You've likely heard of the condition, but what is lupus? Simply put, it's a group of autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. In the United States, lupus affects one in 2,000 people. Lupus can affect multiple systems of the body, including the joints, … Read More
Typhus is a group of bacterial diseases with a long history. “Epidemic typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii is one of the oldest pestilential diseases of humankind,” according to researchers of an article published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum. Despite hanging around for centuries, giving generations of researchers a chance to … Read More
People are understandably concerned when told they need a biopsy. What is a biopsy? What is the purpose? How is it performed? Who does it? Where? Does it hurt? What are the risks? What will the results mean? What happens next? Here are the answers to those questions and more. … Read More
You may have heard the term scleroderma but what does it mean? The first half of the word has roots in the Greek word "skleros," or "hard." The second half of the word, "-derma," means "skin." According to the American College of Rheumatology, “Scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis) is an autoimmune … Read More
When it comes to a suspected case of Celiac disease or food allergy symptoms, everyone’s reaction is usually the same: "Okay, what am I in for? How much time will this take? Is there a gluten-free food list? And what will it cost?" Notions of how to care for loved … Read More
There are four subtypes of melanoma, and nodular melanoma is the most aggressive of all. It spirals downward and deeply into the layers of skin, but will show up on the surface as a firm symmetrical bump, lump, or nodule. By the time some people recognize something is wrong, it … Read More
Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are forms of skin cancer that are less invasive and less likely to spread than melanomas, but they still need to be diagnosed, treated, and prevented. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. It is classified as a … Read More
