Otitis Media

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is part of a group of viruses known as coronaviruses. Hundreds of coronaviruses exist in animals, but only seven of these coronaviruses are known to cause illnesses in humans. In fact, the illnesses that these coronaviruses cause play a huge role in how each of these viruses is named. From a visual standpoint, coronaviruses have crown-like protrusions on their surface, and the Latin word for crown is "coronam." In this article, we will explore what coronaviruses are, how these viruses and their diseases are named, and other important facts you should know about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Coronaviruses are a type of virus that cause upper respiratory tract illnesses in human beings. Most coronaviruses are transmitted to humans from animals, such as bats, pigs, or camels. While hundreds of different types of coronaviruses exist, only seven coronaviruses are known to cause diseases in humans. In 2019, a new coronavirus ...

It also had an unusual genetic mutation, a deletion in what is commonly known as the N gene, which codes for an important structural protein. This deletion has not been documented in other canine coronaviruses, Dr. Vlasova said, but similar mutations have appeared in the viruses that cause Covid and SARS. "So what does this mean?" Dr. Gray asks. "Well, you know, we don't know exactly." Although much more research is needed, one possibility is that the mutation may help animal coronaviruses to adapt to human hosts, the researchers said. It is too soon to say whether this virus poses a risk to humans. Researchers have not yet proved that this virus is the cause of the pneumonia that sent patients to the hospital. And they have not yet studied whether people who may contract the virus from animals can spread it to other people. "We have to be careful, because things show up all the time that don't become outbreaks," said John Lednicky, a virolog...

A neutralizing antibody (NAb) is an antibody that is responsible for defending cells from pathogens, which are organisms that cause disease. They are produced naturally by the body as part of its immune response, and their production is triggered by both infections and vaccinations against infections. Image Credit: Design_Cells/Shutterstock.com Neutralizing antibodies can result in lifelong immunity to certain infections and can be used to see if a person has developed immunity to an infection after they have recovered from it. Neutralizing antibodies can be confused with binding antibodies, which are responsible for binding to a pathogen and alerting the immune system to its presence so white blood cells can be sent to destroy it. Neutralizing antibodies, although an integral part of the body's immune response, serve a different purpose to binding antibodies. How are neutralizing antibodies made? Antibodies are made by B-cells in the bone marrow. When B-cells are creat...

If you've ever had a particularly intense dream while you're sick, it may have been a fever dream. A fever dream is a term used to describe vivid dreams you have when your body temperature is elevated. For many people, these dreams can be disturbing and unpleasant. A dream is essentially a series of thoughts, images, and sensations you have while sleeping. Scientists believe you have your strongest dreams during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. Though researchers don't know exactly why you dream, certain factors such as daily activities, foods, and health conditions might influence your sleep visions. When do they occur? A fever dream occurs when your body temperature is higher than usual. A normal body temperature ranges, usually between 97 and 99°F. Anything higher than 2 degrees above your normal temperature is considered a fever. You might develop a fever because your body is responding to: a viral or bacterial infection heat e...

Roseola infantum is an infection caused by a type of herpes virus. It typically affects babies and toddlers. Other names for this health issue are sixth disease, exanthema subitum, or just "roseola." Around 90% of roseola cases occur before 2 years of age. Roseola results from infection with one of two main strains of the human herpesvirus (HHV): HHV-6 or HHV-7. Below, we describe how to identify roseola and how to tell the difference between it and measles. We also look into whether treatment is necessary. Roseola has a distinctive progression: A high fever develops, possibly suddenly, and may last for 3–5 days. A distinctive rash appears, usually on the torso, as the fever ends. The rash may spread to the neck, face, and limbs within 24 hours. The rash disappears after 1–2 days. Roseola usually affects toddlers and babies under 2 years old. They may also have or show: general discomfort irritability an unwillingness to eat diarrhea a co...

