Disease Information

Acne

Serious skin conditions affect around seven million of people in the UK alone. They can cause significant emotional distress as well as physical discomfort.

Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness. It is just one form of macular disease, which affects the eye's retina. An estimated 500,000 people in the UK suffer from AMD, 40% of these are over the age of 75.

AIDS/HIV

AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome) is a serious illness. The virus that causes AIDS attacks the immune system, the body's natural defense against disease. Damage to the immune system leaves the body vulnerable to secondary illnesses that can be fatal. There is still no known cure for AIDS

Allergies

Allergies are abnormal reactions to ordinarily harmless substances. The sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed, or come into contact with the skin. Allergens that most frequently cause problems are: pollens, mold spores, house dust mites, animal danders, foods, insect bites or stings, plants, insect spores, latex rubber, viruses, bacteria, medications and environmental conditions (such as cold temperatures).

Anthrax

What is anthrax? Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.

Asbestos

People are exposed by breathing in very small asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers can be released into the air when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. Asbestos-containing materials that are intact pose little risk for exposure

Asthma

Asthma is a lung disease. People have it for many years. There is no cure for asthma, but you can take charge and learn to control it. During an asthma episode, the airways in your lungs get swollen. Your chest feels tight. You may cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing.

Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is a swelling of the seventh cranial nerve, which controls most facial muscles, including those needed to smile, blink, and wrinkle the forehead. The nerve also controls the function of certain salivary glands and the lacrimal (tear) glands as well as the tiny muscles inside the ear that dampen loud noises.

Bird Flu

Concern is growing about the spread of bird flu from birds to humans and the possibility of the H5N1 virus mutating so it can pass easily from human to human. The BBC news website has asked the experts to answer your questions on the issues. A virologist, the BBC's medical correspondent and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds respond to your concerns.

Cancer Clusters

Cancer clusters may be suspected when people report that several family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers have been diagnosed with the same or related cancers

Cancer: The Facts

The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time. Excluding certain skin cancers, there were more than 270,000 new cases of the disease in 2001 - and the rate is increasing by about 1% a year. Some cancer, such as breast, are becoming more common, while new cases of lung cancer fall away due to the drop in the number of smokers.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder of the hand (caused by swollen tendons in the wrist) resulting from repetitious, forceful motion of the hands and wrists.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus, a member of the herpes virus family. It is the most commonly reported childhood disease. In 1994, there were 5,977 cases reported among New York City residents (rate of 81.6 cases per 100,000 persons). Effective in 1995, chickenpox is no longer required to be reported to the New York City Department of Health.

Common Cold

The common cold (also called viral rhinitis) is a viral infection, characterized by nasal congestion, a clear, runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat and general malaise.

Conditions & Disorders

Conditions: Anxiety disorder Alzheimer's disease Depression Eating disorders Electro-convulsive Therapy Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder Schizophrenia Self-harm

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye," is an inflammation of the membrane (conjunctiva) that covers the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelid. There are four main causes of conjunctivitis.

Coxsackie (Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease)

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection caused by a strain of Coxsackie virus. It causes a blister-like rash that, as the name implies, involves the hands, feet and mouth. This is not a reportable condition in New York City, so the number of people infected each year is unknown.

Diabetes

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Caring for Diabetic Children in the Classroom

About 151,000 of the 17 million people with diabetes in the United States are children. That means one in 400 school-age children has diabetes.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria, an acute disease of the nose, throat, tonsils, or skin, is caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Eczema

Serious skin conditions that can cause significant emotional distress as well as physical discomfort.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder. It occurs when the electrical signals in the brain are disrupted. This change in the brain leads to a seizure. Seizures can cause brief changes in a person's.

