Health Reference Libraries
Schistosoma haematobium is a species of trematode flatworm, more commonly known as a fluke that can be found in Portugal, the Middle East, Africa, and India. This species is one a few fluke species that can give humans schistosomiasis, most commonly the kind known as urinary schistosomiasis. This species will swim around in water in its larval form known as cercariae. In this stage of life, it...
Oxygen therapy is known as the administration of oxygen as a medical intervention. It is indicated in patients whose oxygen supply is compromised due to both acute and chronic health conditions and can be administered in many different ways. Oxygen therapy can be administered virtually wherever the patient is. Most commonly, oxygen is delivered to patients in an ambulance, hospital, or...
Cold Compression Therapy is used to reduce pain and edema (swelling) for instances such as soft tissue injuries, strains, sprains, or post-surgical therapy. As the name suggests, the therapy includes the application of cold (cryotherapy) but also includes the principles of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). Cryotherapy, application of cold or ice to the painful area, lowers...
Image Caption: This electron micrograph reveals the presence of hepatitis-B virus HBV "Dane particles", or virions. Credit: CDC/Wikipedia Hepatitis B: What Is It? Hepatitis simply means a swelling or inflammation of the liver. The type hepatitis that a person contracts (there are 5 common forms) affects their long-term prognosis. The most common and most severe of these different types...
Wuchereria bancrofti is a species of roundworm in the Nematoda phylum. This species is spread through a mosquito vector, which means that it is transferred through mosquitos. This species infects over 120 million people in South America, Africa, and other tropical and subtropical areas. It is one of three species of parasitic worm that can cause lymphatic filariasis, which can lead to...
The precordial thump is an application of mechanical energy through a calculated strike to the torso when in a specific fatal heart rhythm. This procedure is used in very specific circumstances by highly trained health professionals with ACLS certifications. The Procedure While in the presence of a patient that is suffering a potentially fatal heart rhythm, a medical provider can strike a...
Taking a patient's temperature is an initial part of a full clinical examination. The moment the medical provider comes within inches of the patient’s skin, they can tell if there is a change in the patient’s temperature. Heat radiates from a febrile patient, skin becomes clammy when cardiac output is reduced, and cold skin can be an ominous sign when combined with other negative findings....
The cardiac stress test is a diagnostic test used in Cardiac pathology for the purpose of patient diagnosis. It measures the heart’s function while placing a heavier workload on the heart. The cardiologist cannot be at the patient’s side while at work, under stress, during a workout or pushed to the limit so this test mimics those activities in a controlled setting. How it is Performed...
Phytotherapy Research is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original research papers, short communications, reviews, and letters on medicinal plant research. Topics include pharmacology, toxicology, and the clinical applications of herbs and natural products in medicine, from case histories to clinical trials, including studies of herb-drug interactions and other aspects of...
Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea among infants and young children and is one of several viruses that cause the stomach flu. It is in the family Reoviridae and is a genus of double-stranded RNA. Most children have been infected by the age of five. Each infection builds on previous immunity and thus subsequent infections are less severe and adults are rarely affected. The fives...
