Viral diseases

Definition Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common and contagious childhood illness, caused by a virus. The disease is easy to spot because of its classic symptoms sores or blisters inside and outside the mouth, as well as a rash (red spots) or sores on the palms of …

Overview – Rubella Rubella is commonly known as German measles or 3-day measles — is an infection that mostly affects the skin and lymph nodes. It is caused by the rubella virus (not the same virus that causes measles). German measles spreads when people breathe in virus-infected fluid, such as …

Overview – Rotavirus Infection Rotavirus Infection is caused by Rotavirus, a contagious virus that causes diarrhea. It’s the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children worldwide, resulting in over 215,000 deaths annually. Before the development of a vaccine, most children in the United States had been infected with …

Introduction Adenoviruses (Adenovirus infection) are a group of common viruses that infect the lining of your eyes, airways and lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system. They’re common causes of fever, coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, and pink eye. Infections happen in children more often than in adults, but anyone can …

Overview – West Nile Virus West Nile Virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that first appeared in the United States in 1999. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who get WNV usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms. The symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, …

What is the Zika Virus? Zika virus is similar to dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. Carried by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitos, Zika is largely transmitted through bites, but can also occur through intrauterine infection. If a woman is bitten by an infected mosquito and becomes infected, Zika …

Overview – Severe acute respiratory syndrome Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious condition that can cause serious respiratory illness and sometimes death. SARS became a concern in 2003 when an outbreak that began in China spread worldwide causing a global epidemic. The disease was contained and there have …

What is coronavirus? A coronavirus is a group of common viruses. They are named for the crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. Some coronaviruses only affect animals, but others can also affect humans. Most people get infected with human coronaviruses at some time in their life. This usually …