by the pines

<h2>Introduction</h2> Ringworm of the body is one of several forms of ringworm, a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of your skin. It’s characterized by an itchy, red circle of rash with healthy-looking skin in the middle. Also called tinea corporis, ringworm of the body is closely related to other skin conditions with [...]

Introduction Plague is a life-threatening infection caused by the organism Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that caused the 14th-century Black Death plague pandemic. Plague-causing bacteria still exist in the environment today, although their effect has abated dramatically. The major threat of plague these days comes not through natural transmission, but through intentional transmission, perhaps by terrorists [...]

Introduction Yellow fever is a hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus spread by a particular species of mosquito. It is most common in areas of Africa and South America, affecting travelers to and residents of those areas. In mild cases, yellow fever causes fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. But yellow fever can become more serious, [...]

Introduction You may associate melanoma with skin cancer and the growth or spread of moles on the surface of your skin. However, melanoma doesn’t occur just on your skin. It can also occur in your eyes and, rarely, in internal organs. Melanoma develops in the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your [...]

Introduction Occasional difficulty swallowing usually isn’t cause for concern, and may simply occur when you eat too fast or don’t chew your food well enough. But persistent difficulty swallowing may indicate a serious medical condition requiring treatment. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) may mean it takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from your [...]

Introduction Postherpetic neuralgia (post-her-PET-ic noo-RAL-jah) is a painful condition affecting your nerve fibers and skin. It’s a complication of shingles, a second outbreak of the varicella-zoster virus, which initially causes chickenpox. During an initial infection of chickenpox, some of the virus can remain in your system, lying dormant inside nerve cells. Years later, factors such [...]

Introduction Hemorrhoids, which are also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum. They may result from straining during a bowel movement or the increased pressure on these veins during pregnancy, among other causes. A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are common. By age 50, about half of adults have [...]

Introduction When your back hurts, everyday activities can become difficult or even intolerable. Sitting, bending and twisting can cause sharp pain, a dull ache, or annoying tingling and numbness. One cause of back pain is a herniated disk, sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk. Your spinal column is made up of bones [...]

Introduction Imagine having a jab of lightning-like pain shoot through your face when you brush your teeth or put on makeup. Sound excruciating? If you have trigeminal neuralgia, attacks of such pain are frequent and can often seem unbearable. You may initially experience short, mild attacks, but trigeminal neuralgia can progress, causing longer, more frequent [...]

Introduction Numerous conditions make up the group of disorders called interstitial lung disease. Most cause progressive scarring of lung tissue that eventually affects your ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream, but beyond this, the disorders vary greatly. Although most cases of interstitial lung disease develop gradually, a few come on suddenly. [...]