Learn about influenza (flu) symptoms, treatment with antiviral drugs, flu shot side effects, and prevention during flu season. Discover when to get the flu vaccine, how long the flu lasts, the contagious period, flu types (influenza A, B, and C), and how it spreads.

Get the facts on West Nile virus (encephalitis) infection's outbreak history, treatment, and symptoms, such as rash, fever, and headache. Mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds transmit West Nile virus.

Read the vaccination schedule for adults and teens, and learn about recommended immunizations for MMR, HPV, Td/Tdap, varicella, tetanus, shingles, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid.

Zika fever is spread via the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Zika virus infections during pregnancy cause microcephaly in newborn babies. Read about Zika virus symptoms, treatment, prevention, and incubation period.

Hepatitis B (HBV, Hep B) is a virus that spreads through infected blood or body secretions (blood, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk, and saliva). Read about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, and prevention.

Influenza is a potentially life-threatening respiratory infection. Get the facts about influenza vaccine (flu shot) side effects, ingredients, and vaccination effectiveness. Learn who should (children, pregnant women, elderly) and shouldn't get a flu shot. Find out if it's possible to have a COVID-19 infection and the flu at the same time.

Swine flu (H1N1, H3N2) is a respiratory illness. The swine flu viruses that infect pigs can change, easily transmitting the virus to humans. Get the facts on swine flu (swine influenza A H1N1 virus) history, symptoms, how this contagious infection is transmitted, prevention with a vaccine, diagnosis, treatment, news, and research.

Powassan (POW) virus disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. POW symptoms include seizures, fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and weakness. Read about the diagnosis, treatment, and testing of the Powassan virus.

Learn measles symptoms and signs (rash, fever, Koplik spots), the history of outbreaks, transmission facts, treatment, and read about disease prevention (MMR or measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination).

Marburg virus is related to the Ebola virus in that both viruses belong to the filovirus family. Get the facts on the history, symptoms, and treatment of Marburg virus disease, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever.

Get answers for vaccination questions, and learn about travel vaccines, immunizations during pregnancy, and other vaccine types and dangers.

Bird flu, or avian flu, causes symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. Strains that infect humans include H5N1, H7N9, H5N8, and H10N3. Learn about vaccination, transmission, treatment, prevention, and prognosis. The first US case was confirmed in April of 2022.

Read our children's immunization schedule, and learn about vaccines for kids (Hib, polio, DTaP, MMR [Measles, Mumps, Rubella], HPV, flu, chickenpox, meningitis, rotavirus, pneumonia, hepatitis A, and B).

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV symptoms and signs include rash, fatigue, enlarged lymph glands, and recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Read about HIV testing, treatment, transmission, and prevention.

The Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis. EBV infection symptoms and signs include a rash, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and tiredness. Read about treatment and diagnostic tests.

Get information on the Ebola hemorrhagic fever vaccine, symptoms, treatment, causes, and history. Learn about transmission of the Ebola virus, and read about infection prevention efforts.

Common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women include gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, and HPV infection (genital warts). Learn about types, symptoms, and treatment.

Learn about Nipah virus infection (NiV), a zoonotic disease that pigs and fruit bats can transmit to humans. NiV symptoms and signs include vomiting, muscle aches, fever, headache, atypical pneumonia, and encephalitis. Read about NiV spread, treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis.

AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection. Learn the criteria that differentiate AIDS from HIV. Get information about the history of AIDS, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, statistics, treatment, prognosis, prevention, and research.

Chikungunya virus is an infection spread (transmitted) through a bite from an infected mosquito. Common symptoms of Chikungunya virus infection include joint pain, headache, rash, and fever. There is no drug or vaccine available to treat or prevent Chikungunya virus infections. Some medicines and home remedies may help relieve symptoms of Chikungunya virus infection.

Get the facts on the chickenpox, and read about its vaccine, treatment, causes (varicella zoster virus, shingles cause), symptoms and signs (itchy, red rash), how it spreads, and complications. Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection.

Viral hepatitis refers to hepatitis caused by a few specific viruses that primarily attack the liver. Hepatitis symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and abdominal pain. Learn about different types, causes, and treatments.

Learn about pneumococcal vaccination (pneumonia vaccine) indications, types, side effects, recommended schedule, ages, and guidelines.

