Infectious Disease

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Sepsis Causes Far More Deaths Worldwide Than Thought

Sepsis kills more than twice as many people worldwide as once believed, and children in poor...
Low Levels of Key Blood Cells Could Signal Higher Death Risk

A condition called lymphopenia — low levels of lymphocyte blood cells — could be an early...
Many Child Care Centers Don’t Require Flu Shots

As an early flu season spreads its misery across the United States, new research shows that...

More Infectious Disease News

When Does Your Child’s Flu Merit an ER Visit?
It’s hard not to worry when your child suffers from the flu, but pediatricians...
- Posted December 22, 2019
- 12
Drug-Resistant Dysentery Emerging Among Gay Men
Australian researchers are sounding the alarm over cases of a highly infectious intestinal illness...
- Posted December 19, 2019
- 14
Puppies: They’re Cute, Cuddly and Making People Ill, CDC Says
Puppies in pet stores appear to have transmitted a dangerous, antibiotic-resistant germ that’s sickened...
- Posted December 18, 2019
- 0
Are Superbugs Making Themselves at Home in Your Makeup Bag?
Makeup is a daily staple for most women, but new research finds that 9...
- Posted December 10, 2019
- 11
More E. coli Illnesses Linked to Tainted Romaine Lettuce
More Americans have been sickened with E. coli after eating romaine lettuce thought to...
- Posted November 27, 2019
- 1
Where ‘Superbugs’ Lurk in Your Home – and How to Stop Them
Researchers have learned more about how a “superbug” infection can infiltrate your home —...
- Posted November 27, 2019
- 13
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Released From Hospital After Health Scare
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after...
- Posted November 25, 2019
- 7
Studies Confirm HPV Shot Is Safe
The HPV vaccine gives parents a chance to prevent their children from developing some...
- Posted November 18, 2019
- 2
Flu Season Starting to Ramp Up in the South
Whether you have caught the flu yet this season might depend on where you...
- Posted November 15, 2019
- 17
Climate Change Will Hurt Kids Most, Report Warns
Children will face more food shortages and infections if climate change continues unchecked, researchers...
- Posted November 14, 2019
- 15
Health Tip: Treating Post-Nasal Drip
That persistent tickle in the back of your throat may be diagnosed as post-nasal...
- Posted November 12, 2019
- 8

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.