Toddlers can develop a rash as a result of a viral infection. The exact type of rash depends on the underlying cause. Below, we look at a few common viral rashes that occur in toddlers. Roseola Roseola, or sixth disease, is a viral infection resulting from human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). This condition is most common in infants and toddlers under 2 years of age. Roseola causes a high fever of about 104°F (40°C) for 3–5 days. Once the fever drops, a distinctive rash appears on the torso. The rash contains raised bumps that may feel itchy or painful, and it may spread to the arms, neck, or face. Other symptoms of roseola include: Treatment There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for roseola. People can prevent the spread of roseola and HHV-6-related disease by: avoiding contact with people who have an HHV-6 infection keeping their child home when sick washing the hands thoroughly after interacting with a person who is sick washing bedding, clothing, and other...

According to the National Health Service-NHS, ear infections are very common, particularly in children. If you feel weak, find it difficult to hear, or develop a discharge running out of the ear, you may have an infection. It can also be a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear, itching and irritation in and around the ear or scaly skin in and around the ear. Dr Aaron Gasore, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist at Rwamagana Provincial Hospital, says that an ear infection, commonly known in medical terms as 'Otitis' is a condition that can cause inflammation in the ear. He says, depending on the location of the infection, when the inflammation is in external ear (the part of the ear from the pinna to the ear drum), the infection is called otitis externa and when in the middle ear (a part of the ear located behind the ear drum) is affected, it is called otitis media. He says that this condition is associated with pain, fever, pus discharge and hearing im...

Share on Pinterest A new study has found that oral antibiotics are just as effective at treating recurring ear infections in young children as ear tubes. Geber86/Getty Images A study has found that there's no long-term benefit in reducing ear infections from placing tubes in children's ears versus prescribing oral antibiotics. There was also no increase in antibiotic resistance. Nor was there any difference in quality of life for the children or their parents. For most children, a wait-and-see approach will be appropriate before placing tubes. However, there are still instances when children may benefit from the placement of tubes. A study has found that, compared with antibiotics, placing tympanostomy tubes in small children's ears provides no long-term benefit in reducing recurrent ear infections. The study included children ages 6 to 35 months who had had at least three episodes of middle ear infections (acute otitis media) within a 6-month period. ...

The itching, irritation, and burning symptoms of a yeast infection are uncomfortable. Many over-the-counter (OTC) treatments effectively treat vaginal yeast infection and can save you a trip to the doctor's office. This article rounds up seven of the best OTC products to help manage a yeast infection. A yeast infection is a common condition caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida . Yeast infections can affect any part of the body, but they often occur in the vagina. A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes irritation, discharge, and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva — the tissues at the vaginal opening. Also called vaginal candidiasis, vaginal yeast infections affect up to 75 percent of people with a vagina at some point in their lifetime. A healthy vagina has a balance of good bacteria and yeast. Usually, the good bacteria keep the balance in check. Still, under some conditions, the balance can be disrupted, allowing the yea...

Though its name may suggest otherwise, ringworm is not a worm, but a kind of contagious fungal infection called Tinea . Instead, ringworm gets its name from the characteristic round or ringlike red or discolored scaly patches it creates on your skin. Often, the centers of ringworm lesions grow less red or discolored over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ringworm is very common. It's especially common in warmer climates. While anyone can potentially contract ringworm, people with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to infection. Most often, ringworm affects your: scalp face legs trunk arms Ringworm can also affect your armpit. The symptoms of ringworm in your armpit are the same as ringworm on other parts of your body. There will be round, red or discolored lesions with scaly edges. Over time, the center of these lesions tend to become less red or discolored. A ringworm infection usually feels itchy and unc...

Osaka, Japan - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) may cause chronic infection to the liver, which can result in irreversible liver damage and liver cancer. How HCV manages to evade the immune system to infect the host chronically is not entirely understood. In a new study, researchers from Osaka University discovered a novel molecular mechanism by which HCV interferes with the host's immune system to cause chronic liver infection. These findings may help establish a novel therapy against chronic HCV infection. HCV infection becomes chronic in approximately 80% of patients. Antiviral therapies exist and can improve the patients' conditions, but liver disease, and consequentially the formation of liver cancer, is not sufficiently mitigated by this therapeutic approach. It is thus important to understand how HCV manages to evade the host's immune system in the first place to become chronically established, to help researchers develop novel and better therapies against the disease. ...

