infectious disease

Rifampin: Antibiotic Uses, Warnings, Side Effects, Dosage

Generic Name: rifampin Brand and Other Names: Rifadin, Rimactane, rifampicin Drug Class: Antitubercular Agents What is rifampin, and what is it used for? Rifampin is a semisynthetic antibiotic used to treat latent or active tuberculosis, a disease caused by mycobacterial infection, and the asymptomatic carrier state of meningococcal disease. Rifampin is also used off-label to …

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Do You Have to Be Over 50 to Get the Shingles Vaccine?

What is shingles? Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful rash forming along the path of one spinal or brain nerve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people over 50 receive two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful rash forming along the path of one spinal or …

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Quinine: Malaria Uses, Warnings, Side Effects, Dosage

Generic Name: quinine Brand Name: Qualaquin Drug Class: Antimalarials What is quinine, and what is it used for? Quinine is a naturally occurring compound (alkaloid) derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. Quinine is used to treat malaria, a disease with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Malaria is caused by microscopic unicellular parasites belonging to the Plasmodium …

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How Can I Get Rid of a Cold While Breastfeeding?

What causes the common cold? The common cold is a viral infection that affects your nose and throat. There is no cure for the cold while breastfeeding, so you’ll need to give it time to clear up. A common cold is usually harmless, even though it can make you feel terrible. Oftentimes, the best treatment is to manage your symptoms …

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Is There an Age Limit for Shingles?

What are shingles? Shingles is known as herpes zoster and it is a skin disease caused by a varicella-zoster virus. There is no age limit for shingles. There is no age limit for shingles. However, you're more likely to develop shingles as an adult if you had chickenpox as a child. The virus that causes it remains dormant in your …

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Who Is Eligible for the Shingles Vaccine?

Who is a candidate for the shingles vaccine? Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you had chickenpox as a child, the virus lives in your body forever. 10% of people who had chickenpox in childhood will get shingles as an adult, often when they are over the age of 50. You …

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What Hygiene Products Can Kill Bacteria? Antibacterial Hand Wash

Hygiene products, such as cleaning and disinfecting products, contain active ingredients that provide extra protection against a wide range of germs. The hygiene products that will kill bacteria and viruses often contain chlorine compounds, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan, or alcohol. Industrial-grade hygiene products may contain phenol and related compounds. Household products that have antibacterial, antiseptic, or antimicrobial properties include: Soaps and …

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How Easy Is It to Get Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a potentially severe illness. It's not easy for humans to contract this illness. Leptospirosis is a potentially severe illness. It's not easy for humans to contract this illness. It's most common in animals, and humans usually only catch it if they've been in contact with urine or feces from an infected animal. What is leptospirosis? Leptospirosis is a …

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Hepatitis B Vaccine: Uses, Warnings, Side Effects, Dosage

Generic Name: hepatitis B vaccine Brand Names: Engerix B, Heplisav-B, Recombivax HB, PreHevbrio Drug Class: Vaccines, Inactivated, Viral What is hepatitis B vaccine, and what is it used for? Hepatitis B vaccine is an inactivated viral vaccine administered intramuscularly to provide protection against infection from all subtypes of hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted in body fluids and causes …

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What Are the Most Common Long-Term Effects of COVID-19?

Typical symptoms of long COVID-19 Most people recover from COVID-19 in two weeks. The most common long-term effects of COVID-19 infection are mood problems, neurological issues, heart disease, liver disease, lung disease, and heart disease. Most people recover from COVID-19 in two weeks. A few people can have symptoms lasting more than four weeks after diagnosis, a condition called "post-COVID-19 syndrome" …

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