What Is Epiglottitis? Topic Guide

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. People with pneumonia usually experience coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death from infection.

Vaccinations are some of the most important tools available for preventing disease. Most children get all their shots during childhood. Parents should consult their doctors about which vaccines their children should have and when. Keep track of your children's immunizations yourself.

Cocaine is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the U.S. Symptoms of cocaine abuse include dilated pupils, recurrent nosebleeds, and hallucinations. Medical professionals diagnose cocaine abuse by looking for signs and symptoms such as cocaine-induced headaches and cocaine-induced seizures; psychiatric complications like anxiety, hallucinations, and psychoses; nasal and throat complications like nosebleed and perforated nasal septum; pulmonary conditions like asthma and pneumonia; cardiovascular complications; and infectious complications.

Croup is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that typically affects children under 3 years of age. Symptoms include: a barking cough, cold, and low-grade fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be given to treat a fever or sore throat, and mist, humidified air, and exposure to cold air are routinely recommended by physicians. Severe croup may require hospitalization.

Drug dependence is the physical need for a certain substance. Drug abuse and dependence comprise a huge public health problem with no easy treatment available.

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) has many causes. Dysphagia can be caused by diseases of the brain, diseases or conditions that affect muscle function, diseases of the esophagus, or obstructions of the upper digestive tract and esophagus. Symptoms of dysphagia generally is a mild to severe form of difficulty swallowing. Treatment of dysphagia depends on the cause.

A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin.

Fever is defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38 C. Fever isn't life-threatening unless it is persistently high - greater than a 107 F rectal temperature. Fever is usually caused by an infection. Treatment focuses on controlling the temperature, preventing dehydration, and monitoring for serious illness.

At least 45,000 adults in the United States die of complications of influenza, pneumococcal infections, and hepatitis B each year. Adults need the following vaccines: chickenpox, hepatitis B, MMR, Td/Tdap, flu, shingles, and pneumococcal.

Oral herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. The virus causes painful sores on your lips, gums, tongue, roof of your mouth, and inside your cheeks.

A peritonsillar abscess is a collection of infected fluid and pus in the throat next to one of the tonsils. Symptoms are pain, swelling, diffiulty breathing, speaking, and swallowing. This condition can be caused by strep throat, dental infection or other infection. Doctors may treat the abscess by draining it and administering antibiotics.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Initially, the virus causes chickenpox. The virus remains dormant in the body until the virus is reactivated by a trigger such as stress, fatigue, cancer, radiation treatments, injury, HIV/AIDS, or a weakened immune system. Symptoms include pain in a broad band on one side of the body, fever, chills, headache, itching, and a red, raised rash. Treatment may incorporate pain medication, applying cool compresses, and avoiding skin-to-skin contact with others.

Sore throats are generally named for the anatomical site affected, such as: the pharynx, tonsils, adenoids, larynx, and epiglottis. Sore throat treatment depends on the cause, infection, viral, or fungal.

Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria that causes infection (often called a "staph infection"). Staphylococcus can cause infections in almost any organ system in the body. Symptoms of visible staph infections are a redness, swelling, tenderness, pus or crusty covering at the site of infection. Bacterial culture is used to test for staph infection. Treatment may involve surgery and/or antibiotics.

Strep throat is a disease caused by infection with streptococcal bacteria. Strep throat is contagious. Strep throat symptoms include fever, pain, redness, and swelling of the throat and tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, white or yellow patches on the back of the throat. Treatment for strep throat includes home remedies to sooth symptoms such as throat lozenges, OTC medications, herbal teas to sooth the throat, and hydration. Medical treatment for strep throat includes antibiotics to prevent complications.