Signs and symptoms It is difficult to be certain that an infant or toddler has a sore throat because the child cannot communicate, but swollen glands in the neck or difficulty swallowing are clues. Determining the cause of a sore throat depends on the results of a throat or other type of culture; on [...]

All eyes need good light if they are to work well and without strain. This particularly applies to older eyes. A recent study of visual acuity in fifty-six old people (average age 76), both in their homes and in a controlled clinical setting, found that general levels of lighting were often so poor in the [...]

• Keep fires guarded. It is illegal to leave a child under 12 in a room with an unguarded fire. • Keep pins, needles and scissors away from young children. • Make sure bookshelves can’t be pulled over. • Put electric flexes where people won’t trip over them but not under carpets. • Replace flexes [...]

If you think you are impotent, but you are not affected by any of the physical problems I’ve mentioned, the condition may be caused by stress, psychological problems, or anxiety that you’ve developed concerning sex. If, however, you believe your impotence is caused by a physical problem, see your doctor for advice and treatment. He [...]

Another common cause of diarrhea is a virus; the condition called gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the digestive system, is a form of viral diarrhea, and you will have some of the same symptoms as traveler’s diarrhea, such as muscle aches, fever, and cough, as well as an upset stomach that lasts for a few days. [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems If you have a history of angina pectoris or emphysema, you may find over the years that you have become increasingly short of breath, regardless of your physical activity, and have developed a nonproductive chronic cough. If you have emphysema, it may be due to a chronic lung spasm; if [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems The term “skin tag” is one of those things that sounds old-fashioned, like something your grandmother would talk about. For those who prefer more up-to-date terms, a skin tag is also known as a cutaneous tag or an acrochordon. Skin tags are basically benign growths that protrude somewhat from your [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems When you feel a swollen area under both sides of your jaw, you probably know you have swollen glands. You also know they’re no fun. Because swollen glands are caused by an infection, patience, antibiotics, and more patience are all necessary for treatment. So it helps if you view your [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems Though midlife adults commonly complain of having dry eyes, eyes that water excessively are also frequently seen. When one or both eyes won’t stop watering, the problem can be caused by a number of conditions, most of which are easily treated. Entropion is a condition in which the lower eyelid [...]

I remember having a microbiology professor in medical school who refused to admit he was going bald. Memorizing all those elements was bad enough, but the teacher refused to admit that he was going bald. So he combed the few remaining strands over the top of his shiny pate and hoped we wouldn’t notice. We [...]