News

26 Feb

Severe Dengue Infection

Author Sukhveer (Sukhi) Bains, MD, MA Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Clinical Internal Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago   Diagnosis Dengue virus infection is largely a clinical diagnosis. The WHO-TDR has developed a simplified and binary system of classification for dengue infection. They classify infection as either (1) dengue infection with or without warning signs or (2) severe dengue infection. [2, 14] Clinicians should suspect dengue infection in patients with possible exposure (travel or endemic) and fever and two of the [...]

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26 Feb

Malaria: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention

Malaria: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention Last updated Mon 10 July 2017 By Peter Lam Reviewed by Jill Seladi-Schulman, PhD Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Once an infected mosquito bites a human, the parasites multiply in the host’s liver before infecting and destroying red blood cells. In some places, malaria can be treated and controlled with early diagnosis. However, some countries lack the resources to do this effectively. Currently, [...]

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26 Feb

HIV Testing

HIV Testing Key Points HIV testing shows whether a person is infected with HIV. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 13 to 64 years old get tested for HIV at least once and that people at high risk of infection get tested more often. Risk factors for HIV infection include having unprotected sex (sex without [...]

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26 Feb

When Should Take a Pregnancy Test

How pregnancy tests work Think you might be pregnant ? Even with the most effective birth control methods, there’s always a chance for error. After all, it takes just one sperm to fertilize the egg. Finding out whether or not that’s happened is as easy as taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pregnancy test. OTC pregnancy tests typically test your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is only present if you’re pregnant. The hormone is only released if a fertilized [...]

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