Fifth Disease

Fifth disease, a mild, usually nonfebrile rash illness is caused by a human parvovirus (B19). For many years, fifth disease was viewed as an unimportant illness of children. Recently, studies have shown that the virus may be responsible for serious complications in certain individuals. No accurate estimate of disease occurrence is available in New York City because fifth disease is not a reportable condition.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when the nerve at the back of the eye becomes damaged. This can cause a person's sight to deteriorate and can lead to blindness.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with an infected person during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Hay Fever

Hay fever is a type of allergic rhinitis that occurs at particular times of year, usually spring and summer, when pollen counts are high. Allergic rhinitis, which can occur at any time, is an inflammation of the nose caused by reaction to an allergen in the air or in food.

Head Lice

The NPA answers your most commonly asked questions; A primer on the biology of the louse including life cycle information, images and more; When is a nit not a nit; etc.

Heart Disease

Heart attacks occur when blood flow is blocked, often by a blood clot, while strokes are caused either by blocked or burst blood vessels in the brain.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (formerly known as serum hepatitis) is an infection of the liver caused by a bloodborne virus.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C commonly occurs in people who have shared needles to inject drugs and in people who received a blood transfusion before 1992. People who are HIV positive may be at risk because of common risk factors for HCV and HIV.

Herpes

Genital herpes is caused by sexually transmitted viruses called herpes simplex. Herpes is extremely common:

HIV

HIV has killed millions of people worldwide, and infected many more since it was first identified as a threat to public health more than 20 years ago.

Impetigo

If you have children, you've probably dealt with an assortment of rashes and skin irritations over the years. One of the most common of these is impetigo - a skin infection that usually appears on the face, especially around the nose and mouth. Although anyone can develop the infection, it mainly affects infants and young children.

Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis is a viral disease that affects certain types of white blood cells. It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is a member of the herpes virus family.

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. There are two main types of virus: influenza A and influenza B. Each type includes many different strains, which tend to change each year.

Influenza Vaccine

Insomnia

Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of: difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning and/or unrefreshing sleep.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (boar-ELL-ee-uh burg-dorf-ERR-eye). Within 1 to 2 weeks of being infected, people may have a "bull's-eye" rash with fever, headache, and muscle or joint pain.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever and a rash. Measles is more common in winter and spring. Epidemics of measles can occur.

Meningitis

What are arboviral infections? Arboviral (short for arthropod-borne viral) infections are caused by any of a number of viruses transmitted by arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks. These infections generally occur during warm weather months when mosquitoes are active.

Meningitis and septicaemia

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain lining, or meninges, which can cause serious disability or death. Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease.

Meningitis (Viral)

Viral meningitis is a viral infection of the lining (meninges) covering the brain and spinal cord. There are many types of viruses that can cause this disease.

Meningococcal Meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis is a severe bacterial infection of the meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcemia is the term for infections involving the bloodstream.

Migraine

Migraine, a debilitating condition characterised by severe headaches and a range of other physical symptoms, affects approximately 10% of the UK population. A majority of sufferers are women, half of whom relate their migraine attacks to their hormonal cycle.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus and usually causes a mild skin disease. The virus affects only the outer (epithelial) layer of skin and does not circulate throughout the body in healthy people.

MRSA - methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but is shorthand for any strain of Staphylococcus bacteria which is resistant to one or more conventional antibiotics.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. According to the World Health Organisation, multiple sclerosis affects about 2.5m individuals worldwide, of which about 1% die each year.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness that causes fever and swelling of one or more glands near the jaw. Mumps is more common during winter and spring.

Obesity

Obesity is a major issue around the world, and as more and more people put on excess weight it is a problem that is only likely to get worse.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder which can have a potentially devastating impact on all aspects of everyday life. Sufferers demonstrate bizarre behaviour, upsetting both to them and families, colleagues and friends.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is hard to spot - and as a result it is often advanced by the time diagnosis is made. It is less common than lung or breast cancer, but on average, fewer than a third of patients are alive five years after they are first diagnosed, so the death toll is high.

Pediculosis (Lice)

Pediculousis, or infestation with body and/or head lice, causes little irritation initially. After weeks of continued biting, some individuals may become sensitized and suffer an allergic reaction.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial illness that causes a cough lasting several weeks.

