Strep throat vs a sore throat   When researching strep throat, the term pharyngitis comes up quite a bit and some articles even use “strep throat” and “pharyngitis” interchangeably. To start, pharyngitis is simply inflammation of the pharynx, otherwise known as a sore throat. Pharyngitis can be caused by a variety of factors, including both viral and bacterial infections. Strep throat is the result of a bacterial infection, which in turn can cause a sore throat.   Strep throa

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal brain disorder caused by misfolded prion proteins. These prions destroy brain cells, causing rapid dementia, coordination issues, and muscle spasms. With no cure, care focuses on symptom relief and comfort for patients and their families.

Introduction: A Microbial Defense Becomes Medicine CRISPR , short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats , was first discovered in bacteria and archaea as a natural defense mechanism against viruses. These sequences store snippets of viral DNA, effectively creating a genetic memory that allows the organism to recognize and destroy invaders. Over decades, scientists have harnessed this system to develop powerful gene-editing tools , with applications now

Have you ever had smallpox? It’s a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that killed an estimated 300 to 500 million people in the 20th century. If you were born in 1980 or later, you most likely haven’t had it. This is because, in 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated. But how? Population immunization is a public health strategy that protects communities from infectious diseases by using vaccines. The more people who are vaccinated, the

Once thought to be largely under control, measles is again making headlines around the world. Despite the availability of a safe and highly effective vaccine, cases are rising in countries that had previously eliminated the disease including Canada, the United States, and across Europe. This resurgence raises critical questions: Why is a vaccine-preventable disease returning? And what can be done to stop its spread? Understanding Measles Measles, also known as rubeola or red

Introduction Strongyloidiasis, an infection caused by the soil-transmitted helminth Strongyloides stercoralis , is often asymptomatic in...

It was 1986 in the UK when for the first time the mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was first...

By Sherry Ainsworth, MSN, RN, ARNP   What is COPD? COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) refers to a group of lung problems that...

Herpes virus (DNA virus) courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Viruses are non-living invaders who penetrate the body's defenses. Once in the...

What is Mad Cow Disease and How is it Caused? Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is a disease that impacts the brain...

Introduction Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic, zoonotic virus that poses a serious threat to public health due to its high...

What are "Phages"? Phages attacking an E. Coli cell, injecting their DNA through the cell membrane. Phages, also known as Bacteriophages,...

If you’ve been planning a trip to a tropical country, you’re probably thinking of sun-soaked beaches, cool summer waters, and a margarita...

Written by Mariam Mohammed Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that many people assumed was mostly gone, especially with...

Each year in the United States, about 2 million people get infected by a bacteria that resists antibiotics, and at last 23 thousandths...

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn  | Email Introduction In recent years, Mpox—formerly known as monkeypox—has evolved from a largely...

A big step forward... but we are not there yet! More than 40 years after HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) was first identified,...

By Nikki Elmi Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with...

The lungs, formerly believed to be sterile, are now understood to be a complex environment that is home to a variety of microorganisms...

WHAT IS FOODBORNE ILLNESS? Foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, is caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages. A...