Imagine the shock of your baby being born with a swollen brain, blindness and debilitating seizures. Now imagine learning that these devastating conditions could have been prevented if you took…
Tag: Infectious diseases
A microbiologist explains how to avoid getting sick at the barbecue, in the pool or on the trail
As flowers bloom and temperatures climb, many are eager to get back outside. But while the Sun may be shining, there is a dark side that can make the great…
Infections after surgery are more likely due to bacteria already on your skin than from microbes in the hospital − new research
Health care providers and patients have traditionally thought that infections patients get while in the hospital are caused by superbugs they’re exposed to while they’re in a medical facility. Genetic…
What if every germ hit you at the exact same time? An immunologist explains
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. What would happen if all…
Rabies is an ancient, unpredictable and potentially fatal disease − two rabies researchers explain how to protect yourself
A feral kitten in Omaha, Nebraska, tested positive for rabies in November 2023. It died of the raccoon variant of the virus, which is typically found only in the Appalachian…
Flesh-eating bacteria infections are on the rise in the US − a microbiologist explains how to protect yourself
Flesh-eating bacteria sounds like the premise of a bad horror movie, but it’s a growing – and potentially fatal – threat to people. In September 2023, the Centers for Disease…
Cytomegalovirus lies dormant in most US adults and is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, but few have heard of it
“Why didn’t anyone tell me about this virus?” is a frequent response I hear from parents upon learning their newborn is infected with cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Although more than half…
