Infectious Disease

Don't Miss

Infectious Disease

Many Americans Unaware of This Year’s Heavy Tick Season: Poll

But most understand the dangers of being bitten by the disease-carrying vermin
Study Spots Cause of Global Outbreak of Infections Tied to Heart Surgeries

Bacteria traced to heating-cooling units used on operating rooms caused cases in multiple countries
The Neighborhood Sandbox: A Breeding Ground for Germs

Bacteria, parasites and other nasty surprises may be hiding in the sand

More Infectious Disease News

Probiotic Supplements Failed to Prevent Babies’ Infections
Benefits of breast-feeding might have overshadowed any potential protective effects, doctors suggest
- Posted July 3, 2017
- 10
Catheters Often to Blame for Blood Infections After Dialysis
Study included almost all outpatient dialysis centers in the United States
- Posted June 30, 2017
- 2
Antibiotics Improve Treatment of Skin Abscesses
Drainage alone resulted in worse recovery rates, study finds
- Posted June 29, 2017
- 25
Bye-Bye Flu Shot, Hello Patch?
Early results look promising for dissolvable microneedle vaccine
- Posted June 28, 2017
- 10
Health Tip: Are You Well Enough to Travel?
Skip a flight if you have symptoms
- Posted June 23, 2017
- 3
Health Tip: Preventing Tick Bites
Precautions you can take
- Posted June 21, 2017
- 17
‘Good’ Donor Bacteria Can Last Long Term in Stool Transplant Patients
Small study shows helpful gut germs are still there 2 years on
- Posted June 16, 2017
- 1

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.