Shingles is a common viral infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Like chickenpox, shingles causes a painful rash to appear on the skin. If you had chickenpox as a child, you have a higher risk of developing shingles as an adult. Shingles normally affects people over 50, but it can affect anyone.

The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your nerves after it subsides. It can reawaken later in life as the shingles virus. When the virus reactivates, the infected nerves, and the skin the nerves go to, become inflamed, causing a burning or stabbing pain. A few days later, when the virus reaches the skin, a rash of blisters appears. The skin may be very sensitive, unable to tolerate even the lightest touch.

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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.

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People in good health should receive a flu vaccination each year so that they are protected against illness during the flu season, which typically starts in October and ends in the spring. No matter what the size of your company, now is the time to start thinking about holding a workplace flu shot program in order to guarantee the health of your employees later on in the year. However, organizing an on-site flu clinic might seem a bit daunting and you may have concerns about how to maximize the number of vaccinations while not affecting the operation of your business. Thankfully, the process is much easier than you might expect! Here are some tips on how to make your flu shot program a success.

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The case of Typhoid Mary sparked a public health debate in early 1900s New York, and her legacy continues to be discussed to this day. March marks the 100th anniversary of Mary Mallon, an Irish cook who inadvertently infected multiple people with typhoid fever and was later placed in isolated quarantine for over 20 years of her life.

Typhoid fever is caused by a strain of Salmonella bacteria, resulting in high fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Mary was a carrier of typhoid, meaning she appeared healthy but continued to carry the bacteria in her body. Her story is unique because it brought to light the conflicting priorities of public health policies and individual freedom. During that time, typhoid had no cure and was sometimes fatal. Mary is thought to have caused over seven outbreaks, 50 infections and three fatalities over a period of 15 years.  What can we learn from her case?  read on to find out!

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Cholera, a bacterial disease usually spread by food or water, can be fatal if not treated right away.

The disease initially causes intestinal distress and dehydration. Cholera is a fast-acting disease that can turn deadly within hours. Poor sanitation and unclean water systems create a breeding ground for cholera in developing countries. Areas like Yemen and Haiti have ongoing cholera outbreaks that have spread to millions.

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World Kidney Day is March 12th, and it offers an opportunity to discuss how to travel safely when dealing with kidney problems. For individuals suffering from kidney issues, travel is still very possible, and it can be a huge morale booster. In fact, many doctors encourage travel for dialysis patients, as long as their health is stable.

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Some areas of the world have been able to get rid of malaria.

Even with decades of outbreaks, the parasite is gone in many countries. However, even if countries eradicate a disease, travelers always pose a risk of bringing it back.

This problem is even plaguing hospitals in the United States. Despite getting rid of the parasite long ago, 1,500 malaria cases can be found in U.S. clinics every year.

With the ease of travel and malaria’s persistence, is it even possible to fully eradicate the parasite around the world?

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Diseases sometimes take time before wreaking havoc in humans.

They start off as tiny, mostly harmless germs. But, those germs start to grow and get stronger, looking for some creature to latch onto and cause damage.

Usually those infected creature are animals. Infecting pigs, rodents, insects and other creatures, a virus becomes stronger and harder to eliminate.

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The image of a pus-filled lesion can bring up many reactions. Most often, someone may feel revulsion, disgust or even nausea.

But, for soldiers fighting in the trenches during the Civil War, those lesions could inspire hope.

Not hope in the war efforts, but for their own safety.

The violent battles may get attention for causing death in the Civil War, but disease was the real danger. Typhoid fever, measles and tuberculosis were among the many deadly viruses that killed more than the war itself.

Among the most dangerous of these diseases was smallpox.

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Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects hundreds of millions of people each year. Recent estimates show over 300 million people are infected each year, and more than 1 million die from the disease. However, many travelers decide to forego the necessary malaria medications before and after traveling.

In some cases this is because travelers ‘believe’ they won’t get malaria despite the fact that a risk is indicated. Often, these individuals think because they are staying for a short time in an endemic region or are staying at a resort, they are safe. This is not correct.

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