Rheumatic Fever Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may develop after an infection with streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Rheumatic fever is common...

Lyme Disease Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial organism that is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected tick. Most people bitten by an infected tick develop a characteristic skin rash around the area of the bite. The rash may feel...

Lead Poisoning Too much lead in the body can seriously injure the brain, nervous system, red blood cells, and the kidneys. Higher levels of lead in the body can cause mental retardation, fits (convulsions), falling out (unconsciousness, coma),...

Tuberculosis Many people think tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the past. But, TB is still a leading killer of young adults worldwide. Some 2 billion people – one-third of the world's population – are infected with the TB bacterium, M....

Viral Hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Several different viruses cause viral hepatitis. They are named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses. All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B,...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm...

Diabetes Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism--the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body....

Allergy and Asthma Resources AIR FILTERING DEVICES Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 (202) 272-0167 http://www.epa.gov/ National Eczema Association for Science and Education...

Causes of Learning Disabilities What causes learning disabilities? Are they preventable? If I have one, will my child inherit it? Hear what experts have to say about causality and learning disabilities. Gail Grodzinsky, Ph.D.: As of now, no one...

Spina Bifida Table of Contents What is Spina Bifida? Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What is Spina Bifida? Spina bifida (SB) is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete...