Lyme disease unfolds in three main stages, each with distinct symptoms and effects on the body. Understanding these stages helps recognize the illness early and seek appropriate treatment. The first stage usually appears within a few days to about a…
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat. This condition can cause a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, and swollen glands in the neck. The duration of tonsillitis…
Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, can often go away without the use of antibiotics, especially when they are caused by viruses rather than bacteria. Many sinus infections are viral and tend to resolve on their own within about 10…
Scarlet fever, once a feared childhood illness, is still present today but is far less common and generally less severe than it was in the past. It is caused by a bacterial infection with Group A Streptococcus (Strep A), the…
Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection, specifically by a group of bacteria known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), or Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria are gram-positive cocci that thrive in the throat and tonsils, leading to inflammation and the…
Adults can indeed get hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), although it is much more common in young children. While children under seven are the primary group affected, adults can catch the virus, especially if they have not been exposed…
Rotavirus infection in adults typically causes symptoms related to the digestive system, although many adults may experience mild or even no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they usually begin between 1 to 3 days after exposure to the…
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, fever, and body aches. After being exposed to norovirus, symptoms typically begin quite quickly—usually within 12…
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is extremely common worldwide, affecting a large portion of the population at some point in their lives. In fact, HPV is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally. Studies have shown that the prevalence…
Shingles flare-ups happen when the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, reactivates in the body after lying dormant for years. This virus hides in nerve cells near the spinal cord or brain after a person recovers from chickenpox. When the virus…