Parasitic Diseases

Many of us remember having chickenpox when we were kids. Fever, blisters, scabs, itchy, itchy, itchy. As we age, we have to worry about its sister disease, shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. Even though we recovered from chickenpox long ago, the virus continues to live in some of our nerve cells. The good news — the shingles vaccine is now covered for those on Medicare Part D, the drug supplement. Hundreds of thousands of Americans get shingles every year. Although people do not die from shingles, it hurts. Usually, shingles develops on just one side of the body or face, and in a small area. The most common place for shingles to occur is around one side of the waistline. People with shingles have one or more of the following symptoms: Fluid-filled blisters and rash Burning, shooting pain People are also reading… ...

Redness of the nose can affect anyone. Some people are more likely to develop a red nose, such as those who regularly drink alcohol in excess. Many other health conditions and disorders, including rosacea and perioral dermatitis, can also lead to a red nose. This article discusses the possible causes of a red nose and what you can do to manage it.   Guido Mieth / Getty Images What Causes Red Nose? Many things can cause a red nose. Some common causes include: Weather-related : Windburn , sunburn, and freezing weather can all lead to the nose becoming red. Allergies : If you have an allergic reaction, you may develop irritation in and around the nose after frequent wiping. The repeated action leads to redness. Blood vessels can also swell in the nose, which may lead to redness. Rosacea : Rosacea is an inflammatory disease that leads to a red rash on the face because of inflammation and visible blood vessels. Perioral dermatitis...

The Relief Products Reno, Nev.-based The Relief Products has been offering homeopathic options for the past 36 years, developing more than 30 remedies that harness the healing power of nature to gently ease symptoms. A majority of the company's products are concentrated in the eye and ear care categories, with additional remedies for cough and cold, digestive health and pain management.  "In 2022, TRP unveiled Natural Eyes as a 'natural' fit in the marketplace, where we recognized a growing need for clearly labeled, natural products to provide safe and effective eye care solutions," said Susan Hanson, TRP COO.  As the entire OTC market continues its shift toward natural, TRP has established itself as a frontrunner in the eye care category, using 100% natural active ingredients that are contact lens safe, suitable for adults and children and have no known side effects or drug interactions. The company will continue to focus on the natural OTC eye ...

When you find out you're about to become a parent, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. You'll soon find yourself making so many decisions including what diapers to use for your new baby. Diapers are part of every parent's life for at least a few years, with the American Academy of Pediatrics estimating most U.S. parents will go through nearly 3,000 diapers during their baby's first year alone. All babies are different, and certain diapers will provide more comfort or better leak protection depending on the infant. That's why it pays to troubleshoot and find out what diapers work for your baby, but most busy parents don't have time to try every option. That's why the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on nearly 40 types of diapers, factoring in price, materials and available size ranges in order to find the best of the best. See which baby diapers earned our recommendations. Note: All prices are accurate as of the publication date.

Specialty

At least five European countries have reported an increase in invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections in recent months, and in some cases, scarlet fever. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also investigating a possible increase in iGAS disease in the United States. An increase in iGAS-related deaths has also been reported in some of these countries. In all cases, children under ten have been the most affected age group. Despite a moderate increase in iGAS-related infections and deaths in some countries, the WHO currently assesses the risk for the general population as "low". Streptococcus bacteria come in various forms and can trigger an array of symptoms from a mild sore throat to pneumonia, or life-threatening blood and organ infections. Group A streptococcus infections are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes – strep A – bacteria. These organisms often live harmlessly on people's skin or in their throat lining, but can s...

It's possible to have a mild case of shingles and only experience slight tingling or itching with no painful blistering. People under the age of 50 with healthy immune systems tend to have milder symptoms. Shingles, also called herpes zoster , is a disease that causes a painful skin rash. It's possible to have shingles and experience only mild symptoms like tingling or slight itching. But even a mild case of shingles can last for several weeks. In this article, we explore what a mild case of shingles looks and feels like, as well as how long it lasts and how best to treat it. What does a mild case of shingles look and feel like? A mild case of shingles can mean that you're experiencing a shingles outbreak without a painful rash or fluid-filled blisters. Although mild cases may have a rash, typically, there are fewer lesions, less redness, and it's not as painful. Mild symptoms can include a tingling sensation on your skin or moderate itching that's usually located ...

FILE PHOTO/Daniella Marie Agacer MANILA, Philippines—Still endemic, or unique, in almost 30 provinces, schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease, remains a serious public health problem in the Philippines with millions of people said to be at risk of infection. This was the reason that every January, the Department of Health (DOH) is leading activities related to the Schistosomiasis Awareness and Mass Drug Administration Month with the vision of a "Schistosomiasis Free Philippines." ADVERTISEMENT According to its website, the DOH seeks to end the transmission of schistosomiasis infection by 2025 through "synchronized and harmonized" efforts from both public and private institutions. RELATED STORY: Rare, deadly diseases in PH get attention from barely enforced law FEATURED STORIES It said by 2025, all high endemic barangays should reach the target criteria for "Morbidity/Infection Control" with just less than five percent prevalence of heavy in...

Most of the time, bugs on your scalp are head lice. But you may also find fleas, ants, or other insects on your head. Here's what you can do to treat these parasites. A head lice infestation is one of the most common reasons for an itching sensation on your scalp. But it's possible that other insects or scalp conditions could be to blame for the itchiness, including: fleas bedbugs ants dandruff psoriasis Here's how to tell whether you have lice or another condition. Insects you could find on your scalp Bugs you may find on your scalp include: Lice These small parasites can be white, brown, or black. They don't have wings and move by crawling. You'll typically find them at the base of hair shafts, especially around your neck and ears. You may also notice small, oval eggs (nits) on hair strands near your scalp. You can see lice with your naked eye, but they're often easier to spot when you have wet hair. You can also use a magnifying glass to find them more easily...

Study type and setting The study examined data relative to children aged 3–59 months in three regions of Togo (Savanes, Kara, and Centrale) who received SMC according to the WHO recommendation of March 2012 [3]. These data were prospectively collected by the NMCP during the seasons of heavy rainfall over a maximum of four consecutive months (or rounds) per year (July–October) between 2013 and 2020. The study area of 33,525 km 2 (nearly 60% of Togo) is surrounded by Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, and Plateaux Region of Togo (Fig. 1). It includes three out of the six Regions of Togo, which corresponds to 16 health districts out of 44 and 324 health centers out of 987 in the whole of Togo. In 2019, the study area was home to nearly 2,829,887 people; i.e., nearly 30% of the Togolese population. Fig. 1 Seasonal malaria chemoprevention coverage area in Togo from 2013 to 2020 (source: National Malaria Control Programme) Full size image From a climatic point of view, the study ...

Under the Microscope (Image credit: CDC) Parasites. They can invade the blood, the digestive tract, even the bile duct. They enter through the mouth, through the skin, through the nose. They can cause disease, blindness and sometimes death. Full body shudders, right? But as disgusting as parasites are, they're also elegant examples of evolution. The following images reveal these dangerous organisms in microscopic detail. A tick-borne bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi , the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease." class="pull- lazy-image-van" onerror="if(this.src && this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)" data-normal="https://vanilla.futurecdn.net/livescience/media/img/missing-image.svg" data-sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" data-original-mos="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JshUXh9NrEubZYiknAHJDY.jpg" da...