Medical Blog

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection - RSV Infection

The respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, can cause lung infections. These infections are usually mild in healthy adults but can be serious in young children or in people with weak immune systems.
What is going on in the body?

RSV can cause infections in the nose, throat, windpipe, smaller airways called bronchioles, and the lungs. RSV infection typically causes mild, coldlike symptoms in adults and older children. In premature infants or children younger than 1 year, RSV can cause pneumonia or a lower airway infection called bronchiolitis. RSV can also cause pneumonia in people with weak immune systems, such as those receiving chemotherapy for cancer.  Read more…

Knee Pain

The knee is a joint where the thigh bone, or femur, and shin bone, or tibia, meet. Knee pain refers to any pain or discomfort in this area of the body.
What is going on in the body?

Pain in the knee can occur for many reasons. It can be mild or severe, and involve one or both knees. Most cases of knee pain do not pose a serious threat to a person’s health, but a few are serious.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many possible causes of knee pain, including:  Read more…

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder.
What is going on in the body?

The gallbladder stores bile. Bile is a liquid produced in the liver that aids in digestion. When a person eats, bile flows through a series of ducts into the intestines. It helps to break up food so that it can be used by the body. When bile is supersaturated with cholesterol or bilirubin, it may form the crystals known as gallstones. These stones may block the flow of bile within the gallbladder, causing cholecystitis. Cholecystitis can also occur when the gallbladder is irritated by other diseases and conditions.
What are the causes and risks of the condition? Read more…

Chancroid

Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, caused by the bacteria Haemophilus ducreyi.
What is going on in the body?

Chancroid is an STD that is spread from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. About 3 to 10 days after exposure, a newly infected person will develop a tender, red bump on the genitals. This bump, known as a bubo, will evolve into a painful ulcer over the next 2 days. Over half the people with chancroid have more than one ulcer.
What are the causes and risks of the infection? Read more…

Immune Assay

An immune assay is a special method of testing to measure or detect certain substances. This sophisticated test uses the properties of the immune or infection-fighting system. It is usually used when the amount of material to be detected is very small. It is most commonly performed on a sample of blood, though other body fluids may be used.
Who is a candidate for the test? Read more…

Autoimmune Disorders

An autoimmune disorder is one in which a person’s immune system begins to attack his or her own body. The immune system creates antibodies against its own tissues. Virtually every part of the body is susceptible to an autoimmune disorder. The following are some diseases and conditions that are believed to have an autoimmune component:  Read more…

Chills

A chill is a sensation of cold. When chills occur at an unexpected time, they may be due to a fever-causing illness.
What is going on in the body?

Anyone can experience chills as a normal reaction, such as going out into the cold. In medical terms, chills usually refer to those that occur in an unexpected setting.

The brain closely regulates the body’s normal temperature. When an infection occurs, infection-fighting cells in the body make certain chemicals. In some cases, these chemicals may travel through the bloodstream and cause the brain to raise the normal temperature inside the body. This is how a fever occurs. When the brain raises the temperature set point in the body, a person gets a feeling of cold. This feeling may stop if the new set point is reached. Shivering may even occur, as the body tries to use muscle movement to raise the temperature.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Chills have several causes, including:  Read more…

Albumin Test

This test measures the levels of albumin in the blood. Albumin is an important blood protein that is made by the liver and excreted by the kidneys.
Who is a candidate for the test?

This test is normally performed to assist in diagnosing diseases that affect proteins in the body. It may be used to diagnose, evaluate and monitor the disease course in a person with cancer, intestinal or renal problems, liver disease, and immune disorders.
How is the test performed? Read more…