Infectious Disease

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Zika May Not Last in Semen as Long as Thought

Men should still follow CDC guidelines and use condoms for at least 6 months, health experts...
Dentist Roots Out Clues to Doomed Arctic Expedition

Researcher says Addison's disease might have led to deaths of 1840s Franklin crew
Kidney Disease May Boost Odds of Infection

Patients become more vulnerable as organ function declines, study says

More Infectious Disease News

Health Tip: Flu Season is Around the Corner
Learn to recognize symptoms
- Posted August 18, 2017
- 15
‘Herd Immunity’ May Be Curbing U.S. Zika Numbers
But smaller future outbreaks are likely, scientists warn
- Posted August 17, 2017
- 4
Rotavirus Vaccine Cut Kids’ Hospitalization, Medical Costs
Virus a common cause of diarrhea among children, study authors report
- Posted August 10, 2017
- 10
Decline in Kids’ Ear Infections Linked to Pneumococcal Vaccine
The shots are effective in killing the main bacterial cause, but other germs are...
- Posted August 7, 2017
- 8
What Diabetics Need to Know About Over-the-Counter Meds
Many cold, cough and headache remedies contain carbs, and as much alcohol as ...
- Posted August 5, 2017
- 2
Time to Catch Up on Reading, Writing … and Routine Shots
Before kids head back to school, make sure they're up-to-date on their vaccines
- Posted July 26, 2017
- 3
Many Americans Unaware of This Year’s Heavy Tick Season: Poll
But most understand the dangers of being bitten by the disease-carrying vermin
- Posted July 17, 2017
- 10
Study Spots Cause of Global Outbreak of Infections Tied to Heart Surgeries
Bacteria traced to heating-cooling units used on operating rooms caused cases in multiple countries
- Posted July 13, 2017
- 3
Shield Yourself From ‘Swimmer’s Ear’
Water left behind after a swim can give you a serious earache -- but...
- Posted July 8, 2017
- 0
The Neighborhood Sandbox: A Breeding Ground for Germs
Bacteria, parasites and other nasty surprises may be hiding in the sand
- Posted July 7, 2017
- 9
Soft Contact Lenses Safe for Kids and Teens, Review Finds
Infection rates no higher than for adults, and actually lowest for younger kids
- Posted July 5, 2017
- 4

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.