]
Winter Illnesses Children Can Catch
Winter is a time that most people associate with things like hot chocolate, soup, and sometimes snow. When winter rolls around, a lot of parents also associate the season with coughs, strep throat, and stomach flu as the common winter illnesses that their children are more than likely going to catch. Therefore, seasonal outbreaks are […]
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Strep throat can be contagious for about 2-3 weeks in individuals who are not taking antibiotics. However, individuals who start antibiotic treatment usually are no longer contagious within 24- 48 hours. The bacteria that cause strep throat can be transmitted person-to-person by direct contact, especially from mucus droplets from the mouth, and indirect contact, such […]
Sore Throat vs Step Throat
A sore throat (“Pharyngitis”) and strep throat (“Streptococcal Pharyngitis”) are two different things, but both can make you very uncomfortable when you talk, swallow, or even breathe. Most sore throats are caused by a virus, pollens, dust/smoke, or overuse. Strep throat is a serious version of a sore throat and is caused by Streptococci bacteria. […]
Common Cold Symptoms
The common cold is primarily caused by a virus. Viruses exist in hundreds of forms; however, most cause similar cold symptoms. Due to the ability of viruses to evolve at a rapid rate, they are constantly changing. This tricks our immune system and doesn’t allow us to build up resistance to all forms of viruses. […]
Man Flu Does Exist
If you’re a woman, you know all about “man flu.” At the first sniffle or two, your guy starts to look downcast and lethargic. You know from experience, that he’s soon going to be sacked out on the couch for the next week or two, hoping you’ll be there waiting on him as if he’s […]
Wintertime Respiratory Illnesses
Wintertime is the peak season for contracting illnesses. Due to the colder weather, we tend to stay inside more, which often puts us in proximity to disease-causing germs. When we do get sick, it can be frustrating not knowing exactly what we may have “caught”.
Sore Throat Natural Cure
Most people experience a sore throat from time to time. Sore throats can be caused by overuse or straining your vocal cords, environmental factors like dry heated air or pollens, and micro-organisms like viruses and bacteria. The discomfort of a sore throat can be eased by a variety of natural treatments, as well as products […]
Knowing the Difference Between Cold and Influenza Symptoms
The common cold and influenza are both respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. A person has around a 20% chance of getting influenza but is likely to contract a cold 2-3 times in an average year. Because cold and flu illnesses have similar symptoms, it is crucial to understand what makes them different.
Is It a Cold or a Sinus Infection?
A cold can make you miserable, with symptoms like runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, etc. How do you know that what you think may be a cold might be something else, like a sinus infection? This summary, based on an article from The Cleveland Clinic, may help discern the difference.