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Abdominal Pain in Adults
Learn about causes, symptoms, and treatment of abdominal pain in adults and when to seek medical care for related conditions such as pancreatitis, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and more. -
Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
In addition to helping prevent pregnancy, male condoms -- either latex or vinyl -- can help protect against a number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They include HIV-AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and some genital ulcer diseases. -
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, parasites, intestinal diseases or conditions, reactions to medications, and food intolerance or allergies. Symptoms of diarrhea include watery stools, abdominal cramping, fever, and dehydration. Most cases of diarrhea can be treated at home. In some cases (in the elderly, small children, or those with severe or chronic medical conditions) may need to be hospitalized due to dehydration. -
Diarrhea vs Loose Stool Differences Similarities
Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, an increase in the looseness of stool, or both. Symptoms associated with diarrhea include abdominal pain, especially cramping. Other symptoms depend on the cause of the diarrhea. Loose stools describes stool consistency of your bowel movement like soft, runny, explosive, or hard. Stool color changes may vary from green, yellow, black, and tarry. Treatment for diarrhea and loose stools depend on the causes. -
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A virus (HAV, Hep A) causes inflammation of the liver that is spread from person to person. Learn about symptoms, treatment, vaccines, and when to see a doctor. -
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B (HBV, Hep B) is a liver disease that spreads via blood, semen, saliva, broken skin around the mouth, genitals, or rectum. Read about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. -
Hepatitis B Treatment
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis can be potentially prevented by the available hepatitis vaccines for both infants, children, and adults. Hepatitis B treatment options include a class of medications called nucleoside/nucleotide analogues, and interferons. Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions should be discussed with a doctor prior to starting treatment with hepatitis B medicaitons. -
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C (HCV, Hep C) is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection of the HCV virus, typically spread through blood contact. Learn about symptoms, prevention, and treatment. -
Hepatitis C Kills More People Than HIV Infection
Hepatitis C kills more people each year than HIV infection. Both diseases are viral and are transmitted sexually and through sharing intravenous needles. Hepatitis C is especially easy to spread because symptoms don't manifest for years in some cases, meaning someone who is infected may not know it. -
Current and Future Medications for Hepatitis C
Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is referred to as hepatitis C. There are a variety of treatments available for hepatitis C, depending on the type and severity of infection to include: antiviral medications, interferon's, ribavarin drugs, protease inhibitors. Additional treatment includes lifestyle changes and home care, surgery, and liver transplant. There is no vaccination for hepatitis C. -
How Can You Test for STDs at Home
People can check for STDs at home with home testing kits that are sent to labs. Kits require people to send in a sample to test, such as a urine sample, finger prick blood sample, or vaginal, anal, or oral swab. If you receive a positive result, seek medical treatment immediately and notify any sexual partners so they can get tested. -
How Do You Get Tested for STDs
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diagnosed with a patient history, which may include sexual history, and a physical examination. Doctors check for STDs with tests such as blood tests, urine tests, and swabs to collect samples from the vagina (including a Pap test), urethra, throat, or rectum. -
How Do You Know If Your Liver Is Failing
Liver failure symptoms and signs include yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice), abdominal distension from fluid accumulation (ascites), right upper quadrant pain or tenderness, enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), fatigue, feeling unwell (malaise), lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, itching, difficulty sleeping, confusion, and comatose. -
How Do You Make Nausea Go Away
Nausea is an uncomfortable feeling of being queasy, which can be present before vomiting or without vomiting. To make nausea go away, you can opt for home remedies such as inhaling peppermint oil and medical treatment such as fluids administered intravenously (IV) and medications. -
Is Balanitis an STD
Balanitis is a common condition that causes inflammation of the head of the penis (the glans). While balanitis is not an STD (sexually transmitted disease) in itself, certain infections, including some STDs, can cause balanitis and balanoposthitis, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), trichomonas, syphilis, yeast infections (Candida), and streptococcus infections. Other conditions that may lead to types of balanitis include lichen sclerosus, zoon balanitis, and Reiter disease. -
Is Hepatitis an STD
There are several types of hepatitis, an infection and inflammation of the liver, some of which can be transmitted sexually (particularly hepatitis B). -
Is Hepatitis Contagious Hep C Hepatitis A B
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are caused by viruses and are contagious, but each illness is spread differently. -
Is Herpes Really an STD
Both genital herpes and oral herpes are considered STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and are transmitted during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Oral herpes is also transmitted from person to person from kissing, sharing a fork or knife, or other types of close contact. -
Is HPV Human Papilloma Virus an STD
HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the U.S. An estimated 79 million people in the U.S. are infected with HPV, mostly people in their late teens and early 20s. -
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellow staining of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by abnormally high blood levels of the bile pigment bilirubin. Examples of the causes of jaundice include; malaria, sickle cell disease, drugs, toxins, newborn jaundice, gallstones, pancreatitis, and autoimmune disorders. Some of the common symptoms of jaundice include yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes, light colored stools, dark urine, and itching of the skin. Treatment for jaundice depends on the cause. -
Liver Blood Tests
