Infectious Disease

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Infectious Disease

Fatal Medical Emergencies on the Rise Worldwide: Study

Injuries, heart attacks, lung infections, strokes and other medical emergencies caused about half of the world’s...
Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease

With growing concern about mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika, it’s easy to let down your guard...
Health Tip: Understanding the Tetanus Shot

(HealthDay News) — A tetanus vaccine is important for people of all ages, says the U.S....

More Infectious Disease News

Why a Knee Replacement Can Go Bad
British researchers have pinpointed which factors put knee replacement patients at high risk for...
- Posted April 18, 2019
- 8
Pre-Cut Melons at Kroger, Walmart, Other Stores May Carry Salmonella
Pre-cut, packaged melon distributed by major grocery chains across 16 states have been tied...
- Posted April 15, 2019
- 12
Young Athletes Need to Be Sidelined After Bout of Mono
Young sports buffs recovering from mononucleosis may be itching to return to the game...
- Posted April 14, 2019
- 1
Hospital Privacy Curtains Could Be Breeding Ground for Germs
Privacy curtains in hospital rooms might offer patients some personal dignity, but they can...
- Posted April 12, 2019
- 10
Why the HPV Vaccine Is More Important Than Ever
HPV, the human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United...
- Posted April 12, 2019
- 9
Health Tip: Thermometer Options
(HealthDay News) — Three primary types of thermometers are on the market for consumers....
- Posted April 10, 2019
- 9
Health Tip: Treating an Infant’s Fever
(HealthDay News) — A baby’s first fever can be scary for parents. However, most...
- Posted April 10, 2019
- 20

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.