What is Colorado Tick Fever? Colorado tick fever (CTF), also known as Mountain tick fever or American mountain fever, is a viral disease caused by infection with the Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV), a member of the Coltivirus genera. CTF is transmitted to humans most commonly by the bite of …
Read More »Hantavirus Infection – Transmission, Risk factors, and Prevention
What is Hantavirus Infection? Hantavirus infection is a viral disease that is spread from rodents to people. The virus can cause severe infections of the lungs (with cough and shortness of breath) or kidneys (with abdominal pain, and sometimes kidney failure). Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by …
Read More »Enterovirus – Description, Complications, and Prevention
Description Enterovirus (EN-tuh-ro-vy-rus) is a term for viruses that live in the human digestive tract and cause a range of different symptoms, from mild to serious. Most cases do not cause serious harm and go away in just a few days. There are many kinds of enteroviruses, including coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, …
Read More »Powassan virus (POW) – Pathophysiology, Causes and Prevention
Definition Powassan virus is transmitted to humans by infected ticks. Approximately 60 cases of POW virus disease were reported in the United States over the past 10 years. Most cases have occurred in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. Signs and symptoms of infection can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, …
Read More »Molluscum Contagiosum – Pathophysiology, Causes and Treatment
Definition Molluscum contagiosum is a mild skin disease (skin infection) caused by a virus (molluscum contagiosum virus, a member of the Poxviridae family) that causes usually painless small bumps or lumps (flesh-colored or skin-colored, dome-shaped papules); some may be umbilicated, meaning the lesion has a central depression with a spot …
Read More »Plantar Warts – Definition, Causes, Treatment and Prevention
Definition Plantar warts are a type of wart that develops on the soles of your feet. They’re quite annoying at first, and may even become painful if they grow large. The wart develops in the outer layer of the skin and is typically covered with a layer of callus tissue. …
Read More »Aseptic Meningitis – Causes, Treatment, and Complications.
Overview Aseptic meningitis is an illness characterized by serous inflammation of the linings of the brain (i.e., meninges), usually with an accompanying mononuclear pleocytosis. Clinical manifestations vary, with headache and fever predominating. The illness is usually mild and runs its course without treatment; however, some cases can be severe and …
Read More »Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
Description The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a newly recognized coronavirus, MERS-CoV. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and is thus far linked to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Laboratory-confirmed MERS has now been identified in Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, …
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