Learn about hepatitis A and B immunizations and how individuals are exposed to hepatitis A and B, as well as who should receive the vaccinations and how long does it last.

Learn about Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic fever virus. Find out about treatment, prognosis, complications, incubation period, how long it's contagious, and symptoms.

Cold sores (labial herpes) are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. Read about treatment causes, symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis of oral herpes.

Get information on the killer cold virus (adenovirus 14) symptoms, spread, causes, risk factors, potential complications, treatment, and prevention.

Coxsackievirus infection symptoms include sore throat, rash, and blisters. Read about coxsackievirus types, causes, treatment, incubation period, diagnosis, contagious period, and risk factors.

Read about genital warts in men (HPV virus in men) and the risks of associated cancers of the anus and penis. Symptoms and treatment information is also included.

Learn whether respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is contagious. Plus, find out how RSV spreads, its incubation period, and when to seek medical care for RSV infection.

Find out if the Ebola virus is contagious, learn how it's transmitted, and discover when to seek medical care.

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include a stiff neck, fever, and headache. Read about treatment, causes, diagnosis, and vaccination.

Rabies is a viral disease that spreads through the bite of an infected animal. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and weakness. Learn about the rabies vaccine and treatment.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious viral infection common in babies and children. Learn about symptoms, transmission, and treatment.

Read about herpes viral infections of the eye treatment, symptoms, and contagious. Learn which viruses are responsible for herpes viral infections of the eye, including herpes zoster virus (HVZ), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Infection with the variola virus causes smallpox. Symptoms and signs include a characteristic rash and high fever. Read about vaccine side effects, history and treatment, plus see pictures. Learn about the eradication of the smallpox virus, and learn about smallpox vaccination.

Get the facts on the history of polio, an infectious disease that causes symptoms and signs such as paralysis and limb deformities. Also, read about prevention through vaccination, polio-like illness, contagious, and polio iron lung.

The chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster) causes shingles (herpes zoster), a painful, blistering contagious rash. Get the facts on shingles treatment, symptoms, complications, the vaccine, and the contagious period of this viral infection.

Monkeypox (mpox) is a viral disease that causes symptoms such as fever, sweating, and a rash with papules and pustules on the face and chest. Get the facts on the recent outbreak, treatment, prevention, prognosis, and diagnosis.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes this infection. Signs and symptoms of genital herpes in women are painful blisters that may look like pimples in the genital area or blisters around the anus. There is no cure for genital herpes.

Yellow fever is an infectious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Side effects are rare with the yellow fever vaccine. Read about the history of the disease, symptoms, treatment, incubation period, diagnosis, and prognosis.

Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in men include painful urination, bumps or sores on the penis, and penile discharge and itching. Learn about the most common STDs in men, treatment, testing, and prevention.

Get travel tips on preventing and treating traveler's diarrhea, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, cholera, and meningococcal meningitis.

Read about the whooping cough vaccine (DTaP, Tdap), treatment, symptoms, stages, causes (Bordetella pertussis), and prevention. Whooping cough gets its name from the high-pitched whoop sound that follows a series of rapid coughs.

Symptoms and signs of norovirus infection include vomiting, watery diarrhea, and stomach pain. Read about treatment, diagnosis, outbreak prevention, causes, contagious, transmission, prognosis, and complications. How long does it last?

Learn about cytomegalovirus (CMV), a contagious virus that spreads via bodily secretions. Signs and symptoms of CMV infection include fatigue, swollen glands, fever, and sore throat. Learn about treatment and prevention.

Shingles is a contagious viral infection that causes symptoms and signs such as skin tingling, numbness, and burning, as well as a painful, blistering red rash. Learn more about the stages of shingles, how long shingles is contagious, and how shingles spread.

The kissing disease is a contagious sickness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is transmitted in saliva. Read about Mono (infectious mononucleosis) treatment, symptoms, signs, rash, risks, and diagnosis.

Get information about the 3 different types of HIV testing, the window period, how long it takes to get results, HIV test accuracy, testing for pregnant women, and how to find testing locations.

What is hepatitis C (hep C, HCV), how do you get it and is it curable? Read about HCV infection, how it is transmitted, and cures for this liver disease. Hep C symptoms include yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), and abdominal pain.

Bocavirus infection is usually only found in those with lower respiratory infections or diarrhea. Read about seriousness, causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis.

