What should you know about quad marker screening? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story What is the quad marker screening test? The quad marker screening test (quad screen) is a blood test administered in pregnancy, typically between the 15th and 20th weeks of gestation. Similar to the triple screen, the quad marker screen provides information …
Read More »What Is the Best Treatment for Impetigo? Rash Causes & Symptoms
What is impetigo? Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that causes a rash that forms blisters and can ooze pus, causing a crust. Impetigo can be caused by different kinds of bacteria, including strep and staph. Usually, impetigo is easy to treat and rarely leaves scarring. Are there home remedies for impetigo? An impetigo infection is not serious and is …
Read More »How Do You Get Rid of Restless Leg Syndrome?
What Is Restless Leg Syndrome? Restless Leg Syndrome is an often uncontrollable urge to twitch and move your legs – especially when sitting or lying down. It isn’t curable and the cause is unclear, but it’s a neurological problem that researchers theorize may result from a lack of iron in the brain or a physiological in processing and using iron. …
Read More »Aspirin vs. Xarelto: Dosage & Side Effects for Anti-clotting Drugs
Aspirin vs. Xarelto: What’s the difference? Aspirin and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) are anticoagulants used to prevent blood clots (antithrombotics). Aspirin is also used to treat fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and Xarelto is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Brand names for aspirin include Bayer Aspirin, Ecotrin, and E.C. Prin. Aspirin is available over-the-counter …
Read More »How to Get Rid of Bone Spurs in Feet, Neck, Shoulder & Spine
What are bone spurs? A bone spur is a small, sharp outgrowth of bone. They can come from local trauma to the bone, cartilage or tendon near where a bone spur has formed. Inflammation, like that caused by arthritis, can also cause the formation of bone spurs. Often, bone spurs are not painful or uncomfortable. They only require treatment when …
Read More »How Do You Get Rid of Boils?
What are boils? Boils result from a localized skin infection. They start as a hard, tender lump that reddens. Eventually, the lump becomes filled with whitish or yellow pus, which comprises millions of dead white blood cells the body has deployed to fight the infection, bacteria, and proteins. The boil or abscess may burst and drain by itself or may …
Read More »How Do You Get Rid of Diarrhea? Treatment, Symptoms & Causes
What is diarrhea? Diarrhea is characterized as loose or runny stools that happen an abnormally high number of times throughout the day. Diarrhea can be linked to autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s or functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, but is more often a sign of food intolerance (lactose is common), viral infection, food poisoning or other infectious diseases of …
Read More »Typhus Treatment, Symptoms, Prevention & Causes
Typhus facts Typhus is a vector-borne bacterial disease; there are two types termed endemic and epidemic. Typhus has a long and deadly history, especially epidemic typhus. Bacteria causes typhus. Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus. Rickettsia typhi and, occasionally, R. felis cause endemic typhus and are transmitted to humans by vectors such as lice (mainly epidemic) and fleas (mainly endemic). Risk …
Read More »What Is Jaundice in Newborns? Definition, Symptoms, Causes
What should you know about jaundice in newborns and babies? Jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes (sclerae) caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). The term jaundice is derived from the French word jaune, which means yellow. Jaundice is not technically a disease, but rather it is …
Read More »Factitious Disorders Questions, Symptoms & Treatment Guidelines
What should you know about factitious disorders (Munchausen syndrome)? What is the medical definition of factitious disorder? Facticious disorder (previously called "Munchausen syndrome") is characterized by feigning or intentionally producing physical or emotional symptoms in another person in order to place that person in the sick role. What are the symptoms of factitious disorders? Symptoms a victim of factitious disorders …
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