Viruses

Deadly rodent-carrying virus found in TLC's Hoarding home

Michelle Leach — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:46:00 -0700

The team behind TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive is accustomed to stomach-churning sights and smells. But a woman on the TV show's clean-up crew got more than the obligatory mummified cat, testing positive for a virus that recently claimed three lives at Yosemite.

Coxsackie virus

Michelle Maffei — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:00:00 -0700

Your child is feeling under the weather, but is it a common case of the flu or signs of the coxsackie virus? Most commonly known in hand, foot and mouth disease form, kids are at a higher risk of coming down with the cox virus when they meet certain criteria. From virus symptoms to how to keep the illness from spreading, learn more about how the coxsackie virus can affect your child.

The mom's guide to cold & flu season essentials

Jennifer Kampp — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:08:00 -0800

Cold season is in full swing, and when your little one tugs on your pant leg and says, "Mommy, I don't feel good," she's counting on you to come to the rescue. With a few feel-good products on hand all winter long, moms can help sick kids feel better.

Stop the spread of cold and flu in your family

Molly Cerreta Smith — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:44:00 -0800

Winter is here, and that means holiday festivities, snowball fights and seasonal sniffles. Here are some ways to protect your family from getting sick with the common cold, the flu and H1N1 this season.

Protecting your children from the flu

Julie Kraut — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:17:00 -0700

The leaves are getting brown. The air is getting crisp. The kids are getting sick. It must be fall!

Flu vs. colds: What you need to know

Julie Kraut — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:05:00 -0700

Paired like peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin, and Oprah and Gayle, the cold and the flu are their own dynamic duo. Medicine boxes promise relief from both cold and flu symptoms, and the illnesses are used interchangeably in everyday conversation -- so you have to wonder: What's the difference between the two, and does it even really matter?

Are you at risk for the flu?

Julie Kraut — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

'Tis the season to be, well, sick. That's right: Flu season is upon us, and right about now is the time to start thinking about vaccination. But is vaccination for you? Are you even at risk for the flu?

MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine

Jennifer Weatherhead — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:52:00 -0700

The childhood vaccination commonly known as MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine

Jennifer Weatherhead — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:49:00 -0700

Japanese encephalitis is a disease that affects the brain and can cause brain damage or death -- but it can be prevented by the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

The yellow fever vaccine

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:42:00 -0700

Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes. The potentially serious infection can be prevented by the yellow fever vaccine, which is recommended for people traveling to high-risk areas such as South America and Africa.

Immune serum globulin vaccine

Jennifer Weatherhead — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:37:00 -0700

The immune serum globulin vaccine helps protect against hepatitis B, a viral disease that can damage the liver.

The chicken pox (varicella) vaccine

Jennifer Weatherhead — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:27:00 -0700

Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a virus that causes a high fever and characteristic itchy red rash that can range from a few spots to hundreds that cover the entire body. A vaccine is available to prevent the dreaded childhood disease.

The rabies vaccine

Jennifer Weatherhead — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:18:00 -0700

Rabies, a virus primarily transmitted through contact with infected animals, can be prevented by two types of rabies vaccines.

The H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:32:00 -0700

The H1N1 flu virus, more commonly called swine flu, is considered pandemic, putting people worldwide at risk of getting the disease. Experts are developing a vaccine to protect against H1N1, or swine flu.

The rotavirus vaccines

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:55:00 -0700

Rotavirus is an infectious disease that attacks the intestinal tract. The potentially serious illness can be prevented with the rotavirus vaccines.

The hepatitis A vaccine

Jeanne Sager — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:50:00 -0700

The rates of Hepatitis A are the lowest they have been in four decades, and the Centers for Disease Control credits a hepatitis A vaccine primarily given to kids and travelers.

The herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:09:00 -0700

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a painful localized skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus , the same virus that causes chickenpox. The herpes zoster vaccine can protect against herpes zoster or shingles.

The rubella vaccine

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:43:00 -0700

Rubella, aka German measles, is an infectious disease that can cause serious health problems for children, especially for unborn babies. The rubella vaccine is given to children as part of the MMR vaccination, which also protects against measles and mumps.

The smallpox vaccine

Sarah Kelsey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:04:00 -0700

Smallpox is a highly contagious infection characterized by high fever and an extensive rash. The sometimes fatal disease is transmitted through direct contact. Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years but have been eradicated due to a successful worldwide vaccination program.