Many people associate discomfort, pain and fatigue with shingles. While it’s true that most, if not all, symptoms of shingles are uncomfortable, is it safe to say that shingles always cause pain?
The answer to this question is relative and largely based on the infected person’s tolerance for pain. Analyzing the symptoms of shingles and how most people respond to them can help us accurately assess whether shingles are always painful.
Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with influenza and pneumonia. Approximately one-third of all pneumonia cases began as the flu. The flu is a well-known respiratory virus that has a broad list of complications. Pneumonia is one of the most common. Both the flu and pneumonia are respiratory illnesses that can work together to damage your lungs and potentially lead to death.
Many people assume that most conditions are as contagious as the flu or coronavirus. But, shingles is one example of an infection that does not spread.
Shingles is not directly contagious. It is a viral infection that causes painful rashes on the body. It usually develops on one side of the body and can affect the face, back, abdomen, mouth, and internal organs. When someone first experiences shingles, there is a tingling, burning sensation in the skin.
If left untreated, tuberculosis will kill. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) leads to the development of lesions in organ tissues. The most common form of TB, known as pulmonary tuberculosis, can cause severe lung damage leading to respiratory complications and eventual death.
Being pregnant can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It is a journey, one where you want to keep you and your little one safe until the baby’s eventual arrival. This includes all of the various tests and vaccines that women get when they are pregnant. It is well known that pregnant women should receive a flu shot, but what about tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine? Should you get one? The answer to that question is a definite yes.
Antimalarial medication is used to both prevent and treat malaria. When used correctly and taken for the prescribed duration, these medications can reduce your chance of contracting malaria by up to a staggering 90%.
Taking antimalarials can be an essential step to keeping you safe on your trip abroad. For some travellers, access to antimalarials could be a crucial reason to visit a travel clinic. Should you consider antimalarials? Here are the questions travellers should be asking themselves before they travel to a malaria-endemic location.
Vaccines are created with a common purpose: to keep us safe while stopping the spread of deadly illnesses. But, not all vaccines are developed in the same way. Two of the main types of vaccines are weakened and dead vaccines. What exactly are weakened and dead vaccines? And what is the difference between the two?
Although it may not feel like it, the fall months are right around the corner. Colder, wetter temperatures causing people to stay inside also bring increased exposure to germs and viruses. Suddenly finding yourself with a runny nose, cough, and muscle aches from the common cold or influenza is not uncommon during the colder seasons.
While influenza may seem more like a nuisance than a fatal disease, it is possible to die from the virus. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported of the 35.5 million people sick from influenza, 34,200 people died from the disease between 2018-2019.
But just how deadly is influenza and who is most at risk?
Our primary method of vaccination uses a needle and syringe to inject a serum into our bodies which helps train our immune system to protect us from infections. But, scientists are discovering new needle-free methods of vaccination.
Needle-free vaccines are being developed as a response to many concerns about standard needle-syringe vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, estimates that more than 300,000 healthcare providers experience needle-stick injuries annually in US hospitals. An estimated 5 accidental needle-stick injuries occur per 100 injections worldwide, posing a considerable risk to healthcare workers.
Getting sick during or after travelling is nothing new. Washing hands frequently, wearing a mask, and being careful what you eat and drink can help protect you from illness when in a new place.
Most travellers do not think about protecting their eyes when they travel. Pink eye — also known as conjunctivitis — can be irritating, possibly painful, and will make travel less fun. Knowing how to safeguard your peepers from pink eye can save you from this annoyance while on vacation.
