Pharyngitis is a painful inflammation of the pharynx, and is colloquially referred to as a sore throat. Infection of the tonsils, tonsillitis (American English: tonsilitis) may occur simultaneously. The major cause is infection, of which 90% are viral, the remainder caused by bacterial infection and rarely oral thrush (fungal candidiasis e.g. in babies). Some cases of pharyngitis are caused by irritation from agents such as pollutants, chemicals, or smoke. Pharyngitis - Types. Including:

• Pharyngitis - Types
• Pharyngitis - Viral sore throats
• Pharyngitis - Bacterial sore throats
• Pharyngitis - Treatment
• Pharyngitis - Symptomatic

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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) and various other names, is a syndrome of unknown and possibly multiple etiology, affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune, and many other systems and organs. Most definitions other than the 1991 UK "Oxford", require a number of features, the most common being severe mental and physical depletion, which according to the 1994 Fukuda definition is "unrelieved by rest", and is usually made worse by even trivial exertion (controver ...

Including:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome - History
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nomenclature
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Symptoms
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Course
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Onset
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Activity levels
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Post-exertion symptom exacerbation
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Duration
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Diagnosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - CDC 1994 criteria aka Fukuda
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other systems
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Controversies
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Epidemiology
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Disease associations
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Co-morbidity
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Proposed etiologies and corresponding treatments
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Allergies
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Autonomic nervous system disruption
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Damage to ascending reticular activating system
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Depression
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Hormonal dysfunction
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Immune dysfunction
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Infectious agents
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Inner-ear disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Metabolic disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nutritional deficiency or imbalance
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Psychosomatic causes
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Spinal problems
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Toxic agents
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other treatments
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Social issues
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - Notable sufferers

Read more here: » Chronic fatigue syndrome: Encyclopedia - Chronic fatigue syndrome

Hematological malignancies are the types of cancer that affect blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. As the three are intimately connected through the immune system, a disease affecting one of the three will often affect the others as well: although lymphoma is technically a disease of the lymph nodes, it often spreads to the bone marrow, affecting the blood and occasionally producing a paraprotein. Chromosomal translocations are a common cause of these diseases, while this is uncommon in solid tumors. This leads to a different approach in ...

See also:

Hematological malignancy, Hematological malignancy - Definition, Hematological malignancy - List of diseases, Hematological malignancy - Diagnosis, Hematological malignancy - Treatment, Hematological malignancy - Follow-up

Read more here: » Hematological malignancy: Encyclopedia II - Hematological malignancy - Definition

Lymphedema may be inherited (primary) or caused by injury to the lymphatic vessels (secondary). It was most frequently seen after surgery and radiation therapy, which may cause unintended damage to the lymphatic drainage system. It was especially common after surgery or radiation therapy were used in combination to treat breast cancer. Lymphedema may also be associated with accidents or certain diseases or problems that may inhibit the lymphatic system from proper function. Many cancer patients find this condition may develop after their the ...

See also:

Lymphedema, Lymphedema - Causes, Lymphedema - Symptoms, Lymphedema - Staging, Lymphedema - Illustration, Lymphedema - Treatment

Read more here: » Lymphedema: Encyclopedia II - Lymphedema - Causes

The discovery of HIV was the fruit of a remarkable collaboration. In 1982, Dr Willy Rozenbaum, a clinician at the Hôpital Bichat in Paris, and his colleagues Françoise Brun-Vezinet and Christine Rouzioux contacted Jean-Claude Chermann, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of the Pasteur Institute, also in Paris, to ask for assistance with identifying the causative agent of the mysterious new syndrome AIDS. Rozenbaum had been openly speculating at scientific meetings that the cause of the disease might be a retrovirus, and it was from a lymph node biopsy taken from one of Rozenbaum's patient ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - Introduction

(This is the interim African Region version for persons aged 15 years or more who have had a positive HIV antibody test or other laboratory evidence of HIV infection) (It must be noted that the UN defines adolescents as persons aged 10−19 years but for surveillence purposes, the category of adults and adolescents comprises people aged 15 years and over) WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Primary HIV infection. Asymptomatic Acute retroviral ...