Mumps treatment focuses on providing relief of signs and symptoms -- swollen cheeks, fever, and headache. Read about the MMR vaccine, outbreak history, and prevention. Plus, see pictures and learn how mumps spread.

Meningococcal Disease is a severe bacterial infection with symptoms including fever, headache, fatigue, and body aches. Read about contagious, vaccines, prevention, treatment, causes, diagnosis, and prognosis information.

Planning to become pregnant can involve eating healthier foods, avoiding alcohol and certain medications, getting vaccinated against certain infections to prevent birth defects, taking prenatal vitamins, and knowing how soon you can conceive after stopping birth control.

HIV is known as the human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is called the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Causes of HIV/AIDS include unprotected sexual contact, using contaminated needles, mother-to-child transmission, contaminated blood or tissue during a transfusion or transplant, or via breast milk from an infected mother.

What is swine flu? Find out if swine flu (H1N1) is contagious, whether swine flu vaccines are safe, how H1N1 spreads, and when to seek medical care for swine flu. Swine flu symptoms can vary and may include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue.

What is hantavirus? Hantavirus' is a family of viruses that are spread by rodents. Learn about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) transmission, symptoms, treatment, complications, and prevention. Plus, learn about the history of HPS.

Dengue fever (breakbone fever) is a mosquito-borne disease. Read about treatment and symptoms, like rash and fever, get vaccine info, and learn about outbreaks, causes, rash, and how to prevent.

Diphtheria is a disease caused by a bacteria. Symptoms and signs include fever, swollen lymph nodes, trouble swallowing, and coughing. Read about treatment, causes and prevention.

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by a virus called HCV, or hepatitis C virus. Approximately 2.7-3.9 million Americans with chronic infection. Hep C is transmitted via blood to blood contact with an infected person. Today there are new drugs that can cure hepatitis C infection.

How is hepatitis C transmitted? Hepatitis C is a type of liver disease spread by people sharing needles, improper sterilization of surgical instruments, and on occasion, organ transplantation. Find out how long the contagious period lasts.

How to tell a cold from the flu (influenza). Though different viruses cause the common cold and influenza, the two respiratory illnesses share many signs and symptoms. Flu symptoms tend to cause more serious, harmful problems than a cold.

Read about cancer risk factors and causes, such as age, family history, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, radiation, chemicals, viruses, and bacteria.

Bacteria, viruses, or fungi may cause pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs. Viral, bacterial, and fungal pneumonia are contagious. Sometimes symptoms are not severe at first, leading to "walking pneumonia." Read about pneumonia symptoms, treatment, and vaccines.

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease that causes painless pink bumps on the skin. Learn about treatment, home remedies, and other symptoms associated with this viral infection.

Cholera is an infectious disease that can cause signs and symptoms like severe watery diarrhea and dehydration. Ingestion of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae causes cholera.

Find out about hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) treatment, symptoms, diagnosis, and infection during pregnancy. Coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71 cause HFMD, a contagious infection marked by fever and a rash. Learn how long HFMD lasts.

There are many types of tuberculosis (TB). Read about TB testing, treatment, vaccination, causes, and transmission, and learn the history of TB.

Learn how cold and flu viruses spread, know the differences between cold and flu symptoms, find out when to seek medical care for influenza or a cold, and discover the contagious period for the flu and common cold.

The common cold is an illness caused by many different viruses. Get the facts on common cold vs. flu, COVID-19, symptoms, treatment, causes, its incubation period, stages, prevention, how long a cold lasts, contagious, and home remedies.

Hepatitis E is a viral infection caused by the hep E virus. Symptoms of hep E infection are pain in the right side if the abdomen, stool changes, jaundice, and brown or dark urine. Hep E is very serious for pregnant women. The hepatitis E virus is transmitted via the fecal-oral route from eating contaminated foods or drinks. There is no vaccine or cure for hep E infection in the U.S.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV. Symptoms include fever and shortness of breath. Read about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment.

Learn about the differences between stomach flu and food poisoning, which often have very similar symptoms but different causes and treatments.

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis infection signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that lasts for about 7-14 days. The stomach flu is spread from person to person, usually via fecal to oral route from poor hand-washing or hygiene techniques. Norovirus is the most common cause of stomach flu.