The drug diABZI -- which activates the body's innate immune response -- was highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice that were infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to scientists in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings, published this month in Science Immunology , suggest that diABZI could also treat other respiratory coronaviruses. "Few drugs have been identified as game-changers in blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection. This paper is the first to show that activating an early immune response therapeutically with a single dose is a promising strategy for controlling the virus, including the South African variant B.1.351, which has led to worldwide concern," said senior author Sara Cherry, PhD, a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and scientific director of the High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Core at Penn Medicine. "The development of effective antivirals is urgently needed for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infect...

Imagine constantly hearing a ringing in one ear, both ears or even in your head. It might last for a few seconds or it might go on for minutes. You wish it would stop, but it won't. It's so maddening that it interferes with every aspect of your life. What was just described is called tinnitus and for more than 45 million Americans, it's a daily struggle to live with it. Advertising Policy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy There have been numerous reports of hearing-related issues popping up as a result of COVID-19. Tinnitus was one of those conditions. But can we make the connection based on what we know so far? Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, helps us gain a better understanding of what tinnitus is and the available treatment options. What is tinnitus? "Tinnitus is most commonly a ringing in the ear, but it ...

by: Lucas Wright , Denise Valdez , Nexstar Media Wire Posted: May 27, 2021 / 01:05 PM CDT / Updated: May 27, 2021 / 01:05 PM CDT LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – As we get the upper hand on COVID-19, doctors worldwide can now concentrate on the long-term side effects. One of those possible side effects is a lingering and annoying impact on your hearing. Sherry Petta's COVID symptoms were fairly mild. But within days, there was one severe symptom. "I never had a fever. I never had a cough. I never lost my sense of taste and sense of smell," Petta said. "My whole body is buzzing. I'm buzzing. I feel like I'm electric. My ears are ringing and my whole body is buzzing. Dr. Michael Kubala is an ear, nose and throat surgeon in north Texas. He has seen plenty of patients with tinnitus related to COVID. "Some are just mild symptoms. Some are severe enough to produce anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation," Dr. Kabala said. Is it Covid or se...

Question Why is swimmer's ear so common in the summer months, and how should it be managed in primary care? Response from Judith S. Lynch, MS, MA, APRN-BC Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Nursing, Milford, Connecticut; Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner, Naugatuck Valley ENT Associates, Waterbury, Connecticut Swimmer's Ear -- Acute Otitis Externa Swimmer's ear, or acute otitis externa (AOE), is an inflammation or infection of the external auditory canal that may or may not include the auricle. [1] It is a common health problem that is seen more frequently in hot weather, particularly in emergency departments during summer vacations. AOE affects swimmers (hence the name) because their ears are frequently exposed to water. This creates a warm and moist environment, allowing microorganisms to thrive. Individuals with allergic conditions (eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma) also have a significantly higher risk for this condition developing. [1] ...

Otitis externa (OE) is an inflammation or infection of the external auditory canal (EAC), the auricle, or both. It is a common disease that can be found in all age groups. OE usually represents an acute bacterial infection of the skin of the ear canal. Although OE rarely causes prolonged problems or serious complications, the infection is responsible for significant pain and acute morbidity. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate therapy cure most cases without complications; however, patients who are diabetic, immunocompromised, or untreated may develop necrotizing (malignant) OE, a potentially life-threatening infection. Test your knowledge of this condition with our quick quiz. Medscape © 2016  WebMD, LLC Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape. Cite this: Russell W. Steele. Fast Five Quiz: How Familiar Are You With Otitis Externa? -  Medscape  - May 17, 2016.

Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella (herpes) zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Before the rash is visible, many people feel pain, itching, or tingling in the area where it develops.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 million people develop shingles each year in the United States. Almost 1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. If you've had chicken pox, you can get shingles at almost any age, but it is more common in older adults. The blistering, painful rash typically erupts in a strip on one side of the body or face. The pain can be intense and is often described as burning, aching, or stabbing. Some people with shingles develop fever, headache, chills, sensitivity to touch, and an upset stomach.  Many people turn to natural remedies—such as essential oils—to help ease the pain and discomfort caused by shingles. As with any home remedy, it's important to use essential oils as a comp...