Directory of Diseases
A child who is less than 3 months old and has a fever requires immediate evaluation by a physician. At this age, your child's immune system is not fully developed and they are at higher risk of developing a serious infection. When sick, newborn's can either develop fevers or have temperatures that are too low. Although most fevers in this age group are benign, some children can develop very serious infections such as meningitis (infection of the brain), pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or sepsis (infection in the bloodstream). Please contact your pediatrician immediately or go the nearest emergency room capable of taking care of children.
Fibromyalgia is a condition described as widespread pain and tenderness in muscles and ligaments . These aches and pains are sometimes accompanied by fatigue and weakness. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Patients with fibromyalgia experience chronic, widespread pain for at least 3 months on both sides of the body along with fatigue, tiredness, stiffness, memory problems and anxiety/depression. Women between the ages of 25-50 are the most commonly affected.
This is a bacterial infection involving the pad of the finger tip (felon) or nail base (paronychia) and skin that causes swelling and pain. Sometimes the infection can progress into an abscess, a collection of pus. The most common bacteria causing this disorder is Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is sometimes involved, which requires treatment to drain the infection as well as antibiotics.
A finger dislocation is usually the result of excessive forces to the involved digit. This condition can be very painful, and causes the finger to become difficult to bend and straighten. Sometimes there is a fracture (broken bone) associated with these injuries. It is best to seek medical attention within the first few hours after the injury occurs to prevent long term consequences.
Pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidney(s). It is usually more common in females because they are more prone to urinary tract infections. A urinary tract infection that is left untreated will usually travel up and involve the kidney causing pyelonephritis. This can affect people of all ages. When it happens in males, it implies there is a structural abnormality in the urinary tract system - like a large prostate, reflux or obstruction. The infection can spread upwards from the urinary bladder from migration of bacteria up the ureter (the tube that connects the bladder to the kidneys). People with pyelonephritis usually have pain in the flanks where the kidneys reside associated with fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, dark or smelly urine and frequent urination with burning.
The "flu" is caused by the influenza virus, and is a common viral upper respiratory infection (URI). The flu is contagious, and can start causing symptoms 24 to 48 hours after being exposed to someone who is sick. Almost everyone has had the flu at some point. This illness usually gets better without treatment, however, it can be more serious in newborns, infants, the elderly, and anyone with a depressed immune system. It is hard to tell the difference between a "cold" and the "flu," but the flu is usually much worse than the common cold. There is special medication one can take for the flu to decrease the number of days one is sick. If you have been sick for less than 48 hours, then it might be worthwhile to be tested with a rapid flu test.
The "flu" is caused by the influenza virus, and is a common viral upper respiratory infection (URI). The flu is contagious, and can start causing symptoms 24 to 48 hours after being exposed to someone who is sick. Almost everyone has had the flu at some point. This illness usually gets better without treatment, however, it can be more serious in newborns, infants, the elderly, and anyone with a depressed immune system. It is hard to tell the difference between a "cold" and the "flu," but the flu is usually much worse than the common cold. There is special medication one can take for the flu to decrease the number of days one is sick. If you have been sick for less than 48 hours, then it might be worthwhile to be tested with a rapid flu test.
