Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Overview Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) illness. It can be life-threatening. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. This can happen through sharing needles or syringes, or from unsafe medical procedures such as blood transfusions with unscreened blood products. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be treated with antiviral medications. Early detection and treatment can prevent serious liver damage and improve long-term health. Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Around 30% (15–45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment. The remaining 70% (55–85%) of persons will develop chronic HCV infection. Of those w...

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Overview Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) illness. It can be life-threatening. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. This can happen through sharing needles or syringes, or from unsafe medical procedures such as blood transfusions with unscreened blood products. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be treated with antiviral medications. Early detection and treatment can prevent serious liver damage and improve long-term health. Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Around 30% (15–45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment. The remaining 70% (55–85%) of persons will develop chronic HCV infection. Of those w...

What is heart disease? Heart disease is a variety of issues that can affect your heart. When people think about heart disease, they often think of the most common type — coronary artery disease (CAD) and the heart attacks it can cause. But you can have trouble with different parts of your heart, like your heart muscle, valves or electrical system. When your heart isn't working well, it has trouble sending enough blood, oxygen and nutrients to your body. In a way, your heart delivers the fuel that keeps your body's systems running. If there's a problem with delivering that fuel, it affects everything your body's systems do. Lifestyle changes and medications can keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting heart disease. What are the types of heart disease? Heart disease types include: Narrowing of your heart's blood vessels because of fatty deposits (coronary artery disease). Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Heart valve diseases. Abnormal heart musc...

Social workers have an increasingly important role to play in breaking down barriers among underserved populations, including misconceptions about hospice that can deter or dampen utilization. Social workers can be pivotal to shaping care delivery approaches and community outreach efforts that improve hospice access and understanding, according to Arlen Gaines, licensed clinical social worker and director of hospice social services at Maryland-based Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA). Gaines has worked in the hospice field for more than 15 years and is currently a PhD candidate in palliative care at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Some of the nation's most underserved communities can hold a wealth of diverse faith backgrounds and beliefs. The nature of social workers' roles on an interdisciplinary hospice team give them a unique, inside look into how faith, religion and belief systems can impact understanding of end-of-life care, Gaines said. ...

Finan said there is encouraging research now that psilocybin may help treat depression, which can be associated with chronic lower back pain. "The data over the last several years about the effects of psilocybin on depression have really been eye-opening," he said. "Better than we typically see in pharmaceutical or psychotherapeutic interventions."  The new research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is a collaboration between UVA and Johns Hopkins University, where Finan previously worked. The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins will host the trials. Finan explained that chronic pain can be both pernicious and long-lasting, while also being hard to pin down for treatment. "In the case of chronic lower back pain, an MRI can show clear pathology in the spine," he said. "Other times, and really quite often, patients will report they are experiencing real chronic lower back pain that's not viewable b...

Fifth disease, or slapped cheek syndrome, can cause a bright red rash on one or both cheeks while the rest of the face is pale. On darker skin, it may be harder to see. Fifth disease, known medically as erythema infectiosum, results from infection with the parvovirus B19. It is one of the five most common viral diseases in children, along with measles, rubella, chicken pox, and roseola. Fifth disease mainly affects children aged 5–15 years . Less commonly, adults can also develop it. However, they are less likely to have a rash. Other symptoms may include a mild fever, aches, joint pain, and a general feeling of being unwell, known as malaise. The rash usually last around 4–5 days and a person will usually feel better within 3 weeks. Fifth disease is usually a mild illness that goes away on its own. However, it can be more serious during pregnancy and for people with certain health conditions. This article will explain how to recognize fifth disease and what to expect, particularly r...