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Complications of cellulitis may occur if you don’t treat the condition with antibiotics. Complications may include abscess or perianal cellulitis, an infection around the anus. In rare cases, complications can be very severe, leading to necrotizing fasciitis, septicemia, and other life-threatening infections. Learn more about cellulitis complications, including how to recognize symptoms and treatment options to avoid serious illness. Cellulitis Symptoms Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enter the middle layer of skin, known as the dermis....

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and reproductive health advocates want people to know that cervical cancer is often preventable and more easily treated and cured when it is detected early. Key Takeaways January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, making it a great time to discuss cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.In many cases, cervical cancer can be prevented. It’s also much easier to treat when it’s detected early....

Chondromalacia surgery is usually an arthroscopic procedure performed by an orthopedic surgeon as an outpatient surgical procedure. Depending on the severity of the damage, the procedure may need to be performed as an open knee procedure and require an overnight stay in the hospital. The goal of the surgery is to help remove or fix damaged tissue and cartilage surrounding the knee. While there are less invasive options, these rarely will fix the underlying problem and you still may need surgery....

Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) is a complication that arises in people who have cystic fibrosis (CF). It presents as a complete or partial blockage of the bowel in the upper intestinal tract. Symptoms of DIOS can include vomiting, abdominal cramps, and a feeling of fullness that occurs alongside diarrhea. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options available for someone with DIOS. Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome Symptoms When DIOS develops, a person’s bowel movements become blocked, resulting in various symptoms, including:...

The overdose epidemic continues to grow, spurred largely by the proliferation of fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Key Takeaways Overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 in a calendar year for the first time, fueled largely by fentanyl, a super-potent opioid.Harm reduction tools, like fentanyl test strips and naloxone, can help reduce the risk of overdose from fentanyl and other drugs.The White House presented its National Drug Control Strategy last month—the first to emphasize harm reduction as a tool for minimizing overdoses....

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The condition is a common STI that infects about 600,000 people in the United States every year. Sores on the genitals are usually the first sign of a genital herpes outbreak. Other symptoms of genital herpes can include a foul-smelling discharge from the genitals and flu-like symptoms like fever and swollen glands....

Hair dye use is common. An estimated one-third or more of women over age 18 and about 10% of men over age 40 use some form of hair dye. But is hair dye safe? The studies referenced in this article and in the majority of research on hair coloring are focused on cisgender women. To remain consistent with research, “women” will be used throughout this article to refer to cisgender women....

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. It is marked by episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time without engaging in behaviors to counteract the binge eating, such as inducing vomiting or excessive exercise. People with binge eating disorder feel out of control of their eating and have feelings of guilt or disgust after binge eating episodes. About 28....

Some people have been experiencing persistent symptoms after having COVID-19. One of the most common symptoms reported by COVID long-haulers is “brain fog,” which is a term that can apply to several symptoms related to thinking and memory. Key Takeaways Brain fog is a common symptom reported by COVID long-haulers. People who have brain fog describe it as the inability to concentrate or to think clearly, as well as trouble remembering things....

If you’re facing a prior-authorization requirement, also known as a pre-authorization requirement, you must get your health plan’s permission before you receive the healthcare service or drug that requires it. If you don’t get permission from your health plan, your health insurance won’t pay for the service. You’ll be stuck paying the bill yourself. Assuming you’re using a medical provider who participates in your health plan’s network, the medical provider’s office will make the prior authorization request and work with your insurer to get approval, including handling a possible need to appeal a denial....

Imbruvica (ibrutinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the growth and survival of malignant B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and has been FDA-approved for the treatment of marginal zone lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. It’s also prescribed for a complication following stem cell transplant called chronic graft-versus-host disease, in which the donated cells attack the recipient’s body. Part of a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors, Imbruvica suppresses immune function by disrupting cellular signaling....

What Is Impavido? Impavido (miltefosine) is a prescription medication option used to treat leishmaniasis infections from protozoan parasites. Protozoa are one-celled organisms (living things) from the animal kingdom. Impavido is an antiparasitic—specifically, it’s an antileishmanial drug. It’s unknown how Impavido exactly works. However, Impavido is thought to cause protozoan cell death. It might do this by interacting with lipids (fatty substances), including the lipids on the protozoan cell surfaces. Impavido might also block cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), an essential protein in the protozoan’s mitochondria....

Lumpectomies and mastectomies are two different surgeries that treat breast cancer. Despite having the same goals, there are key differences between these two treatments. A lumpectomy removes the tumor and a small portion of the breast. A mastectomy removes all of the breast tissue, and possibly the skin, nipple, and areola, on one or both breasts. This article reviews each type of surgery, their use cases, their side effects, their advantages and disadvantages, and which of them may be right for you....

Medicare enrollees face an increased risk of having mental health concerns. Fortunately, Medicare covers counseling, which can help make support more accessible for you. Mental health programs and services are designed to help diagnose and treat mental health needs. As a beneficiary, you can take advantage of depression screenings, counseling sessions, medications, and partial hospitalization through your Medicare plan. How much you end up paying depends on where you get service, your healthcare provider’s fees, and other insurance you may have....

Medicare is a health coverage program run by the U.S. government. It provides health benefits to people who are 65 or older, as well as those with long-term disabilities. As of early 2022, there were nearly 64.3 million people enrolled in Medicare. Medicare has four “parts” or categories of coverage: Part A covers inpatient care, including hospice care and skilled nursing facility care. Part B covers physician and outpatient services, including certain vaccines, medications that are administered in a healthcare provider’s office, kidney dialysis, durable medical equipment, and more....

A red bump that is itchy for several days before disappearing is the typical calling card of a mosquito bite. But for people with a mosquito bite allergy, symptoms are more severe and can include rash, large areas of excessive swelling, and even bruising. Also known as “skeeter syndrome,” this inflammatory reaction is pretty rare. For those who are allergic to mosquitoes, however, it can have a big impact on their ability to enjoy the outdoors....

Grocery shopping can feel like a major undertaking when you must stick to a diabetes-friendly eating plan. You may feel your options are limited (and boring), or that managing meal after meal by following specific guidelines is complicated at most and tiresome at least. In fact, while it’s smart to steer clear of, say, the cookie and candy aisles at the supermarket when you have diabetes, there actually are very few foods you can’t safely toss into your cart....

Orthodontic bands, also known as molar bands, are rings that are fitted around your back teeth when constructing a set of braces. They are used in orthodontics to provide a solid anchor to the archwire that runs along the span of the braces. Not everyone needs them, but those who do should take care to maintain the integrity of the bands so they don’t come loose or damage teeth. Unlike the square-shaped brackets that are cemented to the face of a tooth, orthodontic bands are custom-fit so that they completely encircle the tooth....

Coming down with COVID-19 can mess with your sense of taste, but some people are also finding that a specific COVID treatment is leaving a bad taste in their mouths—literally. Key Takeaways “Paxlovid mouth” is the lingering bad taste that some people get while they are taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid for a COVID-19 infection.The taste may last for the duration of Paxlovid treatment—five days—and has been described as bitter or metallic....

A red, itchy rash is uncomfortable anywhere on the body, but when it appears on the inner thigh, it’s downright uncomfortable. Rashes on the inner thigh or near the groin are common because the area can become warm and moist. The lack of airflow means that sweat can build up. In addition, clothing may rub against the skin and cause irritation. This article will provide an overview of common causes of inner thigh rashes, including their typical symptoms and treatment options....