Infections

Germs have gotten a bad rap. Some of them are actually good for us, like the ones in our intestines that help us break down

Tooth Abscess

Kaye Wellborn* will never forget her first — and last — abscessed tooth. The San Francisco 49ers had just won the Superbowl, and a huge,

Toothache

Most of us have been there: What starts as a dull ache or uncomfortable jolt when you sip your ice tea signals the onset of

Bird Flu

During two years in the 20th century, a deadly strain of influenza , known as the “Spanish flu,” spread across the globe, killing anywhere from

HIV: An Epidemic of Despair, Reasons for Hope

Among chronic diseases, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses challenges to those struck with it that others can barely imagine, says Cheryl Gore-Felton, PhD, an

Chagas Disease

Chagas disease — a serious infection that may lead to heart disease and even death — doesn’t get much attention in the United States. Most

Amebiasis

What is amebiasis? As the name suggests, amebiasis is a disease caused by an amoeba. In this case, the culprit is Entamoeba histolytica, a one-celled,

Hepatitis C: The Hidden Epidemic

In 1968 Haight-Ashbury, in the afterglow of the Summer of Love, Steve Cochran* shot up heroin for the first time. He was 16, one of

Living Healthy With HIV

Getting infected with HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus — is a life-changing event. With access to treatment, that’s life-changing — not life-ending. If you