Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with disease

How contagious are plantar warts?

serathen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:24:41 -0800

I've had a plantar wart on the ball of my foot for years. I have not taken steps to keep from spreading it. Is this something I should do? I've had a wart on the bottom of my left foot for a number of years, and in the last year one on my right. My question is less about treatment (apparently duct tape works? who knew?) and more about ethics and courtesy. I have a invitation to use a sauna with some friends next week, and I'm worried whether I'm putting them at risk. Should I buy a pair of flip-flops?

Are there other situations where contagiousness of warts is a problem? Should I not use public swimming pools? Not use others' showers barefoot? Not walk around barefoot with wet feet, or at all? Obviously I've done these things in the last few years. How bad should I feel about it? For much of that time, the possibility of spreading HPV hadn't even occurred to me.

When the "Kissing Disease" limits other activities as well....

CTORourke — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:08:17 -0800

I am looking for information/anecdotal experience about the possibility of spreading infectious mononucleosis (i.e. Mono or Glandular Fever) through other sexual contact. I know the virus is transmitted through saliva, but could general close contact or other bodily fluids spread it as well? In addition, is it true that once one has shown symptoms of mono before, they still have the virus but are unlikely to have symptoms again (like chicken pox)? On the plus side, my infection doesn't seem to be too bad. Mild sore throat and general tiredness. I'm still able to work and such. But on the down-side, I just started dating this guy whom I really really like. Our dating has already been set back by the flu and extended-vacation time. I am very irritated that now this has come up as well. I will absolutely tell him that I am sick, but I just wanted to know ahead of time what sort of options we might have to work around it. I am also hoping that maybe hell say he has already had it, and so he doesn't have to worry about re-exposure from me.

One fever is more than enough fevers for us

tmcw — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:09:57 -0800

Indian health concerns: typhoid fever and dengue fever. Yes, you are not my doc. So, the short of it is: I am heading to new Delhi late tomorrow. My girlfriend, who I'm visiting, got dengue fever three days ago. She's feeling a bit better, but, obviously, better relative to the f'ing dengue fever.

Problem #2 I took three of the four pills (live vaccine) for typhoid fever, and was going to take the last tomorrow, on the schedule. And realized ten minutes ago, on this cross-coast bus, that I had left that little box in my office.

So:

dengue is spread by 'blood products' while she's still feverish. What does this mean in kissy terms.

Next: how screwed am I with my 75% vaccination against a quite serious illness? And can I grab another dose in a cvs tomorrow? Cost would obviously be thought of relative to hospital stay / death (jk, I'll never die)

Finally, any departing words of advice for a first-time Indian visiting his so abroad?

Germs: pretty much everywhere

Busoni — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:37:21 -0800

Epidemiology-and-Germ-Theory-Filter: are bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. that cause common conditions (such as warts, conjunctivitis, and ringworm, for instance) pretty much everywhere (already)? The relevant literature suggests that they are fairly contagious, and spread by contact. But while one can take precautions towards limiting contagion, doesn't it seem that given the prevalence of these diseases and the lack of precautions most people take, that the agents that cause these diseases must already be pretty ubiquitous, and that the only reason that not everyone has warts and pink eye is that people's immune systems are functioning properly?

In other words, am I right in saying that: although you probably want to avoid wrestling nude in the shower room at the Y, and farting bare-assed on people's pillows, people usually get warts and pink eye not because they failed to take these precautions, but because the germs that cause them are already pretty much everywhere, and happened to catch these people on a bad day, immunologically speaking?

Your Most Stunning Photographs of Disease, Please.

foxy_hedgehog — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:28:59 -0800

I'm compiling a set of 30-40 photographs related to any and all aspects of disease for a high school visual literacy project. The students are high school juniors who are struggling with literacy and writing. I'd love your suggestions for compelling, diverse, and striking images and sites that have collections of same. The theme is deliberately open-ended, and can include images from medical and scientific history as well as depictions of illnesses, medical epidemics, and attempts to treat and cope with disease. This could include everything from Sebastiao Salgado's photographs of the distribution of the polio vaccine in India and Africa to the (in)famous Benneton "Pieta" photograph. The goal is to find images that provoke thought, convey information, and tell stories.

I need to include background information on the photos (such as context, description, photographer, title, date, and any copyright information) so any suggestions that have this would be very helpful.

Many thanks for your thoughts and suggestions!

My dog just attacked a large rodent-like creature, should I be worried?

AZNsupermarket — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:23:01 -0800

My dog just attacked a large rodent-like creature, should I be worried? I was walking my dog (A soft-coated wheaten terrier) at night in Closter NJ, when he ran off to chase a large rodent-like creature. He bit it and attacked it, and the creature fought back, but no skin was broken that I could see, and there was no blood. Eventually the creature got away. My dog seems to be okay, and is all up to date on all his shots - he got a whole bunch about a month ago (including kennel cough and distemper). This event has left me a little shaken. Is there any possibility that my dog may be hurt without me realizing it or contracted a disease from the creature? Should I take him to see a vet?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thai writing

Baldons — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:10:03 -0800

What is written here? It's Thai. It should be a disease. My Thai aunt-in-law's father has it, but we don't understand what it is. Can the hive mind help?

Here it is. Thanks, hive mind!

"You should get that looked at" -- yea or nay?

greatgefilte — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:13:19 -0800

How far does -- or should -- a medical professional's ethical responsibility go when it comes to the health and well-being of strangers (i.e. people one might see on the street, or in line at the supermarket)? As a purely theoretical example, let's say I'm paying for my groceries and I notice that the cashier behind the till has some pretty characteristic signs of a disease that may be potentially serious, but that they may not realize they have. (For argument's sake, let's say Cushing's syndrome or melanoma.) Should I assume it's (a) none of my business, (b) something that is my business, but perhaps is not a good idea to address because I could be wrong and cause unnecessary anxiety, or they could already be seeing their doctor about it, (c) something I should definitely mention, or (d) something else?

If it's not venturing too much into the realm of ChatFilter, how would you feel if someone came up to you and said, "Excuse me, I'm a doctor/nurse/dentist, and I think you should get [x] looked at."?

Found the "bullseye", now what?

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:21:21 -0800

After a week of what was diagnosed as some form of Viral Syndrome Meningitis, I just found a big target-shaped rash on the back of my leg. Looks just like the pictures. This started on Sunday of Labor Day weekend after camping. Now that I'm pretty sure it's Lyme Disease what should I ask for and do first? I'm about 10 days into the infection. My doctor is on vacation so I've been getting bounced around. I have an appointment with her back-up who I saw last Wednesday. When I saw him then the rash was a solid purple, like a bruise. It's sort of migrated to the edges forming a target with a dark center and outer ring. I'm almost positive this is Lyme Disease and he wants me in the office at 8 in the morning. I know I want antibiotics but what else do I want and need to know? I understand there's an advantage to catching this early. How do I maximize that advantage? Throw away account at metathrowaway@gmail.com for anything you'd rather not share.

Parvovirus: odds of a puppy getting it?

zippy — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:34:45 -0800

I understand the danger parvovirus poses to puppies, but what are the odds of a puppy contracting the disease in the US (specifically Alameda County, California)? I have been reading about parvovirus in dogs (including this discussion), and understand how serious the illness is.

What I can't seem to find is any indication of risk or prevalance. What are the odds a dog will get parvo, and how many cases of it are there a year in my area?

The more mathematical and bounded the answer, the better. I know I can't be assured to the fifth decimal place about anything, but I want to know: Parvo, this terrible disease, are the odds 1%, 10%, or 100%?

More details below, in the hope that they may allow more exact bounding of the answer.

My dog is five weeks old. He was one of the larger dogs in the litter (with two or three brothers and a sister), which I understand tends to confer longer maternal immunity. I intend to start him on a full vaccine series for parvo.

He's 3/4 Australian Cattle Dog, 1/4 Fox Terrier. He was born in a remote rural area of Humboldt County, California, and as of a few days ago now lives in a semi-urban area in Alameda County.