Liver blood tests are used to check the levels and function of liver enzymes in the blood called AST and ALT or aminotransferases in the blood. Symptoms of elevated or high liver enzymes in the blood include fever, abdominal pain, poor appetite, itching, and nausea. Normal levels of liver enzymes in blood are caused by liver diseases caused by drugs, for example, acetaminophen (Tylenol), pain medications, and statins. Less common causes of abnormal levels of ALT or AST levels in the blood are alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases (NASH), hepatitis, and alcoholism. Normal levels of ALT ranges from about 7-56 units/liter, and 10-40 units/liters for AST. Elevated (high) and low liver enzymes elevated levels of AST and ALT may signify the level of liver damage the person has. A blood sample is sent to the laboratory for measurement. Usually, you doctor will have the results interpreted within a few hours to days. Liver blood tests are used to check normal, elevated (high), and low blood levels of liver enzymes (AST and ALT or aminotransferases). Symptoms of elevated levels of liver enzymes are fever, abdominal pain, poor appetite, and nausea. Drugs, for example, acetaminophen (Tylenol), pain drugs, and statins caused high levels of liver enzymes. Less common causes are NASH, hepatitis, and alcoholism. -
Liver
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins).The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include; cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver). Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice. -
Liver Transplant
Liver disease is a serious problem; the liver is one of the most-frequently transplanted organ in the United States. -
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States. STDs can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs, the anus or mouth, or through contact with blood during sexual activity. Examples of STDs include, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B, trichomoniasis, pubic lice (crabs), and scabies.Treatment is generally with antibiotics; however, some STDs that go untreated can lead to death. -
STDs in Men (Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Men)
Learn about the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in men including genital herpes, syphilis, HPV, scabies, crabs, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, hepatitis, and chancroid. -
Abdominal Pain in Children
Abdominal pain in children can range from trivial to life-threatening. Symptoms of abdominal pain range from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, groin pain, urinary problems, or skin rash. The location of the abdominal pain may be around the belly button, occurs only at night, while eating. The pain pain also may be intermittent. Treatment of abdominal pain in children is depends on the cause. Possible causes of abdominal pain in children include infections, food related (food allergy or food poisoning), poisoning from medication, food, household products, appendicitis, diabetes, or spider bites. -
Stool Color Changes
Stool color changes and textures to black, tarry, sticky, red, maroon, clay-colored, gray, pale, and yellow can have a variety of causes. Causes include hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, tumors, alcohol abuse, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, cancers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular bleeding due to diverticulitis, medication, changes in diet, and other conditions. Treatment of changes in stool color depend on the cause. -
Symptoms and Signs Nausea
Nausea is the sensation of an urge to vomit. Nausea can be acute and short-lived, or it can be prolonged. When prolonged, it is a debilitating symptom. Nausea (and vomiting) can be psychological or physical in origin. -
Vomiting and Nausea
Vomiting and nausea are common complaints that accompany many conditions and diseases. A few common causes of vomiting and nausea include food poisoning, viruses, vertigo, head injuries, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, migraine, brain tumors, and infections. Treatment of vomiting and nausea depend on the cause of the symptoms. -
Weight Loss and Control
Obesity is simply the accumulation of excess body fat. It is much more than that, however. Obesity is a chronic (long-term) disease that is very difficult to treat. It takes 3,500 extra calories to gain 1 pound. To lose weight, you must eat 3,500 calories less than you need, say, 500 fewer calories per day for one week, to lose 1 pound. -
What Causes Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined as loose stools occurring three or more times in a day. Chronic diarrhea is diarrhea that is persistent or lasts from two to four weeks. There are many possible causes of diarrhea, such as eating certain foods, viral infections (norovirus, rotavirus, viral gastroenteritis, COVID-19), bacterial infections, parasitic infections, digestive problems and diseases, some medications, long-term use of medications, laxative use, caffeine intake, alcohol use, food allergies and intolerances, and complications due to past abdominal surgeries. -
What Happens If You Get an STD
STDs (sexually transmitted diseases, sexually transmitted infections, STIs) are common illnesses you can get through sexual activity with an infected person. STD symptoms vary depending on the condition. Some cause more obvious signs such as genital sores or unusual discharge, but not always. Sometimes there aree no symptoms at all. -
What Is Usually the First Sign of an STD
The first sign of an STD (sexually transmitted disease) depends on the infection and sometimes there are no symptoms. Symptoms may include abnormal vaginal or penile discharge, pain or burning sensation when urinating, rectal or anal pain, discharge, itching, soreness, or bleeding; genital blisters or sores, genital warts, and others. -
What Light Type Phototherapy for Jaundice
Different bulbs and colors of light -- usually in the blue-green part of the spectrum -- penetrate skin and help the body clear the excess bilirubin that causes the yellow skin coloration of jaundice. -
When Should I Worry About Lower Abdominal Pain
Symptoms of lower abdominal pain depend on the cause. When the cause of abdominal pain is serious and accompanied by the following symptoms, you should see a doctor. These symptoms include pain that is severe and lasts more than an hour or comes and goes for more than 24 hours, pain starts suddenly, fever greater than 102°f (39°c), black and tarry stool, bloody bowel movements, vomiting, inability to eat or drink for several hours, diarrhea, weight loss without trying, loss of appetite, and feeling a lump in the abdomen.
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What Happens If You Get an STD? STDs (sexually transmitted diseases, sexually transmitted infections, STIs) are common illnesses you can get through sexual activity with an infected person. STD symptoms vary depending on the condition. Some cause more obvious signs such as genital sores or unusual discharge, but not always. Sometimes there aree no symptoms at all.