See also:

WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Revised WHO Clinical Staging of HIV/AIDS For Adults and Adolescents 2005, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Primary HIV infection, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical stage 1, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical stage 2, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical stage 3, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical stage 4, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Original proposal in 1990, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical Stage I, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical Stage II, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical Stage III, WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Clinical Stage IV

Read more here: » WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents: Encyclopedia II - WHO Disease Staging System for HIV Infection and Disease in Adults and Adolescents - Revised WHO Clinical Staging of HIV/AIDS For Adults and Adolescents 2005

Epidemiologic studies from Australia suggest that exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the major contributors to the development of melanoma. Few dermatologists question the association between sunlight and melanoma. It is widely believed that occasional extreme sun exposure (resulting in "sunburn") is causally related to melanoma. Those with more chronic long term exposure (outdoor workers) may develop protective mechanisms. Melanoma is most common on the back in men and on legs in women (areas of intermittent sun exposure) and is mo ...

See also:

Malignant melanoma, Malignant melanoma - Causes, Malignant melanoma - Prevention, Malignant melanoma - Primary, Malignant melanoma - Diagnosis, Malignant melanoma - Types of Primary Melanoma, Malignant melanoma - Prognostic factors, Malignant melanoma - Staging, Malignant melanoma - Treatment, Malignant melanoma - Surgery, Malignant melanoma - Medication/chemotherapy, Malignant melanoma - Radiation therapy

Read more here: » Malignant melanoma: Encyclopedia II - Malignant melanoma - Causes

Dendritic cells start out as immature dendritic cells. These cells are characterized by high endocytic activity and low T-cell activation potential. Dendritic cells constantly sample the surroundings for pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. This is done through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs recognize specific chemical signatures found on subsets of pathogens. Once they have come into contact with such a pathogen, they become activated into mature dendritic cells. Immature dendritic cells ...

See also:

Dendritic cell, Dendritic cell - Types of dendritic cells, Dendritic cell - In vivo, Dendritic cell - In vitro, Dendritic cell - Life cycle, Dendritic cell - Relationship to HIV allergy and autoimmune diseases, Dendritic cell - Dendritic cells in animals other than humans

Read more here: » Dendritic cell: Encyclopedia II - Dendritic cell - Life cycle

Any mole that is irregular in color or shape should be examined by a dermatologist to determine if it is a malignant melanoma, the most serious and life-threatening form of skin cancer. Following a visual examination and a dermatoscopic exam (an invaluable instrument that illuminates a mole, revealing it's underlying pigment and vascular network structure), a dermatologic surgeon (dermasurgeon) may biopsy a suspicious mole. If it is malignant, it will subsequently be excised in the dermatologist's tr ...

See also:

Malignant melanoma, Malignant melanoma - Causes, Malignant melanoma - Prevention, Malignant melanoma - Primary, Malignant melanoma - Diagnosis, Malignant melanoma - Types of Primary Melanoma, Malignant melanoma - Prognostic factors, Malignant melanoma - Staging, Malignant melanoma - Treatment, Malignant melanoma - Surgery, Malignant melanoma - Medication/chemotherapy, Malignant melanoma - Radiation therapy

Read more here: » Malignant melanoma: Encyclopedia II - Malignant melanoma - Diagnosis

The cause of CFS is unknown, although a large number of causes have been proposed, and several proposed causes have very vocal and partisan advocates. As there is no one identifiable cause or falsifiable diagnosis for CFS, there is also no one treatment protocol or "magic bullet". Due to the multi-systemic nature of the illness, and others like it, an emerging branch of medical science called psychoneuroimmunology is exploring how all the various theories fit together. The treatments that are proposed and often attempted for CF ...