I keep him mostly indoors, with trips to the back and front yard for exercise. I understand that completely preventing exposure to parvo is impossible (as the virus hardy and survives for long periods in the soil), but also that minimizing exposure to parvo greatly reduces the chances for infection.

I would like to know:

How common is parvo in Humbolt County and in Alameda County? Or, if these specific numbers aren't available, then whatever numbers are available for California or the US. A link to numbers of cases per year would be ideal.

What are the odds of a puppy getting parvo between the ages of 5 and 16 weeks if he's allowed to socialize with a: known dogs (with shots), or b: occasionally visit parks and meet other non-wild dogs.

Links to scholarly papers are fine, and links to the dog equivalent to the CDC would also appreciated.

If this is too specific, or if there isn't enough information, please let me know. Also, I do know how bad the illness itself is.

Plague!

Artw — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:58:23 -0800

What are the locations of known plague pits in London, and are any maps available showing them?

Is this a type of archeologist or a type of pathologist?

biochemist — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:08 -0800

What does a paleopathologist actually do? I'm not looking for technical terms, but rather "a day in the life of." Is there another term for this specialty that can lead to more information about the profession?

Psoriasis advice

longsleeves — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:27:29 -0800

I have psoriasis and wonder what treatments work if you or someone you know also has it and what your experience has been. My father has plaque psoriasis and over the last eighteen months or so I have begun to develop it. I had a quick initial onset on my scalp and upper chest, which has since slowly expanded in area affected. A local dermatologist I finally consulted two weeks ago prescibed Derma-Smooth/FS, a suspension of fluocinolone acetonide in purified peanut and mineral oil. I have used the stuff and it has resulted in some clearing of the affected areas but the lesions are persistent and less noticable but no smaller, even thogh the doctor said the would begin to go away. He mentioned some other treatment that he woud use after the fluocinolone did its work.

Dad had a case that was very bad, progressing to that point that it affected large areas of his skin. He spent two weeks at a clinic in another state (The Cleveland Clinic?) for some sort of intensive treatment that failed. The concern as I understand it was that psoriasis in its more extreme manifestaions can result in skin cells replicating so fast that the body's temperature is raised by the accelerated metabolism to dangerous fevers.

Eventually Dad's psoriasis was controlled with methotrexate, which is more commonly employed as part of anti-cancer chemotherapy treatments due to its slowing of cell division. He had to get a liver biopsy before they started using it and subsequent biopsies to check for liver damage.

It worked, and the dosage was decreased over time to minimal levels to maintain the "remission."

The Dermatologist's staff had me fill out a form describing why I was consulting the doctor. By the time the doctor breezed into the examining room I was waiting in, one of about four he has, he already had his prescription pad out. From his seat abot five feet away he glanced at the red patches on my upper forehead near my hairline and said the scalp oil he was prescribing would control the codition. He didn't look at my chest and he spent less than five minutes with me.

I have a follow-up appointmet with this doctor in a few weeks. I did not remember to ask him about arthritis as part of the aouto-immune symptoms associated with psoriasis. My knees hurt.

I understand that immune suppresant chemicals are used sometimes to treat my condition, and well damn, that sounds scary.

Should I consult a rheumetologist on my own?

Any thoughts you may have or experiences you could relate awould be welcome.

What is the military's stance on Celiacs disease in the service?

isopropyl — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:14:06 -0800

I'm considering enlisting but was unsure how a gluten intolerance would play into it all. I'm interested in the navy but any info would be great.

My brother's girlfriend is nuts should my wife have to deal?

washateria — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:00:27 -0800

I have to move clean out my mother's house in another state. She just moved into assisted living for Alzheimer's Disease last weekend. It will be an emotional week where I will need a lot of support. My brother has been in an on again off again relationship with a woman for the past five years. He was off for the past six months or so and moved in to help take care of Mom, but now they are back together and spending all their time together. SHe is annoying, crazy, doesn't work and last year punched an 87 year old family friend in the face. Anyway, my partner/girlfriend has said she will only go down and help me and my brother clean out the house if she has the right to never see my brother's girlfriend. Meaning I rent her a car and she leaves anytime this woman comes around. I think that this is going to cause a lot of drama, but I completely understand where she is coming from. I really need her there, but I am really afraid that WW3 will break out and I will be in more hot water. ANy ideas?

