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Contraception/Birth Control What is birth control? Birth control is any activity, medicine, or equipment used to prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available for people who do not wish to become pregnant. The decision on which method is right for you should

Fever What is a fever? A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. It often means there is an abnormal process occurring in the body. Exercise, hot weather, inflammation, infection, vaccines, and many other things can make body temperature rise. What causes a fever

Shingles What is shingles? Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common infection of the nerves. It is caused by a virus. Shingles set off a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on only one side of the face or

Sprains and Strains in Children What are sprains and strains in children? Sprains and strains are types of injuries. A sprain is an injury to a ligament while a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Ligaments and tendons are made of fibrous tissue. They connect different

Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves What are heart valves? The heart has four chambers: two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). Blood passes through a valve before leaving each chamber of the heart. The valves prevent the backward flow of blood

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) in Children What is SCID in children? SCID is a very rare disease. It causes a child to have a very weak immune system (immunodeficiency). As a result, the child is unable to fight off even mild infections. The disease is also known as the

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) in Children What is staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in children? Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a serious skin infection. The infection causes peeling skin over large parts of the body. It looks like the skin has

Perimenopause What is perimenopause? Perimenopause is the transitional time around menopause. Menopause is when a woman’s periods stop. It’s marked by changes in the menstrual cycle, along with other physical and emotional symptoms. This time can last 2 to 8 years. During this

Salmonella Infections What are salmonella infections? Salmonella infection is caused by the bacteria salmonella. Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause diarrhea in humans. There are many different kinds of salmonella bacteria. What causes salmonella infections

Screening Tests for Common Diseases What is a screening test? A screening test is done to find possible health problems or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms of disease. The goal is to find a problem early enough to lower the risk for the disease . Or to find it early