by the pines

Introduction The inside of your heart contains four chambers and four valves lined by a thin membrane called the endocardium. Endocarditis is an infection of this inner lining. Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas [...]

Introduction Pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs when an artery in your lung becomes blocked. In most cases, the blockage is caused by one or more blood clots that travel to your lungs from another part of your body. Most clots originate in your legs, but they can also form in arm veins, the [...]

Introduction When you overdo it physically, you may experience sudden pain and swelling around a joint or a muscle. The injury you have may be a sprain or a strain. Here’s the distinction: Sprain. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments. Ligaments are tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect one bone to [...]

Introduction During their first few days of life, more than half of all full-term babies and as many as four out of five premature infants who are otherwise healthy develop jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. Although some babies are jaundiced at birth, most develop infant jaundice during their second or third [...]

Introduction Nightmares are a nearly universal experience for young children. A few kids experience more-intense scary dreams known as night terrors. Kids who have nightmares typically wake up frightened and look for reassurance, eager to share vivid details of their scary dreams. Kids who have night terrors may scream and thrash about, but remain sound [...]

<h2>Overview</h2> A child in a child care center develops severe diarrhea. Will the other children get sick, too? It’s entirely possible. Despite proper hand washing, viral diarrhea is highly contagious. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and children worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In [...]

Introduction Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. Oats may contain gluten as well. When a person with celiac disease eats foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs in the small [...]

<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, [...]