Otitis Media

Pneumonia is a lung infection that's caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It ranges from mild to severe. Some cases of pneumonia occur as a complication of another infection, like influenza or COVID-19. It can affect the entirety of your lungs or only certain portions. Your lungs are divided into five lobes — an upper, middle lobe, and lower lobe on the right as well as an upper and lower lobe on the left. While there are many types of pneumonia based on the organism that caused the infection, pneumonia is generally divided into two major groups based on how much of your lungs is affected. Depending on which lobes or areas of your respiratory system are affected, you may be diagnosed with: Bronchopneumonia. Bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia that mostly affects the bronchi and bronchioles. These are the system of tubes that bring air into your lungs. This type of pneumonia often spreads to other parts of the lungs if not treated effectively. Lobar pneumonia. This refers to...

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 microorganis...

Please note that this Disease Outbreak News has been revised to correct the WHO working case definition that was published on 23 April 2022.  Outbreak at a glance: Since the WHO Disease Outbreak News on Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was published on 15 April 2022, there have been continuing further reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children. It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected. While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent. Outbreak overview As of 21 April 2022, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas (Figure 1). Cases have been reported in the United Kingdom of Great Britain...

An outbreak of acute hepatitis in children has killed one and required liver transplants in at least 17 others across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. While the cause has yet to be determined, investigators are studying an adenovirus from a family of viruses that cause a range of illnesses, including the common cold.  The first U.S. cases were identified at an Alabama hospital in October 2021, when five children were admitted with liver damage from an unknown cause. The World Health Organization was notified on April 5 about 10 cases in previously healthy children in Scotland. Three days later, 74 cases had been identified in the U.K. 

[unable to retrieve full-text content] What is Adenovirus and what are the symptoms as doctors investigate spike in child hepatitis cases    The Independent New adenovirus strain potentially linked to pediatric hepatitis outbreak in Alabama    University of Alabama at Birmingham CDC Issues Alert for Hepatitis in Children With Adenovirus Infection    WebMD Japan reports first case of mysterious children's liver disease as health experts explore possible Covid links    CNBC What Do Hepatitis Symptoms Look Like in Children?    The New York Times View Full Coverage on Google News

When you think of athlete's foot, you may be under the impression that it's only a concern for gym bros who refuse to wear sandals in locker room and college kids sharing nasty communal showers. But the all-too-common fungal infection can occur in people of all ages and lifestyles—and you may contract a case of athlete's foot without a clear-cut cause or general hygiene transgression. After all, athlete's foot is notoriously contagious. Athlete's foot. CREDIT: Love You Stock - stock.adobe.com When you catch yourself with scaling skin and redness between your toes, it's possible you have a case of athlete's foot. So now what? Well, there are several proven treatment options to get rid of athlete's foot that are relatively inexpensive, making the infection easy to treat. And that's not to mention the number of ways to prevent the condition from returning after you get rid of athle...

Otitis media happens when the middle ear becomes inflamed due to an infection. It is common in children and can follow a sore throat, respiratory infection, or cold. Around 4 out of 5 children will get acute otitis media in their lifetime. It is the second most common cause of emergency department visits in children, following upper respiratory infections. This article discusses otitis media and its symptoms, causes, risk factors, related conditions, complications, and treatment. The article also considers how to prevent it and when to speak with a doctor. Otitis media is the inflammation of the middle ear, an air-filled space that contains the three hearing bones: hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The middle ear is found between the eardrum and the cochlea of the inner ear. Otitis media can be due to viral, bacterial, or coinfection. In many cases, it resolves on its own. In some cases, a doctor may need to prescribe antibiotics. It is an umbrella term for several diseases, including: Acut...

