Nipah virus infection (NiV) facts Share Your Story Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus and is related to Hendra virus that infects horses. NiV is a zoonotic virus (a disease that animals can transmit to humans, known as a zoonosis); the virus often infects animals such as pigs and …
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Thymoma Prognosis, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Staging
Thymoma facts A thymoma is a type of tumor or growth in the thymus gland. Thymic tumors are tumors of the thymus gland. Physicians describe thymomas in terms of their degree of spread. Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. …
Read More »Erenumab (Aimovig) New Migraine Drug Side Effects
What is erenumab (Aimovig)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Erenumab (Aimovig) is a new medication used for preventing migraine attacks. It received the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval on May 17, 2018. It belongs to a new class of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP-R) antagonist. CGRP-R is a chemical produced by the body that acts …
Read More »Liver (Hepatocellular) Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors
Key points Share Your Story Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer. The following risk factors may increase the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B and C Cirrhosis Aflatoxin The following protective factor may decrease the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B vaccine Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer. New …
Read More »Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Disease Treatment & Causes
Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) facts Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a particular form of blood vessel inflammation called vasculitis. Henoch-Schonlein purpura frequently follows an infection of the throat or breathing passages, but it can be induced by certain medications. Henoch-Schonlein purpura causes skin rash, pain in the abdomen, and joint inflammation (arthritis). The treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura is directed toward the most significant …
Read More »Yellow Fever Symptoms, Vaccine, Treatment & History
Yellow fever facts Yellow fever is an infectious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. Yellow fever is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Yellow fever is endemic in areas of Africa and South America. The symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, and muscle aches, with some patients going on to develop life-threatening …
Read More »Tumor Grade: Grading Systems & Treatment Options
Tumor grade facts* *Tumor grade facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Tumor grade is a classification system based on the appearance of tumor cells under the microscope. Cancer cells that are described as low-grade (grade 1) have an appearance similar to normal cells. High-grade (grade 3) cancer cells appear distinctly abnormal under the microscope. Low-grade tumors are often referred …
Read More »Paget Disease of the Breast Symptoms, Treatment & Diagnosis
Paget disease of the breast facts* *Paget disease of the breast facts medically reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, on 1/21/2015 Paget disease of the breast is a form of breast cancer that affects the skin of the nipple. The cause of Paget disease of the breast is poorly understood, but it may be related to tumor cells from other …
Read More »Beta Blockers vs. Valium (Diazepam)
What Is the Difference Between Beta Blockers and Valium? Beta blockers and Valium (diazepam) are used to treat anxiety. A difference is beta blockers are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, and they are prescribed off-label for anxiety. Valium belongs to a different drug class called benzodiazepines that are often prescribed for anxiety. Taking a beta-blocker …
Read More »Bactrim vs. Cefdinir: What’s the Difference Between Antibiotics?
What’s the Difference Between Bactrim and Cefdinir? Bactrim and cefdinir are antibiotics used to treat a variety of infections. Bactrim and cefdinir belong to different antibiotic drug classes. Bactrim is a combination of an anti-bacterial sulfonamide (a "sulfa" drug) and a folic acid inhibitor. Cefdinir is a cephalosporin antibiotic The brand name for cefdinir called Omnicef is discontinued in the …
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