Symptoms and signs of Ramsay Hunt syndrome include rash, facial paralysis, blisters, and blisters. Learn about treatment, prognosis, recovery, and whether or not Ramsay Hunt syndrome is contagious.

Discover if chickenpox is contagious, learn how it spreads, and find out when to seek medical care for chickenpox.

Tetanus is a rare disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani. These bacteria infect humans via cuts or puncture wounds. Do you need a tetanus booster shot?

Read about disease prevention in women. Screening tests are advised for osteoporosis, cervical cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, colon cancer, skin cancer, and more.

MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) infection can spread through respiratory secretions. Symptoms include fever, dry cough, and severe shortness of breath. Read about transmission, incubation period, and treatment of this coronavirus infection.

Rotavirus infection causes severe diarrhea. Learn rotavirus infection causes, symptoms (watery diarrhea, severe dehydration, fever, vomiting), diagnosis, treatment, vaccine side effects, and how long it lasts in children.

Get the facts on treatment of the common cold, influenza, and allergy symptoms (headache, fever, sneezing, cough, sore throat) with over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Herpangina is a contagious illness often seen in children. An enterovirus or Coxsackievirus causes herpangina. Read about herpangina symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and prognosis.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In the early stages of HPV infection, there are no symptoms, but as cancer progresses the most common signs and symptoms are an increase in vaginal discharge, painful sex, and postmenopausal bleeding.

Learn about disease prevention in men, including screening for high blood pressure, prostate cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, melanoma (skin cancer), bladder cancer, HIV/AIDS, colon cancer, colon polyps, and glaucoma. Learn at what age each screening should take place.

Most adenovirus infections are mild and produce no symptoms. Life-threatening adenovirus infections are rare, and those with weak immune systems have the highest risk. Adenovirus spreads via exposure to contaminated water or hard surfaces and inhalation of airborne droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Read about treatment, symptoms, and vaccination.

Anthrax is a deadly bacterial disease. Get the facts on anthrax poisoning (caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis) transmission, types (cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal), symptoms, treatment, vaccination, and prevention.

Find out if roseola is contagious, learn how roseola is transmitted, how long contagious, in adults, symptoms, and treatment.

Becoming infected with chickenpox during pregnancy could cause birth defects in your unborn child. Likewise, shingles could also cause problems for your unborn child. Treatment for shingles in pregnant women is generally prescription or over-the-counter antiviral, pain, and antihistamine medication.

The tuberculosis skin test (also known as the tuberculin or PPD test) determines whether a person has developed an immune response to the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Learn how doctors administer the TB test, obtain a reading, and interpret the results.

Croup is a common upper respiratory infection usually caused by viruses. It typically lasts 5-7 days. Croup produces a "bark-like" or "Darth Vader" cough. Teens and adults may develop croup. Learn about croup virus, causes, warning signs, contagious, treatment, and when to worry.

Learn about types of bioterrorism and preparedness (food supply, vaccine), bacterial agents (Ebola virus), and disease (anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulism, tularemia).

Genital warts is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts look like raised, flesh-colored lumps. Learn about symptoms, transmission, and treatment.

Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea. Read about keratitis symptoms, signs, risk factors, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and complications.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that causes symptoms such as fever, headache, and chills. Get information about vaccines, treatment, and prevention.

Sore throat is generally caused by viral or bacterial infections, toxins, irritants, trauma, or injury to the throat. Sore throat can be contagious. Common symptoms of a sore throat include throat pain and discomfort, fever, chills, headache, body aches, earache, cough, and runny nose.

Tularemia (rabbit fever) is an infection caused by the Francisella tularensis bacteria. Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, and rash. Read about diagnosis, treatment, and its possible use in bioterrorism.

Cold sores are inflamed blisters in or near the mouth and lips, caused by the herpes virus. Cold sores are contagious and you can get them via direct and indirect contact with other people. While there is no cure for cold sores, over-the-counter treatments can help ease the symptoms.

Learn about the top 10 killers of men like prostate problems, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and more. Eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, managing stress, and getting regular health screenings are keys to men's health.

Read about prostate cancer symptoms, survival rates, stages, treatment options, causes, prevention, screening, and diagnosis. Learn lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are contagious infections caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses such as influenza (the flu), strep, rhinoviruses, whooping cough, and diphtheria. Bacterial causes of URIs can be treated and cure with antibiotics but viral infections cannot.