Why are these trees sick?

Toekneesan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:54:00 -0800

A lot of the Black Walnut trees in the area are dying. I can't quite figure out why. Common trait, most lost a lot of bark just before they died or just after. Some locals blamed a wet spring last year but I'm looking for something more specific. At least 10 trees last year, most over 10 years old, many older, have died within our little village of less than a city block. Central Pennsylvania. Any ideas?

The Bug on the Wire?

oteric — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:03:44 -0800

On the TV show the Wire, they talk about "the bug". What disease are they referring to?

Looking for a great East Bay GI doc

ElmerFishpaw — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:10:23 -0800

You have Crohn's disease. You live in (or near) Oakland, CA. You're on Blue Cross. You have an awesome GI doctor. Who is he/she? Kaiser has ignored us for long enough and now we're searching for a Blue Cross doctor who wont automatically prescribe Prednisone at any sign of trouble. Someone who will actually remember our name and pay attention to us and maybe even keep track of our case and act interested and try to figure out if theres a way we can take fewer pills and be symptom free. The closer to Oakland the better but any lead is a godsend.

Thank you.

Gastrocolitis, Valbuminitus and Lumpuckaroo

eccnineten — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:27:25 -0800

Ever heard of a disease where you grow thorns that vibrate when cut off? Long ago I heard a list of funny-sounding diseases. My spelling may be off, because I heard and did not read them. They were gastrocolitis, valbuminitus and lumpuckaroo. The first I've confirmed as real. The third I've confirmed as "the blahs." The second I've not confirmed at all.

What's more, it seems I was told of a disease in which a person grows black thorns from their skin which when cut off - vibrate.

Now I've been told a bunch of stuff in my life. I've also told plenty of fibs myself. I'm not saying the vibrating thorn disease is real, or that it is called valbuminitus. But I'd like to find the origin of this story if possible. Thanks for helping, metafilter.

What branch of biology studies the environment to advance medicine?

Tres — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:59:09 -0800

What are some in the field jobs that involve studying the environment seeking medical advances? A friend asked me the following question, and I looked around and was stumped by it. A couple basic things came to my attention, like tracking the spread of different illnesses in developing countries and passing out vaccines, but I hope I'm missing something. "What branch of biology encompasses the outdoor study of plants, animals, environments, and whatever else in order to find medical advancements? You see in movies people hunting in the amazon for weird plants in order to cure diseases. Is this a real profession? Could I really go to Africa to study a plague because the genetic information found within it could lead to a cure for cancer?"

How can I not get the flu?

allen8219 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:56:22 -0800

How can I avoid getting the flu? I have gotten spooked by a couple coworkers who got SICK from the flu, which they caught from their kids, and I am very intent on avoiding the same fate (trouble coming out of both ends). Short of covering myself in saranwrap and lysol, and then hiding in an ICBM silo, what do you suggest? I'm going to get a flu shot tomorrow morning, and I just bought some Purel hand sanitizer that I plan on using as often as I remember.

Is there any truth to immunity-boosting supplements? Should I exercise more? Or avoid the gym and exercise less? I'm in Washington, DC, and it's like 33 degrees out, so running outdoors isn't an attractive option.

Whooping Cough or Tall Tale?

CitrusFreak12 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:31:37 -0800

Could my roommate really have whooping cough? Because I'm skeptical. I'm in college, and as soon as everyone returned from home for the spring semester, colds started spreading, as they tend to do. A cold started going around the suite in my dorm, luckily bypassing me.

Two of my suitemates have since had near-constant coughing. Both of them are the only two in the suite who smoke cigarettes, and it sounds to me like typical coughing fits exasperated by smoking so much.

One of the roommates went home over the weekend and upon returning told us he had been to the doctor and his doctor told him he had whooping cough. He went on to say how he was apparently "the first one in our generation to get it." I am not entirely sure what he means by that, but color me surprised; there's not much of a whoop to it, it's more of a shallow smoker's cough.