See also:

Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic fatigue syndrome - History, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nomenclature, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Symptoms, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Course, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Onset, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Activity levels, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Post-exertion symptom exacerbation, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Duration, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Diagnosis, Chronic fatigue syndrome - CDC 1994 criteria aka Fukuda, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other systems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Controversies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Epidemiology, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Disease associations, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Co-morbidity, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Proposed etiologies and corresponding treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Allergies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Autonomic nervous system disruption, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Damage to ascending reticular activating system, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Depression, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Hormonal dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Immune dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Infectious agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Inner-ear disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Metabolic disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nutritional deficiency or imbalance, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Psychosomatic causes, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Spinal problems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Toxic agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Social issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Notable sufferers

Read more here: » Chronic fatigue syndrome: Encyclopedia II - Chronic fatigue syndrome - Proposed etiologies and corresponding treatments

Pharyngitis - Viral sore throats. These comprise about 90% of all infectious cases and can be a feature of many different types of viral infections. Adenovirus - the most common of the viral causes. Typically the degree of neck lymph node enlargement is modest and the throat often does not appear red, although is very painful. Orthomyxoviridae which cause Influenza - present with rapid onset high temperature, headache and generalised ache. A sore throat may be associated. Infectious ...

See also:

Pharyngitis, Pharyngitis - Types, Pharyngitis - Viral sore throats, Pharyngitis - Bacterial sore throats, Pharyngitis - Treatment, Pharyngitis - Symptomatic

Read more here: » Pharyngitis: Encyclopedia II - Pharyngitis - Types

One of the major characteristics of HIV is its high genetic variability as a result of its fast replication cycle and the high error rate and recombinogenic properties of reverse transcriptase. This means that different genomic combinations may be generated within an individual who is infected by genetically different HIV strains. Recombination results when a cell is simultaneously infected by two different strains of HIV and one RNA transcript from two different viral strains are encapsidated into the same virion particle. This virion then ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - Genetic variability of HIV

HIV infection is a chronic infectious disease that can be treated, but not yet cured. There are effective means of preventing complications and delaying, but not preventing, progression to AIDS. At the present time, not all persons infected with HIV have progressed to AIDS, but it is generally believed that the majority will. People with HIV infection need to receive education about the disease and treatment so that they can be active partners in decision making ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - Treatment

HIV - Viral entry to the cell. The interaction between the glycoprotein gp120 on the HIV virion and its receptor, CD4 on the target cell, provokes conformational changes in gp120. This exposes a region of gp120, the V3 loop, which binds to a cytokine receptor on the target cell, such as CCR5 or CXCR4 depending on the strain of HIV. Without a coreceptor, fusion does not take place, explaining why HIV fav ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - Life cycle of HIV

HIV is different in structure from previously described retroviruses. It is around 120 nm in diameter (120 billionths of a meter; around 60 times smaller than a red blood cell) and roughly spherical. HIV-1 is composed of two copies of single-stranded RNA enclosed by a conical capsid, which is in turn surrounded by a plasma membrane that is formed from part of the host-cell membrane. Other enzymes contained within the virion particle include reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. HIV has several major genes coding for s ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - HIV structure and genome

Infection with HIV-1 is associated with a progressive loss of CD4+ T-cells. This rate of loss can be measured and is used to determine the stage of infection. The loss of CD4+ T-cells is linked with an increase in viral load. The clinical course of HIV-infection generally includes three stages: primary infection, clinical latency and AIDS (Figure 1). HIV plasma levels during all stages of infection range from just 50 to 11 million virions per ml (Piatak et al. ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection

The term viral tropism refers to the cell type that the virus infects and replicates in. HIV can infect a variety of cells such as CD4+ helper T-cells and macrophages that express the CD4 molecule on its surface. HIV-1 entry to macrophages and T helper cells is mediated not only through interaction of the virion envelope glycoproteins (gp120) with the CD4 molecule on the target cells but also with its chemokine coreceptors. Macrophage (M-tropic) strains of HIV-1, or non-syncitia-inducing strains (NSI) use the beta-chemokine receptor C ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - HIV tropism

