Infections

Germs have gotten a bad rap. Some of them are actually good for us, like the ones in our intestines that help us break down

Tooth Abscess

Kaye Wellborn* will never forget her first — and last — abscessed tooth. The San Francisco 49ers had just won the Superbowl, and a huge,

Toothache

Most of us have been there: What starts as a dull ache or uncomfortable jolt when you sip your ice tea signals the onset of

How Does Hepatitis C Spread?

Unlike cold or flu viruses, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) does not spread easily. It is transmitted by direct contact with blood that carries the

Special Report: Hospital Safety

Like many people, Anthony Passaro Jr., a 60-year-old retired postal worker from Wantagh, New York, harbors a strong fear of hospitals. His fear just happens

Salmonella

In an ideal world, you’d never have to worry about your food becoming contaminated by animal waste. But unfortunately, conditions in factories and on farms

West Nile Virus

When summer is in full swing, you can bet that people will want to be outdoors. Unfortunately, it’s also the time that mosquitoes come out.

Hepatitis C Support Groups

The rules are simple at Monday’s lunchtime hepatitis C support group in the Oasis Clinic: Only one person speaks at a time, people’s stories don’t

Anthrax

In 2001, a series of anthrax attacks through the mail on media and federal government offices killed five people and sickened 17. Government buildings in

Shigellosis

What is shigellosis? There are some types of germs that you definitely don’t want to find in your next meal or glass of water. Add

Cholera

In the 1800s, a germ native to India’s Ganges Delta started spreading to other lands. One outbreak followed another, killing millions of people across the

What Is Hepatitis C?

Many people have heard of the type of hepatitis that is spread by water or food contaminated with the hepatitis A virus. A diagnosis of

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFM) is a common childhood illness caused by a virus and marked by

Flu Shots: Your Best Weapon Against the Flu

Should I get a flu shot? In general, there’s no good reason not to. The flu hits millions of Americans catch the flu, and more

Rabies

What is rabies? Rabies is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind, and it used to be cause for panic and hysteria. A Spanish

What Can I Expect Over Time With Hepatitis C?

Very understandably, almost everyone diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus asks the same question: “What’s going to happen to me?” Unfortunately, with HCV infection, it’s

Heat Rash

What is heat rash? Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is a red pimply skin eruption that can appear when your child overheats. It

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Antibiotic Resistance?

Ever since the arrival of penicillin in the early 1940s, bacteria have been evolving defenses against some of our strongest medicines. As bacteria become increasingly

Childhood Immunization Chart

What’s new Every year the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Family Physicians revise

Who Gets Hepatitis C?

Who gets hepatitis C? Anyone can get hepatitis C virus. But unlike a cold or flu virus, HCV isn’t easy to catch. The virus is