Tag: Infection

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How Do Tick-Borne Infections Affect The Brain?

Angelica Bottaro

Whenever spring is just around the corner, you can be sure tick season is almost ready to begin, too. While many people know that ticks harbor diseases, not everyone may be aware of the severity of these infections until they contract one. The initial symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases are typically mild. Because of this, many people go untested after contracting a disease. But when treatment is not sought quickly, tick-borne diseases can spread through the entire body and cause severe health issues. Tick-borne conditions can be just as harmful to the brain as any other organ in the body – but how do tick-borne diseases affect the brain, exactly? Let’s find out.

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Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Of PANDAS

Angelica Bottaro

When a child falls ill, it can be one of the most challenging situations to cope with as a parent. This is especially true if you are unsure what’s causing the illness. Thankfully, many childhood illnesses are mild and clear up in a relatively short period. They also tend to present with symptoms that aren’t too worrisome. 

Some infections that can be common in children, including strep throat and scarlet fever, are caused by streptococcus, a type of bacteria. Kids are generally more likely to develop strep throat than adults. After a child has recovered from strep throat, they usually return to their healthy selves. However, some children may develop conditions known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, or PANDAS. But what is PANDAS, and how does it affect children? Read on to learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of PANDAS.

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person with infection-driven illness having temperature taken
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Patterns Of IgG And IgM Antibody Response In Infection-Driven Illness

Angelica Bottaro

The body’s first line of defense is the immune system. When pathogens enter the body, cells within the immune system target them to help the body fight them off and avoid illness. There are three categories of immune cells: lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages. Each group of cells has its own respective tasks to do when the body is fighting off an invader.

The immune system also contains certain proteins that help protect the body even further. These include cytokines, complement proteins, and antibodies. Antibodies, in particular, are tasked with hunting down viruses, bacteria, fungi and other pathogens so they can mark them for other cells to find and destroy. Essentially, antibodies are the hunters of the immune system.

There are five types of antibodies that work for the immune system’s search-and-destroy task force, so to speak. Below, we’ll discuss two specific types: IgM and IgG.

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