Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. The coughing can make it hard to breathe. A deep "whooping" sound is often heard when the patient tries to take a breath.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an upper respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis bacteria. It is a serious disease that can cause permanent disability in infants, and even death.
When an infected person sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets containing the bacteria move through the air, and the disease is easily spread from person to person. Initial symptoms, similar to the common cold, usually develop about a week after exposure to the bacteria. Severe episodes of coughing start about 10 to 12 days later. In children, the coughing often ends with a "whoop" noise. The sound is produced when the patient tries to take a breathe. The whoop is rare in patients under 6 months of age and in adults. Coughing spells may lead to vomiting. Pertussis should always be considered when vomiting occurs with coughing. In infants, choking spells are common.
Ear infection - acute (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which means an inflammation and infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is located just behind the eardrum. The term "acute" refers to a short and painful episode. An ear infection that lasts a long time or comes and goes is called chronic otitis media. For links to other types of ear infections, see otitis. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/09/2006
Sinusitis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses. This is generally caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucous membranes. Healthy sinuses are sterile (meaning that they contain no bacteria or other organisms) and open, allowing mucus to drain and air to circulate. When inflamed, the sinuses become blocked with mucus and can become infected. Each year, over 30 million adults and children get sinusitis. Sinusitis can be acute (lasting anywhere from 2 - 8 weeks) or chronic, with symptoms lingering much longer. See also: Chronic sinusitis Reviewer: James L. Demetroulakos, M.D., F.A.C.S., Department of Otolaryngology, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. Clinical Instructor in Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2007
Urinary tract infection (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the: Bladder; Kidneys; Ureters - the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder; Urethra - the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside. Reviewer: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/23/2007
Chickenpox (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chickenpox is one of the classic childhood diseases, and one of the most contagious. The affected child or adult may develop hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled blisters that burst and form crusts. Chickenpox is caused by a virus. The virus that causes chickenpox is varicella-zoster, a member of the herpesvirus family. The same virus also causes herpes zoster (shingles) in adults. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/26/2007
Genital herpes (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted viral infection affecting the skin of the genitals. Reviewer: Kenneth M. Wener, M.D., Department of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/01/2007
Avian influenza(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Avian influenza is flu infection in birds.¿The disease is of concern to humans, who have no immunity against it. The virus that causes this infection in birds can mutate (change) to easily infect humans. Such mutation can start a deadly worldwide epidemic. Reviewer: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Cyrus Badshah, MD, PhD, Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Harlem Hospital Center and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.(June 2006)Date: 04/17/2007
Otitis media with effusion (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Otitis media with effusion (OME) refers to fluid in the middle ear space, but without the symptoms of an acute infection. Children with acute otitis media (acute ear infection) have fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms such as ear pain, redness of the eardrum, or fever. Children with an acute ear infection act sick, especially at night. Children with OME do not.
The fluid in OME is often thin and watery. "Glue ear" is a common name given to OME with thick, viscous effusion (fluid. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/10/2006
Mononucleosis (11 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Mononucleosis is a viral infection causing fevers, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck. It is usually linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but can also be caused by other organisms such as cytomegalovirus (CMV. See also: Infectious mononucleosis (acute CMV infection) Reviewer: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/15/2006
Viral pneumonia (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Viral pneumonia is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the lungs caused by infection with a virus. See also respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. Reviewer: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/28/2006
Bronchiolitis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles (small passages in the lungs) usually caused by a viral infection. Reviewer: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/18/2005
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus. This virus¿causes mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can cause serious respiratory infections in young babies, especially those in certain high-risk groups. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/26/2007
Acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (7 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a condition caused by a member of the herpesvirus family. In most people with a normal immune system, CMV infection does not cause any symptoms. But, some people with this infection develop a "mononucleosis syndrome." See also: Mononucleosis Reviewer: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/18/2006
Viral gastroenteritis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Viral gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by a virus. The infection can lead to¿diarrhea and vomiting. It is sometimes called the "stomach flu." Reviewer: Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/14/2007
Routine sputum culture (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Sputum is a secretion that is produced in the lungs and the bronchi (tubes that carry the air to the lung. This mucus-like secretion may become infected, bloodstained, or contain abnormal cells that may lead to a diagnosis. Sputum is what comes up with deep coughing. Reviewer: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/16/2005
Salivary gland infections (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
This is a disorder caused by viral or bacterial infection of the salivary glands. Reviewer: Ravindra Uppaluri, MD. Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/30/2007
ECHO virus (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses are a group of enteroviruses that produce varying symptoms including rashes, respiratory illness, croup-like syndromes, and nonspecific fevers. Reviewer: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/17/2006
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