Valtrex (valacyclovir) vs. Abreva (docosanol): What’s the difference? Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Abreva (docosanol) are antiviral drugs used to treat cold sores (herpes labialis). Valtrex is also used to treat shingles (herpes zoster) and genital herpes (herpes simplex genitalis) infections. Abreva is available over-the-counter (OTC) and as a generic. Valtrex is an oral drug and Abreva …
Read More »infectious disease
Valtrex (valacyclovir) vs. Valcyte (valganciclovir): Side Effects, Dosage, Differences
Valtrex (valacyclovir) vs. Valcyte (valganciclovir): What’s the difference? Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Valcyte (valganciclovir) are antiviral drugs used to treat different conditions. Valtrex is used to treat infections with shingles (herpes zoster), genital herpes (herpes simplex genitalis), and cold sores (herpes labialis). Valcyte is used to prevent disease caused by a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) in people who have received organ …
Read More »lincomycin (Lincocin): Antibiotic Side Effects, Dosage & Uses
What is lincomycin (Lincocin)? What is lincomycin used for? Lincomycin (Lincocin) is an injectable man-made antibiotic. Lincomycin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability of bacteria to produce important proteins necessary for them to survive. Lincomycin is effective against many types of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, and others. The FDA approved lincomycin in December …
Read More »Polio Facts on Vaccine, Symptoms, Causes, Outbreak & History
Polio facts Picture of a Polio Vaccine Bottle Polio is an infectious disease caused by viruses. The symptoms may range from none to paralysis and death. Polio has been traced back almost 6,000 years. Great strides have been made in preventing this disease. Polio is caused by person-to-person transmission of polio viruses (enteroviruses, three main types). Not receiving the polio …
Read More »Tuberculosis Skin Test (PPD): Reading, Results, Side Effects & Risks
Tuberculosis skin test facts Readers Comments 13 Share Your Story Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) Procedure for Detecting Tuberculosis by McGraw Hill The tuberculosis skin test is another name for the tuberculin test or PPD test. The PPD test determines if someone has developed an immune response to the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Blood tests for TB are also available, …
Read More »Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is penicillin g benzathine? What is penicillin g benzathine used for? Penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A) is a penicillin antibiotic that is given by deep intramuscular injection. Penicillin G benzathine kills susceptible bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis or formation of bacterial cell wall. It is thought to preferentially bind to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) found inside the bacterial cell …
Read More »Penicillin V Potassium (Beepen-VK) Antibiotic Uses & Side Effects
What is penicillin v potassium? What is penicillin v potassium? Penicillin V potassium is penicillin antibiotic that is administered orally. Penicillin V potassium kills bacteria by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Some bacterial species against which penicillin V potassium has shown high in-vitro activity include some species of staphylococci, streptococci (groups A, C, G, H, L, and M), and pneumococci. …
Read More »Herpangina Treatment, Duration, Symptoms & Home Remedies
Herpangina facts Fever is a symptom of herpangina, which most often affects young children. Herpangina is a self-limited viral infection primarily caused by a member of the Coxsackievirus family. Herpangina most often affects young children. Herpangina is associated with fever, sore throat, and blisters in the back of the mouth. Generally, doctors diagnose herpangina based on clinical symptoms and characteristic …
Read More »Rabies Transmission, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & Causes
Rabies facts The bite of a rabid animal can transmit the rabies virus to a human. The rabies virus causes rabies. Rabid animals transmit the virus via a bite or saliva exposure. Early signs and symptoms of rabies mimic those of a viral flu-like infection. People should start post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment as soon as they suspect an exposure. In …
Read More »cefadroxil, Duricef (Discontinued): Antibiotic Side Effects, Dosage
What is cefadroxil, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cefadroxil is an oral antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of drugs, a family that includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), and many other injectable antibiotics. Cephalosporins stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary …
Read More »