What Is COVID-19? COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019, is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. First identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, it spread rapidly across the globe and was declared a pa...
Malaria is one of the world’s most widespread and dangerous infectious diseases. It is caused by Plasmodium parasites and spreads through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. While it is rare in the United States and Europe, malaria remains a major global health challenge, with hundreds of m...
What Is Hepatitis? Hepatitis is the term for inflammation of the liver. Since the liver is essential for digesting food, filtering toxins, and storing energy, inflammation can affect the entire body. Hepatitis may be short-t...
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease that continues to affect millions of people around the world. Caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB most commonly attacks the lungs, but it can also spread to other organs such as the brain, spine, or kidneys. While it was once the leading cause of death in th...
HIV and AIDS are often mentioned together, but they’re not the same thing. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS, which is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. With modern treatment, however, HIV is now considered...
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Unlike the “stomach flu,” which refers to gastroenteritis, true influenza attacks the respiratory system—the nose, throat, and lungs. While many people recover within a week or two, the flu can sometimes...
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and nervous system, leading to sudden, repetitive movements or sounds called tics. These tics are involuntary — meaning people can’t fully control them — and often begin in childhood. While the condition may sound intimidating, most peop...
Migraines are more than just “bad headaches.” They’re a neurological condition that can cause intense, throbbing head pain, often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and other disruptive symptoms. For many people, migraines come in repeated episodes that last anywhere from a few hour...
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, affecting around 50 million people globally. At its core, epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes repeated, unprovoked seizures — sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These seizures can look very different fro...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental difference in how the brain works, shaping the way a person communicates, learns, and experiences the world. While autism is often noticed in early childhood, its impact can continue throughout life, influencing social interactions, learning styles, and behaviors in unique w...