UNAIDS and the WHO estimated that between 36 and 44 million people around the world were living with HIV in December 2004 [2]. It was estimated that during 2004, between 4.3 and 6.4 million people were newly infected with HIV and between 2.8 and 3.5 million people with AIDS died (UNAIDS, 2004). Sub-Saharan Africa remains by far the worst-affected region, with 23.4 million to 28.4 million people living with HIV at the end of 2004. Just under two thirds (64%) of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, as are more than three quart ...

See also:

HIV, HIV - Introduction, HIV - Transmission, HIV - The clinical course of HIV-1 infection, HIV - Primary Infection, HIV - Clinical Latency, HIV - The declaration of AIDS, HIV - HIV structure and genome, HIV - HIV tropism, HIV - Life cycle of HIV, HIV - Viral entry to the cell, HIV - Viral replication and transcription, HIV - Viral assembly and release, HIV - Genetic variability of HIV, HIV - Treatment, HIV - Epidemiology, HIV - Other viewpoints

Read more here: » HIV: Encyclopedia II - HIV - Epidemiology

According to the 1994 Fukuda definition there are eight main categories of symptoms in CFS: Fatigue: People with CFS experience profound, overwhelming exhaustion, both mental and physical, which is worsened by exertion, and is not relieved (or not completely relieved) by rest. To receive a diagnosis of CFS, this fatigue state must last for six months. Pain: Pain in CFS may include muscle pain, joint pain (without joint swelling or redness, and may be transitory), headaches (particularly of a new type, severity, or durat ...

See also:

Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic fatigue syndrome - History, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nomenclature, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Symptoms, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Course, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Onset, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Activity levels, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Post-exertion symptom exacerbation, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Duration, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Diagnosis, Chronic fatigue syndrome - CDC 1994 criteria aka Fukuda, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other systems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Controversies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Epidemiology, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Disease associations, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Co-morbidity, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Proposed etiologies and corresponding treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Allergies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Autonomic nervous system disruption, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Damage to ascending reticular activating system, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Depression, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Hormonal dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Immune dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Infectious agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Inner-ear disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Metabolic disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nutritional deficiency or imbalance, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Psychosomatic causes, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Spinal problems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Toxic agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Social issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Notable sufferers

Read more here: » Chronic fatigue syndrome: Encyclopedia II - Chronic fatigue syndrome - Symptoms

At this time, there is no accepted conclusive test or series of tests of chronic fatigue syndrome. CFS is therefore largely an exclusionary diagnosis. If a doctor suspects a patient may have CFS they should begin the diagnostic process by eliminating other potential causes of the patient's symptoms. "Chronic fatigue" and similar symptoms can be caused by a wide variety of conditions which should be investigated, although treatment of the patient's symptoms can begin before a complete diagnosis is made. In a patient displaying CFS symp ...

See also:

Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic fatigue syndrome - History, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nomenclature, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Symptoms, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Course, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Onset, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Activity levels, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Post-exertion symptom exacerbation, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Duration, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Diagnosis, Chronic fatigue syndrome - CDC 1994 criteria aka Fukuda, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other systems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Controversies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Epidemiology, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Disease associations, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Co-morbidity, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Proposed etiologies and corresponding treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Allergies, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Autonomic nervous system disruption, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Damage to ascending reticular activating system, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Depression, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Hormonal dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Immune dysfunction, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Infectious agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Inner-ear disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Metabolic disorders, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Nutritional deficiency or imbalance, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Psychosomatic causes, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Spinal problems, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Toxic agents, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Other treatments, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Social issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome - Notable sufferers

Read more here: » Chronic fatigue syndrome: Encyclopedia II - Chronic fatigue syndrome - Diagnosis