Overuse of antibiotics and other problems have caused antibiotic resistance among some bacteria, leading to stubborn bacterial infections with symptoms that don't respond well to treatment. Learn more about antibiotic resistance in bacteria and fungi.

Bronchiolitis is a common viral infection most commonly triggered by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms include mild sore throat, nasal congestion, middle ear pain, fever, cough, wheezing, and shallow breathing.

Chagas disease is an infection caused by the T. cruzi parasite. Symptoms of Chagas disease include rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and the Romaña sign. An ELISA test is used to diagnose Chagas disease. Treatment depends upon the phase of the disease and the patient's age.

Get information about systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms, treatment, causes, diagnosis, and prognosis. About 836,000 to 2.5 million people in the U.S. have CFS or SEID.

HPV or human papillomavirus is a group of viruses that infect human mucous membranes and skin. HPV is highly contagious. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, and vaccines.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a painful complication of shingles. For the majority of patients who develop PHN, the prognosis is good. Read about medication, prevention, symptoms, and treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.

Read about roseola (sixth disease) causes (virus), symptoms and signs (fever, rash), and treatment. Roseola infantum is a mildly contagious illness most common in childhood.

Non-polio enteroviruses (EV-D68 and EV71) cause a variety of infections, including aseptic meningitis, hand, foot, and mouth disease, herpangina, and the common cold. Symptoms and signs of enterovirus infection include hypoxia, eye pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever. Treatment involves supportive care to reduce symptoms.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening bacterial illness. Learn typhoid fever causes (Salmonella typhi in contaminated water), transmission, history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention (vaccine).

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver. Hepatitis A symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellow skin (jaundice), dark urine, and clay-colored stools. Learn how it spreads.

The stomach flu or gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. Learn about how it is spread and how you can prevent infection.

The bacteria Brucella causes brucellosis, an infectious zoonotic disease in humans. Learn how to prevent brucellosis, and read about transmission, treatment, and symptoms.

Inner ear infections (otitis interna) cause inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinthitis), producing symptoms and signs like severe ear pain, nausea, vomiting, and vertigo. Viruses or bacteria can cause inner ear infections. Read about treatments and remedies.

Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito and causes symptoms such as fever, aches, and nausea. Learn about prevention, treatment, vaccine, and prognosis.

Tonsillitis is caused by an infection of the tonsils. Symptoms of both acute (resolves within a couple of weeks) and chronic tonsillitis (lasts months to years) are a sore throat, fever, headache, fatigue, and bad breath. Home remedies for pain relief include slippery elm throat lozenges, serrapeptase, papain, andrographism, saltwater gargle, and OTC medicine for pain and inflammation. Bacterial tonsillitis is treated with antibiotics. Some people with chronic tonsillitis will need a tonsillectomy (surgery to remove the tonsils).

Typhus is a disease caused by bacteria often transmitted by fleas, ticks, and lice. Get information about typhus causes, symptoms, history, treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and prognosis.

Read about ulcerative colitis causes and symptoms and signs, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, rectal pain, an urgency to defecate, or painful bowel movements.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn's disease symptoms and signs include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. There are a few types of Crohn's disease. Several Crohn's disease treatments exist, but there is no cure.

Get the facts on severe fever treatment (in children and adults) and symptoms. Learn about causes of fever, home remedies to bring down a high fever, ways to prevent fever, and find out when to call a doctor.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough symptoms include severe coughing fits and whooping sound produced during inhalation. The bacteria spreads via airborne droplets produced during sneezing or coughing. There is a whooping cough vaccine that is typically administered during childhood vaccinations.

Q fever is a highly infectious disease that causes high fever, diarrhea, cough, and sweating. Learn more about transmission, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, and vaccination.

Symptoms and signs of group A streptococcal infections include sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, low blood pressure, and tissue destruction. Read about treatment, contagious, diagnosis, and complications.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Read about cancer signs, stages, cells, symptoms, and types. Learn what cancer is and what causes it. Inform yourself about the role viruses play in contributing to cancer. Learn why cancer occurs and how cancer cells form.

