How does a person get hepatitis? There are many different ways in which a person can get hepatitis, including sexual contact, blood transfusion, sharing needles, and more. A person can get hepatitis A through the following sources: Food or water contaminated with the fecal matter of an infected person Sexual contact (rare) A person can …
Read More »
Shingles result from the activation of the chickenpox virus already present, but inactive (dormant), in nerve tissues. The virus remains dormant in spinal nerves usually after the person has had chickenpox as a child. The varicella-zoster virus that causes shingles can spread to others causing chickenpox in patients who have not had it in the past. It is not possible …
Read More »
Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant herpes zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is often triggered by severe stress, trauma or an illness. Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Sometimes, in patients with a history of chickenpox, the virus may live in the nervous system for years …
Read More »
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) facts Enterococci (genus Enterococcus) are bacteria that commonly live in the bowel and are usually resistant to many antibiotics. VRE are enterococci that have become resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. There are only a few antibiotics that are able to treat VRE infections. However, newer antibiotics are being developed. People can be colonized with VRE, meaning that …
Read More »
Facts you should know about scarlet fever Picture of rash on the arm due to scarlet fever. Source: CDC Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria that results in a rash and fever. Group a beta hemolytic streptococci produce an erythrogenic toxin that causes scarlet fever. The incubation period for scarlet fever is about 12 …
Read More »
What is Lyme disease? 3 stages of Lyme disease are early localized Lyme, early disseminated Lyme, and late disseminated Lyme. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted to humans via ticks. The ticks transfer, during their bite, spiral-shaped bacteria known as spirochetes. Spirochetes may enter the blood after remaining localized in the skin. Lyme disease has the potential to affect …
Read More »
What is hepatitis? Common causes of hepatitis are viruses, infections, alcohol, drugs, toxins, and others. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can occur due to a variety of factors, but the most common cause is a virus infection. Hepatitis can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) and can have fatal complications. The liver is in the right upper …
Read More »
What is Lyme disease? The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease depend upon the three stages of the infection, which are localized, disseminated, and persistent. Lyme disease is an infection that is transmitted by ticks and is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. It is caused by infection with the spiral-shaped bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi or Borrelia mayonii (rarely) …
Read More »
What is hepatitis C? The term “hepatitis” refers to any inflammation of the liver. Inflammation of the liver can be caused by toxins, medications, as well as various diseases and infections. Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a type of viral infection attacking the liver caused by the Hep C virus (HCV) The HCV virus infects the liver and leads to …
Read More »
What is Mavyret, and what is it used for? Mavyret is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing glecaprevir and pibrentasvir for oral administration. Glecaprevir is a HCV NS3/4A PI, and pibrentasvir is a HCV NS5A inhibitor. Mavyret is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older or weighing at least 45 kg with chronic hepatitis C …
Read More »
