Infectious Diseases

Ear Infection

Middle ear infections are one of the most common childhood problems. A small tube connects the ear to the throat. A cold can cause this tube to swell. When the tube swells enough to become blocked, it can trap fluid inside the ear. This makes it a perfect place for germs to grow and cause an infection. Three out of four children experience otitis media, or ear infection, by the time they are three years old.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Infection

Epstein-Barr Virus, more commonly known as Mono, is a double-stranded DNA virus in the herpes family of viruses. Infection with EBV is characterized by fatigue and general malaise. Infection with EBV is fairly common and is usually a transient and minor thing. However, in some individuals EBV can trigger chronic illness, including immune and lymphoproliferative syndromes. It is a particular danger to people with compromised immune systems, such as from AIDS. EBV was at one time believed to be the cause of the chronic fatigue syndrome, but chronic infection with this virus actually produces a separate (if similar) disorder. According to the National Center for Infectious Diseases, In the United States as many as 95 percent of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected.

Fever

Fever is a frequent medical symptom that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is a common symptom of many medical conditions.

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections have recently emerged as a growing threat to human health, especially in persons whose immune systems are compromised in some way. Clinicians are particularly concerned that the increasing use of antifungal drugs will lead to drug-resistant fungi, especially in settings such as hospitals where hospital-acquired infections are a growing problem.