Learn about pain management and pain treatment options for nociceptive, neuropathic pain (for example fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome), and chronic pain. Learn why doctors, clinics, and specialists attempt different treatments for pain management, including narcotics.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms include headache and fever. There are many causes, including Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Read about treatment, risk factors, and diagnosis.

What is norovirus? Is it contagious? Find out if norovirus is contagious, how noroviruses are transmitted, and when to seek medical care for a norovirus infection. Discover the symptoms of norovirus, what to do during a norovirus outbreak, and ways to prevent norovirus infection.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the double layered membrane that surrounds the lungs. Pleurisy itself is not contagious, but some underlying diseases or conditions may cause pleurisy to be contagious (for example TB, bacterial pneumonia, and the flu). Underlying causes that are not contagious include heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.

A Pap smear is a test to screen for cervical cancer and precancerous changes in the cervix. Risk factors for an abnormal Pap include HPV, smoking, medications, and a weakened immune system.

Acute bronchitis is a lung condition with symptoms of a persistent cough, sore throat, fatigue, and headache that lasts for about 10 days. Acute bronchitis is contagious and usually isn't treated with antibiotics unless the cause is bacterial. Most people get viral acute bronchitis, which is treated with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

Amebiasis is a disease caused by an amoeba infection. Symptoms and signs include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and blood in the stool. Read about treatment, home remedies, and recovery time.

Bell's palsy is the most common type of facial nerve paralysis. In Bell's palsy, the affected nerve becomes inflamed due to injury or damage. Learn about symptoms, Recovery, causes, treatment, surgery, and eye treatment.

Cirrhosis of the liver symptoms includes jaundice, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, itching, and easy bruising. Learn about causes, treatment, 4 stages, life expectancy, and cancer.

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea. Infection is a common cause of a corneal ulcer. Read about symptoms, signs, causes, treatment, healing time, and prevention.

People with diabetes need to know what OTC medications are safe to take because they often have a more difficult time curing infections like the common cold or flu.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes symptoms of bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Learn if H. pylori is contagious and why half the world population has this gut infection.

The liver has many functions. Signs and symptoms of liver disease include abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, and weakness. Causes, treatment, and life expectancy vary. Lifestyle changes may slow the progression of some types of liver disease.

Fleas that have fed on infected rodents transmit pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic plague to humans. Plague symptoms and signs include swollen lymph nodes, fever, and chills. Get the facts on the history of the plague (Black Death).

Reye syndrome is associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents. Read about Reye syndrome symptoms, treatment, causes, diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention.

Scarlet fever, or scarlatina, is a bacterial infection that causes symptoms and signs such as fever, sore throat, and rash. Oral penicillin is the standard treatment. Read about long-term effects, prognosis, and complications.

Learn about tick bite symptoms, treatment, prevention, and removal of ticks. Ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease, Bourbon virus disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Texas fever, and Powassan encephalitis.

Different barrier methods of birth control are available, for example, spermicides, male condoms, female condoms, contraceptive sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap. Side effects, and efficacy (in preventing pregnancy) depends on the type of birth control.

Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) is an infection of the stomach and intestines with symptoms and signs of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Natural and home remedies include the BRAT diet, fluids, caffeine-free teas, cinnamon, and turmeric.

E. coli (E. Coli 0157:H7) is a contagious bacterium that causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea (that may be bloody). This bacterial infection results from eating raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products (raw milk or cheeses).

Food poisoning symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Read about different types of food poisoning, treatment, and tips for prevention.

Read about sarcoidosis, a chronic lung disease. Learn causes, symptoms (cough, erythema nodosum, eye inflammation, fibrosis, granulomas), diagnosis, and treatment.

When you are pregnant, many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be especially harmful to you and your baby. These STDs include herpes, HIV/AIDS, genital warts (HPV), hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Symptoms include bumps, sores, warts, swelling, itching, or redness in the genital region. Treatment of STDs while pregnant depends on how far along you are in the pregnancy and the progression of the infection.

View a comprehensive list of the human vaccines and immunizations that have been approved for U.S. residents to prevent and fight infectious diseases.

Learn about HIV infection causes and spreads, and learn about the statistic, symptoms, treatments, and risks. Research shows that HIV evolved from a similar virus found in chimpanzees in West Africa.

Learn about urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms, treatment, causes, risk factors, antibiotics, prevention, diet and more. Discover the signs of a UTI and what to do if you have one.