Disease of the Week
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Learn key facts, prevention tips and take a quiz to test your knowledge about common and serious diseases for people of all ages.
Featured Disease of the Week
Flu (Influenza)
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Topics
Alcohol & Pregnancy
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) can occur in an individual who was exposed to alcohol before birth. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord and may lead to lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive disease that attacks the nerve cells that control voluntary movement. Learn more about the National ALS Registry.
Alzheimer's Disease
Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease so you can recognize the differences between normal aging and changes due to this condition. Better understand the risks and learn more about possible ways to reduce your risk.
Arthritis
Walk. Run. Climb steps. Bend. These and other daily activities can be difficult with arthritis. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints. Arthritis affects people of all ages, including children, and generally affects more women than men.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are a serious, and often underdiagnosed, but preventable medical condition. It is important to know about blood clots because they can happen to anybody at any age and cause serious illness, disability, and in some cases, death.
Botulism
Botulism is a rare, but serious illness caused by a germ called Clostridium botulinum. Even the tiniest amount of botulinum toxin can be deadly. Find out key facts about botulism and how to prevent it.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Test your knowledge about preventing breast cancer.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO poisoning is entirely preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by acting wisely in case of a power outage and learning the symptoms of CO poisoning.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, and children with cerebral palsy and their families need support.
Cervical Cancer
All women are at risk for cervical cancer, although it occurs most often in women over age 30. Each year, about 12,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer. Screening tests and a vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Chickenpox is a contagious disease. It causes an itchy rash, fever and tiredness. Most children with chickenpox completely recover within a week. However, it can be serious. Two doses of chickenpox vaccine is the best protection against the disease.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread to people by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms can be debilitating and commonly include a high fever, joint pain and a rash; usually starting 3-7 days after being bitten. Most people are sick for a week or longer.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Most people with kidney disease aren’t aware they have it. Talk with your doctor about getting tested for kidney disease. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, make a plan to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control.
Colorectal Cancer
Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal (colon) cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. Screening saves lives. If you are 50 years old or older, get screened now.
Common Cold
Sore throat and runny nose are usually the first signs of the common cold. Most people recover within 7-10 days. Reduce your risk of getting a cold by washing your hands often and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands.
Concussions
Don’t get in over your head and ignore a concussion. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. TBIs can also happen when a fall or blow to the body makes the head and brain move quickly back and forth.
Dengue
Dengue is spread through Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito bites, found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects almost every part of your body, including your blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves.
Disease Detectives
Called the nation’s health protection agency, CDC Disease Detectives are working 24/7 to protect Americans from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. Whether it’s a measles outbreak on a college campus or a global pandemic, disease detectives look for clues to help figure out what happened to cause the problem.
Ebola
Ebola is a rare and deadly disease. It is spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola. The virus also can be spread through contact with objects contaminated with the virus, or infected animals.
Enteroviruses
Symptoms of enterovirus infection include coughing, sneezing, and fever. Serious symptoms include wheezing and trouble breathing. Enterovirus infections are most common in infants, children, and teenagers.
Flu (Influenza)
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Foodborne Diseases
Let’s eat! But this holiday season, let’s eat safely. Don’t let foodborne illness ruin your holiday plans. Whether you’re in your kitchen or helping friends or family in theirs, follow the four simple steps to food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in infants and young children. It usually causes fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet. Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene to reduce your risk of infection.
Hantavirus
It’s better to feed one cat than many mice ─ especially if those rodents have hantavirus. Deer mice and other rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. Take these prevention tips along with you on your next camping trip.
Heart Disease and Men
Heart disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States. Nearly 600,000 Americans die of heart disease annually. This represents almost 25% of all deaths in the United States.
Hemophilia
There are an estimated 20,000 people in the United States living with hemophilia, and many more globally. Join us to raise awareness about bleeding disorders and the need to build a family of support for people living with them.
