What is Diflucan (fluconazole)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Diflucan (fluconazole) is an anti-fungal medication related to clotrimazole (Lotrimin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), and miconazole (Micatin, Monistat). Fluconazole prevents growth of fungi by preventing production of the membranes that surround fungal cells. What are the uses for Diflucan (fluconazole)? Diflucan is used for …
Read More »Tag Archives: infectious disease
Nipah Virus Infection (NiV) Symptoms, Transmission & Treatment
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 fruit bats (Pteropodidae), but they …
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 »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 …
Read More »Keflex vs. Penicillin
What’s the Difference Between Keflex and Penicillin? Keflex (cephalexin) and penicillin are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. Keflex and penicillin are in different drug classes. Keflex is a cephalosporin antibiotic, and penicillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic. Brand names for penicillin include Bicillin, Bicillin CR, and Bicillin LA. Side effects of Keflex and penicillin that are similar include diarrhea, nausea, …
Read More »Cipro (ciprofloxacin) vs. Keflex (cephalexin) Side Effects & Uses
Cipro, XR (ciprofloxacin) vs. Keflex (cephalexin) differences Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Keflex (cephalexin) are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. Keflex and Cipro are in different drug classes. Keflex is a cephalosporin antibiotic, and Cipro is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Cipro and Keflex are used to treat middle ear, skin, bone, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by certain bacteria. Cipro also …
Read More »Cefdinir vs. Amoxicillin
What’s the Difference Between Cefdinir and Amoxicillin? Cefdinir and amoxicillin are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. The drugs are in different classes. Cefdinir is a cephalosporin antibiotic and amoxicillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic. Cefdinir is only available as a generic. The Omnicef brand has been discontinued and there are no other brand names available for cefdinir available in the …
Read More »Cephalexin vs. Amoxicillin
What’s the Difference Between Cephalexin and Amoxicillin? Cephalexin and amoxicillin are antibiotics used for treating a variety of bacterial infections. The drugs belong to different classes. Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic and amoxicillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic. Brand names for cephalexin include Keflex and Daxbia. Brand names for amoxicillin include Amoxil, Moxatag, and Larotid. Side effects of cephalexin and amoxicillin …
Read More »Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole & trimethoprim) vs. Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
What’s the Difference Between Bactrim and Cipro? Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. The drugs are in different drug classes. Bactrim is a combination of sulfamethoxazole, an anti-bacterial sulfonamide (a "sulfa" drug), and trimethoprim, a folic acid inhibitor. Cipro is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Side effects of Bactrim and Cipro that are similar …
Read More »Vaccination FAQ: Questions and Answers
Why do people need vaccines? What is immunization? What is immunity? Share Your Story Vaccines are medications that boost our ability to fight off certain diseases. Many of the vaccine-preventable diseases are highly contagious and even fatal in non-immunized individuals (Table 1). Prior to the development of vaccines, these diseases disabled or killed millions of people. Many people living in …
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