Many people hear phantom sounds in one or both ears, which might be a whistle, buzz, chirp or ringing sound. Veterans who have seen combat or worked in certain fields, such as aeronautics, are at special risk.  Called tinnitus—(either tih-NITE-us or TIN-ih-tus is correct)—a persistent ringing in the ears is the number-one disability among U.S. veterans. Tinnitus is also a growing problem among active-duty service members, according to a 2019 study. Because many people in the military do not seek care, "there is not definitive data about the prevalence of tinnitus in veterans," said Katie Edmonds, an audiologist in the Bay Pines, Florida Veterans Affairs Health System. "The most common mistake is assuming that since tinnitus cannot be cured, there is nothing that can help." The impact of tinnitus varies a great deal. Some people find it doesn't bother them. But in others tinnitus interrupts their sleep or concentration and can trigger...

  Most of us can't imagine a world where volume is off or muted all the time. An area of health we often ignore is ear health. When you think about it, ears are an amazing appendage. While our ears are working, even when we sleep, you may not know the brain doesn't process information the same as when you are awake. If you've ever had vertigo or an ear infection, you probably know your ears impact balance because of the fluid in them. When the fluid moves, it sends a signal to your brain which compensates for your balance. Your ears also protect you with earwax, a sticky substance that filters and traps debris and particles to protect your ears. The smallest bones in the body are in your ears. These bones, known as ossicles, function to aid with sound transmittal by capturing reverberation from the air and relaying it back to the brain. As part of genetics, you either have attached, or detached earlobes. Did you know your earlobes never stop growing? Scientists are...

Group B Strep is a common bacteria that is generally harmless and symptomless but, on rare occasions, it can cause a serious bacterial infection in newborn babies. It is a type of streptococcal bacteria that lives in 20 per cent of all women's vaginas and guts as part of the "normal flora", according to Dr Kate Walker, Clinical Associate Professor in Obstetrics at the University of Nottingham. The only time when Group B Strep (GBS) can cause harm is during pregnancy, as the bacteria can pass from the mother to the baby during the birth process. Most babies with a GBS infection make a full recovery but some develop serious conditions such as sepsis or meningitis which can lead to life-long complications and even death. How does Group B Strep affect pregnancy? The UK currently prevents GBS by assessing a range of risk factors to determine whether a woman should be offered intravenous antibiotics during labour to prevent the infection from passing to the ba...

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. This article summarizes how to identify roseola and how to tell the difference between this illness and measles. It also examines whether treatment is necessary. 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 cough swelling or redness around the eyes ear pain swollen glands 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 progress to the neck, face, and limbs within 12–24 hours. The rash disappears after 1–2 days. The roseola rash may look like small pink spots or bumps tha...

Otitis media happens when the middle ear becomes inflamed due to an infection. It is common in children and can follow a sore throat, respiratory infection, or cold. Around 4 out of 5 children will get acute otitis media in their lifetime. It is the second most common cause of emergency department visits in children, following upper respiratory infections. This article discusses otitis media and its symptoms, causes, risk factors, related conditions, complications, and treatment. The article also considers how to prevent it and when to speak with a doctor. Otitis media is the inflammation of the middle ear, an air-filled space that contains the three hearing bones: hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The middle ear is found between the eardrum and the cochlea of the inner ear. Otitis media can be due to viral, bacterial, or coinfection. In many cases, it resolves on its own. In some cases, a doctor may need to prescribe antibiotics. It is an umbrella term for several diseases, including: Acut...

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It can be found in cat feces, undercooked meat, and contaminated food and water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 40 million people in the United States may have the parasite. Of those with the parasite, the people most at risk of serious illness are people with weakened immune systems and babies born to parents with toxoplasmosis. Keep reading to learn more about toxoplasmosis, how it's diagnosed and treated, and the steps you can take to avoid getting this parasitic infection. Most people who've contracted T. gondii show no signs or symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may last for a month or more and usually resolve on their own. Toxoplasmosis symptoms are often flu-like and may include: Toxoplasmosis is especially serious for people who have severely weakened immune systems, potentially leading to complications involving the eyes, brain, lungs, or oth...