Hepatitis A
Here’s a foodborne illness that may not be on your radar. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter-even in microscopic amounts-from contact with contaminated food or drinks.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. About 75% of people who get infected with the Hepatitis C virus develop a chronic, or long-term, infection. Many people infected with Hepatitis C can live for decades.
Hepatitis E
Learn all about hepatitis E, a different type of a common disease. Hepatitis E doesn’t appear often in the United States, but it is common in many parts of the world with poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
In Crohn’s disease, inflammation can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract—from the mouth to the anus—but it most often affects the end of the small intestine where it joins the large intestine. Although patient receives treatment, they may still experience flare-ups. There also are periods that patients may not notice any symptoms.
Listeria
About 1,600 people in the United States get sick from Listeria each year. While the infection is rare, in 2011, an unusual source—cantaloupes contaminated with Listeria—caused one of the deadliest foodborne outbreaks in the US.
Liver Cancer
To lower your risk for liver cancer, get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, get tested for Hepatitis C, and don’t drink too much alcohol.
Lung Cancer
More people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. This is true for both men and women. The most important thing you can do to lower your lung cancer risk is to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Lupus
Lupus occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue. It is thought to be caused by hormones, genetics, and the environment. Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, sun sensitivity, and skin rashes. Treatment can help manage symptoms.
Lyme Disease
Beware of the blood suckers. No, not that kind! These are hard to see and can give you Lyme disease. Called nymphs, these tiny ticks can attach to any part of the body.
Pink Eye
Pink, itchy eyes? Pink eye – or conjunctivitis – is common and spreads easily. It sometimes needs medical treatment, depending on the cause. Know the symptoms, when to seek treatment, and how to help prevent it.
Rabies
Rabies is a disease most often spread through the bite of a rabid animal. Rabies almost always leads to death unless you receive a series of shots before symptoms even appear—that’s why it’s important to see a doctor as soon as you’re bitten by an animal.
Recreational Water Illnesses
Knowing the basic facts about recreational water illnesses (RWIs) can make the difference between an enjoyable time at the pool, beach, or water park, and getting a rash, having diarrhea, or developing other, potentially serious illnesses.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is contagious and causes cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or so, but some can get very sick with pneumonia or bronchiolitis. There is no RSV vaccine, but there are ways to help prevent RSV infection.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) can be a severe and even fatal illness if not treated in the first few days of symptoms. Learn how to avoid getting bitten by ticks and which signs and symptoms to watch for after you’ve been around ticks.
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that affected many people worldwide in 2003. It was caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. The illness spread to 29 countries, where 8,096 people got SARS and 774 of them died. The SARS global outbreak was contained in July 2003. Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world.
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever results from group A strep infection. If your child has a sore throat and rash, their doctor can test for strep. Quick treatment with antibiotics can protect your child from possible long-term health problems.
Shingles
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus. You can get shingles at any age, but it’s more common in older adults. Shingles vaccine protects against shingles and the long-term pain that it can cause.
Sickle Cell Disease
In people with sickle cell disease, red blood cells become hard, sticky, and shaped like a C. The sickle cells die early, leaving a shortage of red blood cells (anemia). They also clog blood vessels, causing pain and other serious problems.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) are highly curable, but the third (melanoma) is more dangerous. Know the risks and protect yourself.
Strep Throat
Sore throats can be mild or severe. How do you know when it’s strep throat? How should you treat it? Your doctor can do a quick test and provide proper treatment for a quick recovery.
Stroke
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the US. A stroke occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. Stroke can affect your senses, speech, behavior, thoughts, memory, and emotions. One side of your body may become paralyzed or weak.
West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus (WNV) is most often spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Those mosquitoes then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough—a cough by any other name may not be as deadly! This very contagious respiratory disease can be serious for anyone, but is life-threatening in young babies. The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated.
- Page last reviewed: October 11, 2017
- Page last updated: October 11, 2017
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