Itching refers to an unpleasant sensation that causes the need to scratch—the medical term for itching is pruritus. Itching may be confined to a certain area of the body (localized) or can be all over the body (generalized). Itching may beassociated with a rash, which may either be the cause of the itch or the result of the scratching. For some people, there is no visible rash associated with itching. Itching can be debilitating, especially at night when you are trying to sleep....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesCommon Causes in ChildrenLess Common CausesUncommon CausesDiagnosis Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Common Causes Common Causes in Children Less Common Causes Uncommon Causes Diagnosis Apersistent cough—a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer—can be asignof asthma, allergies, or a chest infection.Also known as a chronic, lingering, or nagging cough, a persistent cough can interfere with sleep and affect your quality of life....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWho’s at Risk?DiagnosisTreatment Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Who’s at Risk? Diagnosis Treatment Causes of back andneck paincan include anything from a sudden injury to age-related changes over time.Spine-related painis very common, with low back pain affecting up to 80% of people at some time in their lives. Low back pain is about twice as common asneck pain. Pain,stiffness,muscle spasms, and other symptoms can last for a short time after you pull a muscle playing sports or lifting a heavy object....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPsoriasisEczemaContact DermatitisDermatitis HerpetiformisKeratosis PilarisGoutSymptom ReliefWhen to See a Healthcare Provider Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Psoriasis Eczema Contact Dermatitis Dermatitis Herpetiformis Keratosis Pilaris Gout Symptom Relief When to See a Healthcare Provider Bumps on elbows can occur due to allergies, chronic skin conditions, and more. Some, like the conditionkeratosis pilaris, are fairly common. It’s known for its “chicken skin” appearance and, although there is no cure, it can be treated with lotions....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHemorrhoidsStoolDietAnal FissuresContact ExposuresExcessive CleaningSkin ConditionsSTIsRelated SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Hemorrhoids Stool Diet Anal Fissures Contact Exposures Excessive Cleaning Skin Conditions STIs Related Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Common causes of burning anal pain include hemorrhoids, your diet choices, or irritating perfumes and chemicals in toilet paper. A more serious condition also may be at work, and you may need evaluation to rule outcancer, irritable bowel disease, or muscle and nerve damage....

People withAlzheimer’sandother types of dementiatend to be at a high risk of falling. They are more than three times more likely to fracture their hip when they fall, which leads to surgery and immobility. The rate of death following ahip fracturefor those with Alzheimer’s is also increased.Thus, fall prevention for people withdementiais critical. One way to reduce falls in people with dementia is to understand why they fall. If we know what makes our loved ones more likely to fall, we can try to anticipate those needs and decreasefalls....

NuriaE / Getty Images Ruling Out Other Medical Conditions Healthcare providers try to start with what a medical conditionisn’tbefore trying to figure out what itis. We call itruling outthe problems. For example, weakness in only one area of the body is usually related to the brain (stroke)or to weakness in the muscles in that area being fatigued. If you were experiencing shortness of breath with weakness, emergency medical responders and healthcare providers would rule out shock or stroke and focus on asthma, COPD, heart failure ,or anaphylactic reaction as possible culprits....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Pustules?Common CausesSymptomsTreatment Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents What Are Pustules? Common Causes Symptoms Treatment Pustules are raised bumps filled with pus and fluid. They vary in size, and sometimes look like acne. These bumps can be painful when touched. They usually appear on the face, back, and chest. Pustules can be a result of inflamed skin, acne, an allergic reaction,psoriasis, or other skin diseases....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek Healthcare Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Causes Diagnosis Treatment When to Seek Healthcare Raised skin bumps can result from various skin conditions, including clogged pores, allergic reactions, burns, injury, sun exposure, viruses, friction, and infections. They vary significantly from person to person in appearance, size, and body placement. Although they may not be aesthetically pleasing, they are common and usually are no cause for concern....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCataractsMacular DegenerationDiabetic RetinopathyGlaucomaOther CausesDiagnosis Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Cataracts Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy Glaucoma Other Causes Diagnosis The idea of losing your vision can be scary. After all, you rely on your vision every day. In the U.S., 50million adults have experienced some sort of vision loss.Around the globe, there are an estimated 1.1 billion people with vision impairment. Among those, 43 million are blind, and 295 million have moderate to severe visual impairment....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRestFluidsZincSoothing Your ThroatSteam or VaporClearing Your NoseMedicationsSupplementsHow Long Cold Symptoms LastWhen to Seek CareNext in Cold GuideWhat Is a Cold? Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Rest Fluids Zinc Soothing Your Throat Steam or Vapor Clearing Your Nose Medications Supplements How Long Cold Symptoms Last When to Seek Care Next in Cold Guide There’s no cure for the common cold, but there are self-care steps you can take that may help you or your child get over a cold a little more quickly....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUterus StructureUterine ConditionsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Uterus Structure Uterine Conditions Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Several health conditions can affect theuterusor womb. Some are serious, while others need minimal treatment. Many involve similar symptoms such as pelvic pain or irregular bleeding. It’s important to see a healthcare provider so you can get the right diagnosis and treatment....

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsContact DermatitisYeast InfectionsEczemaBacterial InfectionsIntertrigoPsoriatic Diaper RashAllergic DermatitisOther CausesCloth vs. Disposable DiapersSeeing a Healthcare Provider Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Contact Dermatitis Yeast Infections Eczema Bacterial Infections Intertrigo Psoriatic Diaper Rash Allergic Dermatitis Other Causes Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers Seeing a Healthcare Provider On lighter skin tones, diaper rash usually looks red. On darker skin tones, the redness may be harder to see, or the rash might show signs of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, making it less pigmented and lighter in color than surrounding skin....