This roommate has a history of... story telling. He's fond of stretching the truth and of telling tall tales. Sometimes I’d just call it outright lying. Like during freshman year, when a rapper who was performing at our school apparently invited him into his limousine and he drank champagne with him. Or the time he drunkenly stumbled onto the lawn of the university’s president and had cigars with him. Or the time when he got into a friend’s car and "ten cop cars pulled up", and the friend whose car it was looks puzzled and says it was only one. You get the idea; the guy is constantly stumbling onto amazing and fantastic situations which few people can verify.

So needless to say I’m skeptical, and I want to know how likely is it that he has this? He’s not on any antibiotics, just CVS-brand robitussin. Another friend told me that he said this is because the doctor told him there was no need for antibiotics because he was already recovering.

IANAD, but the whole thing strikes me as fishy. Is it possible to have and recover from whooping cough without antibiotics? Wouldn’t the health department get involved? Isn’t whooping cough highly contagious? I feel like if he really had this then my university would be sending out notices and emails and making him stay in from class or something.

Please stick to the likelihood of my roommate having or not having this disease, instead of whether or not I should confront him about it or how to deal with it. I’ll handle that part myself, but right now I just want to know if this is Just Another Story or a reason to be concerned about my health.

What disease do cats get from a lack of people food?

nzydarkxj — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:27:56 -0800

What risk does a cat take in not eating people food? A month ago I found a kitten a couple weeks old abandoned in the street. (She weighed about 1 kilo and was an estimated 5ish weeks old, if it matters)

I took her to the vet about an hour after I found her because she had an infection, and she got all cleaned up and a shot for the infection, all better now etc... Anyway, the vet stressed that it is important to mix people food with the cat food, otherwise cats can get diseases.

That sounded strange to me. What diseases is the vet talking about? If its not really that necessary I'd prefer to NOT feed the cat people food other than an occasional fish treat or something. At the follow up visit the vet said the same thing and our conversation got derailed before I got more information.

Purina Pro Plan Kitten formula was the food she recommended

Need help hunting down a parasitic worm contracted in Senegal.

zonkers — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:06:04 -0800

What type of parasitic worm (with larvae) can be contracted in Senegal that would make you feel lethargic, nervous, and have a loss of apetite? My boyfriend was in Senegal in November 2008 for about 2 weeks. Recently, he started feeling lethargic, nervous, and a major loss of appetite. He went and saw a doctor about these symptoms. The doctor said he has some type of parasitic worm, but he doesn't know what type of worm it is. All we know is it's a worm with larvae. I did some research, but all I could find was the Guinea Worm Disease. However, people don't feel symptoms for a year.

We're still waiting for more tests, it's just taking a long time to figure this out. He hasn't been able to see a tropical disease specialist yet, due to his health insurance coverage.

In the meantime...

Does anyone know what type of parasitic worms could be found in the region? Has anyone had similar experiences?

Did Henry VIII have a genetic/medical condition that prevented him from having healthy male children?

mygothlaundry — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:33:03 -0800

Why couldn't Henry VIII have living male children (except Edward) and then, why did Edward die so young? Medical explanations? I went on an extended Philippa Gregory kick over the holidays and now I'm curious about Henry VIII and his inability to sire an heir. So I did a whole bunch of googling last night and discovered that the syphilis theory, which I vaguely remembered from years ago, has been thrown out. (scroll down; the text was actually taken from some other site I visited that I can't find now.) Apparently there was some talk that he and Katherine of Aragon were Rh incompatible, but then how did Mary make it to term? One site I found suggested that it was diabetes (warning, geocities link, really horrible yellow background!) and pointed to the early deaths of Henry's male relatives (brother Arthur, Edward and Henry Fitzroy, Henry's illegitimate son with Bessie Blount) as proof. Can diabetes do that? Is it sex linked like that? Another website (warning, guy may be a nut. Hard to say.) put forward a lot of the questions I'm curious about. Any takers for this old mystery? Any medical explanations? Is there a disease that is so sex linked it attacks males in utero and yet lets girls live? Although, of course, there weren't even as many girls as one might think, given Henry's number of women and assumed, um, predilections.