Monthly Archives: March 2009

Also called: Cat bites, Dog bitesWild animals usually avoid people. They might attack, however, if they feel threatened, are sick, or are protecting their young or territory. Attacks by pets are more common. Animal bites rarely are life-threatening, but if … Continue reading →

Also called: EosinophiliaEosinophils are a type of white blood cell. They contain particles filled with chemicals that fight off infections and play a role in your body’s immune response. Normally your blood doesn’t have a large number of eosinophils. Your … Continue reading →

Health disparities refer to differences between groups of people. These differences can affect how frequently a disease affects a group, how many people get sick, or how often the disease causes death. Read more to view related video clips

Also called: StrepStreptococcal infections (strep for short) cause a variety of health problems. There are two types: group A and group B. Antibiotics are used to treat both. Read more to view related video clips

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, such as your hip and thigh bones. It contains immature cells, called stem cells. The stem cells can develop into the red blood cells that carry oxygen through your … Continue reading →

In the U.S., the government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve any drug – whether it’s prescription or over-the-counter – before it can be sold. The FDA evaluates the safety of a drug by looking at side effects, how … Continue reading →

Being a teenager is hard. You’re under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with your family and make big decisions. You can’t avoid most of these pressures, and worrying about them is normal. But feeling very … Continue reading →

Also called: Balloon angioplastyIf you have coronary artery disease, the arteries in your heart are narrowed or blocked by a sticky material called plaque. Angioplasty is a procedure to restore blood flow through the artery. Read more to view related … Continue reading →

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) makes it hard for you to breathe. Coughing up mucus is often the first sign of COPD. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are common COPDs. Read more to view related video clips

Also called: PediculosisHead lice are parasitic wingless insects. They live on people’s heads and feed on their blood. An adult is called a louse and is about the size of a sesame seed. The eggs, called nits, are even smaller … Continue reading →