The Shanghai flu is one of dozens of strains of influenza, an acute viral infection that is easily communicated between people and that can spread worldwide within a matter of a few months, causing a pandemic.
Nasal congestion is the medical term used to describe a "stuffy nose." The condition is usually caused either by influenza or the common cold. Nasal congestion occurs due to the blood vessels and nasal tissues experiencing swelling due to too much fluid. Often with congestion comes the annoyance of
The common cold can be caused by many types of viruses. Unfortunately, because the cause is a virus, antibiotics do not work against the illness, nor does antibacterial soap. Symptoms including coughing and sneezing, a sore throat, body aches or a headache. If you get a cold and have to go to work,
According to the Centers for Disease Control, avian flu is a type of influenza that typically occurs only in birds. Occasionally the avian flu can infect birds that are bred for consumption. If a bird is infected with the avian flu and ingested by a human, the virus can then spread to that person. T
Chest colds can be miserable for children and adults. Being able to make homemade chest rubs to help relieve chest colds is one way both to save money and be certain of the ingredients. Also, there is less chance of side effects such as nosebleeds, which can result from antihistamines because they d
Creosote is composed of many chemicals. These mixtures take on different forms depending on the chemicals used creating wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch and coal tar pitch volatiles. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), a part of the federal Departmen
The common cold comes on without warning and can last for up to two weeks. Symptoms range from a stuffy nose and sore throat to headaches, pain and fever. Dealing with a cold is neither quick nor easy since there is no cure. Fortunately, plenty of medications and home remedies can help to relieve th
Will swine flu vaccine arrive in time? WebMD looks at the deadlines for making crucial decisions -- and the key milestones on the road to a pandemic vaccine.
There is no cure for the common cold; there are only ways to help treat the symptoms while the virus runs its course. The best treatments can also boost your immune system and allow your body to take care of the virus faster. There are many natural solutions that can help you feel better while short
Chest congestion can be the result of a cold or flu. You often will be left with a rattling cough caused by excess mucous in your chest. In the majority of cases, the condition clears up on its own; however, in some cases, the congestion can worsen and become an infection. There are several treatmen
The first signs of a cold are similar to those associated with the flu, but one of the most distinguishing factors between a cold and the flu is the onset speed of the symptoms. Symptoms of a cold generally develop slowly over the course of two or three days, while flu symptoms come on...
Meningococcal disease is a rare and severe illness that can appear as meningitis, septicaemia or both. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, while septicaemia is blood poisoning.
In the event of an H1N1 swine flu epidemic, the WHO says "at least" 1 billion to 2 billion doses of vaccine will be made available to all nations of the world.
Mycobacteria are a group of bacteria responsible for a variety of diseases that infect humans. Among these are tuberculosis, Hansen's disease (leprosy), Legionnaires' disease and diphtheria. Most forms of this organism grow slowly, so certainty of a diagnosis can take from one to several weeks.
Intestinal viruses can occur when least expected. They can be make a person feel terribly ill and are usually very contagious. There are common symptoms to be expected when an intestinal virus strikes.
Everyone needs to prepare for a potential influenza pandemic. A pandemic is an occurrence that affects many more people over a larger area than an epidemic, which is local in nature. The H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 well illustrated this with a large number of cases appearing in multiple countries. Per