The Burning Sting of Fire Ants Overview of fire ants Red imported fire ants aren’t supposed to be in the United States, but these dangerous pests have made themselves at home here. If you are stung by fire ants, you’ll probably know it. They swarm onto your skin and their stings feel like fire. Fire …
Diastole vs. Systole: A Guide to Blood Pressure Overview When you visit your doctor, the first thing they often do is check your blood pressure. This is an important step because your blood pressure is a measure of how hard your heart’s working. Your heart is a muscle about the size of your fist. It’s made up …
Understanding Crohn’s Disease What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. As many as 780,000 Americans have the condition, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCF). More research on Crohn’s disease is necessary. Researchers aren’t sure how it begins, who is most likely to develop it, or how to best manage it. …
VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus) Overview VRE stands for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. It’s an infection with bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic called vancomycin. Enterococcus is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines and the female genital tract. It usually doesn’t make us sick. However, sometimes it can cause infections in the: bloodstream urinary …
What Is Bullous Myringitis? Overview Bullous myringitis is a type of ear infection in which small, fluid-filled blisters form on the eardrum. These blisters usually cause severe pain. The infection is caused by the same viruses or bacteria that lead to other ear infections. However, bullous myringitis doesn’t cause fluid to build up behind the eardrum, like …
Bullous Myringitis: Symptoms | Causes | Treatment Read More »
Uses for Calamine Lotion and How to Apply Overview Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that’s used to treat mild itchiness, also called pruritus. It can also help dry out oozing skin irritations. This soothing pink lotion can help relieve the following skin conditions: reactions to poisonous plants, such as poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac insect …
Calamine Lotion: Uses | Benefits | Application | Side Effects Read More »
Braxton-Hicks Contractions vs. Real Contractions Final stages of pregnancy When you’re in the final stages of pregnancy, contractions are like your body’s alarm clock, alerting you that you’re in labor. Sometimes, though, contractions can sound a false alarm. These are called Braxton-Hicks contractions, named after the doctor who first described them. You can think of …
Azotemia Overview Azotemia is a condition that occurs when your kidneys have been damaged by disease or an injury. You get it when your kidneys are no longer able to get rid of enough nitrogen waste. Azotemia is usually diagnosed by using urine and blood tests. These tests will check your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) …
Overview Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys. A kidney infection requires prompt medical attention. If not treated properly, a kidney infection can permanently damage your kidneys or the bacteria can spread to your …
Cholesteatoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis Overview A cholesteatoma is an abnormal, noncancerous skin growth that can develop in the middle section of your ear, behind the eardrum. It may be a birth defect, but it’s most commonly caused by repeated middle ear infections. A cholesteatoma often develops as a cyst, or sac, that sheds layers of …
