AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This condition is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus attacks CD4+T cells. These cells are responsible for fighting infections and are a part of immune system and very important for its proper work. So, when the virus attacks the immune system, it becomes unable to resist the illnesses and becomes more and more vulnerable and susceptive to cancers and infections. A normal healthy person has got about 1000 of CD4+T cells and the diagnosis is stated when CD4+T cells number is less than 200. AIDS has got about two dozen of associated conditions and if a person has one of them AIDS is diagnosed. More »

Malaria refers to tropical infections that are characteristic to Asian, African and American regions. It is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito when it first bites an ill person and then a healthy person. Malaria parasites are present in the blood and thus they travel to the new organism and multiply there in the red blood cells. Those parasites are called Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale. More »

An ear has three constituting parts that are the outer, the middle and the inner ear. Today we are talking about the inner ear. It represents a labyrinth, a network of channels filled with fluid. The labyrinth itself has the following major parts: the cochlea, the vestibule canal and the semicircular one. The task of cochlea is to provide hearing by sensing sound while the vestibular system is responsible for balance. In a nutshell, sensing the sound and movement and sending signals to the brain – this is the work of the inner ear. In he brain these messages are combined and compared with other signals received from other bodily parts. That is why when the process of sending and receiving signals becomes perturbed and interrupted it is fraught with the problems. This directly refers to ear infections as in case of it the labyrinth becomes inflamed and, consequently, the process of messages sending to the brain also undermines. More »

Another name for bird fly is avian influenza. As it is clear from the name this illness appears mostly among in birds (chickens frequently). Generally its character is mild but it also can turn severe and in this case very pathogenic and birds die during the period of two days. The virus may as well be transferred to humans who had direct contact to these birds. The consequences may be of mild and more severe character and even lead to death. This virus was also named H5N1 and it caused death of 10% of 700 infected people from all over the world. Though it now seems rather safe from person to person transference there is no guarantee from its mutation. In this case it can cause a pandemic like the one that took place in 1918. More »

The disease evoked by RNA viruses that infect the respiratory tract of people as well as animals and birds is called influenza, or the flu. The most recognizable symptoms are fever, headache, feeling of exhaustion; also a sore throat and nausea are possible as well as vomiting and diarrhea. It is normal for the illness to last approximately for one or two weeks and then recede but in some cases it can evoke serious complications and even lead to death. Other viral respiratory infections are not characterized with such outcomes. More »

Encephalitis and meningitis are not very frequent but this does not make them less serious and in some cases even dangerous. Their symptoms are confusing and as the diseases affect an organism in different ways it is important to know for sure which one is the case in order to know how to treat. More »