Infection Archives - Healthhype https://healthhype.com/tag/infection Current Health Articles on Symptoms, Diseases and Treatment Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:53:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://healthhype.com/wp-content/uploads/logoicon.png Infection Archives - Healthhype https://healthhype.com/tag/infection 32 32 What is an Abscess? https://healthhype.com/what-is-an-abscess.html https://healthhype.com/what-is-an-abscess.html#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:25:28 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=6355 Abscess Definition An abscess is a collection of pus which can occur in tissues, organs or confined spaces in the body. Abscesses may lie superficially, like a boil just underneath the skin or deep within the body like a lung abscess. In most cases, an abscess is caused by bacteria and is the body’s mechanism to wall off the site of infection. Although an abscess can resolve spontaneously it often needs to be treated medically and surgically. Failure to do so could lead to serious complications depending on the site where the abscess is located. Abscess Causes The body’s immune system quickly responds to an infection at any site. Some immune cells that are present at the location start fighting off the infection at the site while large numbers of immune cells travel via the bloodstream to site of the infection. These immune cells then destroy the bacteria and become walled off between the layers of tissue. Connective tissue further contributes to this walling off process. Pus then accumulates at the site with inflammation extending to the surrounding tissues. The pus within the abscess is composed of leukocytes (white blood cells), dead and decomposing cells and the causative microorganism. Although any [...]

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]]> https://healthhype.com/what-is-an-abscess.html/feed 11 8 Signs of an Infection (Anywhere on the Body) https://healthhype.com/signs-of-an-infection.html https://healthhype.com/signs-of-an-infection.html#respond Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:53:16 +0000 http://www.healthhype.com/?p=32250 Infections are one of the most common types of diseases that afflicts humans. It is caused by a number of different infectious agents that are in our environment – from the air around us, to our water supply, foods that we eat, surfaces within our home and even on or within our bodies. Everyday the immune system is constantly working to fight off these infectious agents but sometimes it is overwhelmed and an infection arises. What Causes an Infection? Infections are caused by different biological agents, most of which are living. This includes: Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Viruses Bacteria, protozoa and fungi need nutrition to survive, can reproduce on their own, can grow and change, and are able to adapt the environment it is within. They are therefore said to be living entities or microorganisms (microscopic organisms). Unlike the others, viruses are not considered to be living because it is a protein particle that only carries genetic material (DNA or RNA) but does not meet any of the other characteristics of life. Read more about an infection. The living microbes (bacteria, protozoa, fungi) either directly damage and consume living tissue in an infection or it produces toxins that injure and even [...]

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