FEATURES
By Holly Selby | February 21, 2008
Sometimes called the "kissing disease" because it is most frequently spread through saliva, mononucleosis often is considered a teen illness. In fact, almost every adult (if tested) will show signs of having been infected by this virus, says Ben Hand, a primary-care physician in the department of medicine at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Just about everyone has heard of "mono." What causes this disease? Mononucleosis or infectious mononucleosis is characterized by fever, sore throat or swollen lymph nodes, and it is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is in the herpes family.
FEATURES
By HOLLY SELBY | January 24, 2008
Late winter is high season for scratchy, itchy or sore throats, and most of us know how miserable having one can be. But how do we know when a sore throat is simply part of a common cold and when it is a symptom of the potentially more serious strep throat? It's wise to take note of your symptoms, says Alan Oshinksy, otolaryngologist-in-chief at Northwest Hospital Center and Sinai Hospital. Strep throat, left untreated, can not only be painful but can also lead to a more serious condition.
FEATURES
By Dennis O'Brien and Dennis O'Brien,Sun Reporter | January 17, 2008
Joe Moffett wishes the spit test was available four years ago, before the tumor near the base of his tongue put him through months of radiation treatments, chemotherapy and surgery -- plus the hassle of taking nourishment through a feeding tube inserted at Johns Hopkins Hospital. "Having a test out there, I could have avoided a whole lot. But still, I thank the good Lord I'm alive, and I'm excited about this test. It could help a lot of people," said Moffett, 69, a retired Army pilot from Dillon, S.C. Researchers at Hopkins published findings this month showing they are close to developing a mouth rinse that can detect head and neck cancer such as Moffett's.
NEWS
By JUDY FOREMAN | March 2, 2007
Should I go to one of these new "retail health clinics" in shopping malls and drug stores? Yes, if you're positive that you have a relatively minor problem - such as a sore throat, ear ache or bladder infection. You should also follow some common sense guidelines from physician groups such as the American Medical Association (ama-assn.org), the American Academy of Family Physicians (aafp.org) and the American Geriatrics Society (www.americangeri atrics.org). These little clinics are springing up all over, with names such as Take Care Health Centers, MinuteClinic, RediClinic, MiniMedCare and the like.
NEWS
By DENNIS O'BRIEN and DENNIS O'BRIEN,SUN REPORTER | May 12, 2006
The only real health problem that 3-year-old Nicholas Salter had was the occasional sore throat. Sometimes, it hurt so much that it was hard to swallow, which cut back on his appetite. And there was one more issue: "He'd snore so loudly you could hear him in his room from the top of the steps," said his mother, Jackie Salter. After two cases of strep throat within a few weeks, doctors recommended a sleep study: hooking Nicholas up to monitors overnight to make sure he was breathing properly and getting enough rest.
NEWS
By Susan Reimer and Susan Reimer,Sun Staff | September 14, 2003
THEY CALL mononucleosis "the kissing disease," but I think that has less to do with how you contract it than it does with the fact that once you get it, you can kiss your social life goodbye. At least that's how my teen-aged daughter reacted to the diagnosis. A persistent sore throat sent us to the doctor Friday afternoon of Labor Day weekend, and when the mono test came back positive, I pulled the plug on Jessie's holiday plans. For a child who had just been told she had a viral illness most often characterized by listlessness and extreme fatigue, she had plenty of energy to throw a fit. Frankly, that's what I feared most after hearing the doctor's report.