What is Anthrax? Anthrax is a serious zoonotic infection meaning that it is transmitted from animals to humans. This infection is caused by a spore-forming bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis. Although anthrax mainly affects domestic and wild animals, the bacteria can infect humans if they come in contact with sick >> Read More ...
What is shigellosis? Shigellosis is an intestinal infection caused by the Shigella species of bacteria. It is an acute infection which lasts for about 7 days in adults but may persist for longer and be more severe in infants and children. Death is more likely in children younger than 5 years. Abdominal pain, vomiting, >> Read More ...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Definition Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease that affects blood vessels and is transmitted by tick bites. The infection is caused by the bacterium, Rickettsiae ricketsii. Infection damages the wall of blood vessels thereby making it leaky. Ruptured blood vessels may >> Read More ...
What is viral arthritis? Viral arthritis is inflammation of the joint caused by the presence of a virus. While viral arthritis can occur with a viral infection, it is not always the virus itself that is attacking the joint tissue and causing inflammation. Instead it may be the immune system that targets the joint lining >> Read More ...
What is rabbit fever? Rabbit fever, medically known as tularemia, is an infection with the bacteria Francisella tularensis. This infection mainly occurs in rodents, such as rabbits, squirrels and hares, hence the term ‘rabbit fever’. However, it can also affect fish, reptiles and humans. It is an acute >> Read More ...
About AIDS AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the most severe stage of the infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). According to the WHO (World Health Organization), AIDS is the fourth and final stage of HIV infection (WHO stage 4) marked by the presence of potentially life threatening and >> Read More ...
What is Kaposi sarcoma? Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer of the lymphatic vessels and blood vessels which is seen mostly on the skin. Less commonly it may also occur in other tissue like that of the mouth, other parts of the gut and even the lungs. Kaposi sarcoma is a rare cancer but has become more common in recent >> Read More ...
What is a quinsy? A quinsy is another term for a peritonsillar abscess (PTA). It is a collection of pus in the throat (pharynx) region specifically between the tonsil tissue and the capsule surrounding it. A quinsy progresses from a tonsillitis to cellulitis and eventually an abscess forms. It is a more common infection of >> Read More ...
Herpes Zoster Facts Herpes zoster is caused by the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster). The varicella zoster virus is a type of herpes simplex virus (HSV) but is not the same as the herpes simplex virus that causes genital herpes. Herpes zoster is not a virus but a syndrome that arises with reactivation of the varicella >> Read More ...
What is Salmonella? Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can be divided into typhoid Salmonella (Salmonella typhi) which causes typhoid fever and non-typhoid Salmonella. The latter is commonly known for causing salmenollosis which is a type of foodborne intestinal infection contracted after eating food contaminated with >> Read More ...