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a viral infection caused by the poliovirus, a type of enterovirus. The illness can be mild or severe. In the worst cases it can cause paralysis and death.

Prostate Cancer

If prostate cancer is caught at a time when it is confined to the prostate, generally it can be cured by radiotherapy and surgery

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism or blood clot on the lungs is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. However, if treated, most patients will make a full recovery.

Rickettsialpox

What is Rickettsialpox? Rickettsialpox is a mild mite-borne disease caused by the bacterial organism Rickettsia akari. This is a primarily urban disease and was first discovered in New York City in 1946. Since then a few cases are reported in NYC each year. Case reports have increased since the fall of 2001 since the early signs of this disease look very similar to cutaneous anthrax, which had heightened awareness among medical providers. In 2001, there were 15 cases reported among New York City residents (rate of 0.2 cases per 100,000 persons)

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails or foot.

Rotavirus

Rotavirus is a virus (germ) that can cause severe diarrhea, usually with fever and vomiting. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in infants and young children in the United States .

Rubella (German Measles)

Rubella is a viral disease that causes fever, rash and swollen glands. Illness is usually mild, but if a woman gets rubella during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or birth defects in her unborn child. Rubella is more common in winter and spring.

Scabies

Scabies is a human skin condition caused by an infestation of tiny mites that burrow under the skin. Humans serve as a host for scabies by providing blood meals and an area on which to lay their eggs.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever, also called scarlatina, is a rash caused by toxins produced by group A streptococcus bacteria. About half the people who get scarlet fever have had a prior streptococcal throat infection.

Shigellosis

People exposed to the Shigella germ may experience mild or severe diarrhea, often with fever, nausea, and cramps. There may be traces of blood or mucous in the stool. Some infected people may not show any symptoms.

Shingles

Shingles is more common after the age of 50 and the risk increases with advancing age. Shingles causes numbness, itching or severe pain followed by clusters of blister-like lesions in a strip-like pattern on one side of your body.

Smoking

Smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, says the World Health Organisation. According to their figures, it is responsible for approximately five million deaths worldwide every year.

Streptococcal Infections

What is Group A Streptococcus (Group A Strep)? Group A streptococci are bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin. The vast majority of Group A Strep infections are mild illnesses, such as strep throat and impetigo.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that both men and women can get. In New York and other cities, syphilis cases have increased recently among men, especially men who have sex with men,many of whom are HIV-infected.

Ticks Encounter Resource Center

Welcome to the Tick Encounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island. We distinguish ourselves by providing you with information regarding ticks and tick-transmitted diseases, but also seek to interactively guide you through the most up-to-date, effective actions that you can take to prevent ticks from biting you, your family and your pets.

Tuberculosis

TB is spread when a person who has active, untreated TB germs in their lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or speaks, spreading their germs into the air. A person who breathes in TB germs usually has had very close, day-to-day contact with someone who has active TB disease.

Thypoid Fever

Typhoid fever is an infection of the intestines which spreads to the blood and other parts of the body. It is caused by the bacteria, Salmonella typhi.

vCJD (variant Creutzfeld Jakob disease)

Everyone could be susceptible to vCJD infection via blood transfusions but their genes could determine how it will affect them, a study suggests. So far, virtually all cases of vCJD in humans have been in people with one particular genetic profile.

Von Willebrand's Disease

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder that affects 18,000 persons (primarily males) in the United States. The disorder results from deficiencies in blood clotting factors and can lead to spontaneous internal bleeding and bleeding following injuries or surgery. The most common bleeding disorder is von Willebrand disease (vWD), which is found in approximately 1-2% of the U.S. population.

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can infect humans, birds, horses and other mammals. In most humans, West Nile virus infection causes a mild or moderate, short-lived flu-like illness, or causes no symptoms at all.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention

The subject of your inquiry might be addressed by one or more health information documents that are available on the CDC website