Medicare is health insurance that the United States government provides for people ages 65 and older. It also covers some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and people who have long-term (chronic) kidney failure who need dialysis or a transplant. Medicare helps pay for most hospital services and doctor visits...

What is post-polio syndrome? Post-polio syndrome is an illness of the nervous system that can appear 15 to 50 years after you had polio. It affects your muscles and nerves, and it causes you to have weakness, fatigue, and muscle or joint pain. Although post-polio syndrome can make some day-to-day activities more...

What is shigellosis? Shigellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by infection with the Shigella bacterium. It is more common in summer than winter. Children ages 2 to 4 are most likely to get the condition. What causes it? Shigellosis is spread when the bacteria in feces (stool) or on soiled fingers are ingested...

Discusses smallpox, a contagious infection caused by the variola virus. Covers symptoms and how it's diagnosed. Discusses how it's spread. Discusses smallpox vaccine, including who should have it and who should not. Covers smallpox as a biological weapon.

Discusses tetanus, also called lockjaw. Looks at cause by bacteria infection that makes a poison that causes severe muscle spasms. Looks at how bacteria enter the body through wound or cut. Covers vaccine shots (immunizations) to prevent tetanus.

What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)? Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia. It's a type of leukemia that causes the body to make too many lymphoblasts. Lymphoblasts are a type of young white blood cell. They usually become mature infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes...

What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)? Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is also called acute myelogenous leukemia. It's a type of leukemia that causes the body to make too many myeloblasts. Myeloblasts are a type of young white blood cell. They usually become mature, infection-fighting cells. But if those young cells don't...

What is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)? Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the blood cells. It's a type of leukemia in which the bone marrow makes too many young white blood cells called lymphocytes. In CLL, some of these lymphocytes grow abnormally and don't mature or die off as they should. Instead...

What is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)? Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells. In CML, young white blood cells grow abnormally, and they don't mature or die off as they should. These abnormal cells can crowd out normal blood cells and cause problems...

Expectant management, or observation, is sometimes used to manage a high-risk pregnancy. You may be advised to have expectant management at home or in the hospital. Where you have it depends on how severe your preeclampsia is. Care at home If you have signs of preeclampsia early in pregnancy, your doctor or...

Discusses primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Looks at causes and symptoms. Covers how it is diagnosed and treated. Also looks at symptoms of advanced liver damage such as variceal bleeding and osteoporosis.

Sarcoidosis (say "sar-koy-DOH-sus") is a rare disease that creates tiny lumps of cells throughout the body. These lumps are called granulomas. They can form anywhere on the inside or outside of the body and can cause permanent scar tissue. They often form in the lungs. They may also form in the lymph nodes, liver, skin...

What is Hodgkin lymphoma? Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that begins in part of the immune system (the lymph system). White blood cells called lymphocytes can become abnormal or increase in number and grow without control. They may form lumps of tissue called tumors, usually in the lymph nodes of the neck, armpits, or...

What is Kawasaki disease? Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that affects the blood vessels. The symptoms can be severe for several days. But with treatment, most children return to normal activities. Kawasaki disease can harm the coronary arteries, which carry blood to the heart muscle. Most children who are...

Learn the basics of renal artery stenosis, including what it is, what causes it, and how it is treated.

What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain that control movement. The disease affects the way you move. It can include tremors, slow movement, stiffness, and problems with balance. Parkinson's disease gets worse over time. But usually this happens slowly, over...

Discusses acute pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas that causes abdominal pain. Discusses most common causes, which include gallstones and alcohol misuse. Covers symptoms and treatment with medicines or surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Blood donation means giving some of your blood so that it can be used to help someone else. Donated blood helps people who have lost blood in an accident. It also helps people who have an illness such as cancer, anemia, sickle cell disease, or hemophilia. If you donate blood before you have surgery, your own blood will...

Kidney transplantation is the best way known to save a person's life after the person develops kidney failure. In the past, kidneys were only taken from living close relatives or from people who had recently died. Transplants from living donors have a better chance of success than those from deceased donors. Also, in...

The decision to have a limb amputated is difficult for the person and their doctor. Many times, extensive measures have been tried to save the limb. The major causes of amputation are diabetes and/or peripheral arterial disease that results in either painful, poor limb function or gangrene. In general, amputation is...

Explains autonomic dysfunction, including what it is, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.

Covers causes and symptoms of spondyloarthropathies, a family of long-term (chronic) diseases of joints. Looks at specific symptoms of each type. Discusses treatment with mild exercise, over-the-counter medicines, and other options.

A spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture) is a procedure to collect and look at the fluid ( cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. During a spinal tap, a needle is carefully inserted into the spinal canal low in the back (lumbar area). Samples of CSF are collected. The samples are...

What is essential tremor? Essential tremor is a movement disorder. It's a type of shaking that you can't control. It may start in the hand or fingers. The shaking may increase or spread to other parts of the body over time. Essential tremor doesn't cause other health problems, but it can make work or other activities...

Pericardiocentesis is done to find the cause of fluid buildup around the heart and to relieve pressure on the heart. The tissue sac that surrounds the heart is called the pericardium. It protects the heart and parts of the major blood vessels connected to the heart. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between...