The COVID-19 pandemic can trigger anxious feelings in anyone. However, people with an anxiety disorder such as agoraphobia may find that the pandemic has heightened their anxiety even further.

Jan 21st, 2023 - Overview What is sepsis in newborns? Sepsis in newborns (neonatal sepsis) is a serious medical condition that affects babies younger than 28 days old. Sepsis occurs when your body has an extreme response to an infection. A newborn who has an infection and develops sepsis can have inflammation throughout their body. This inflammation and blood clotting causes reduced blood flow to your baby’s li...

Jan 20th, 2023 - Overview What is bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)? Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is the accidental or involuntary release of pee while sleeping. Bedwetting is common among children, even after toilet training. Most children gradually stop wetting the bed on their own as they grow older. This usually happens between 4 and 6 years of age. A healthcare provider will see bedwetting as an issue ...

Jan 20th, 2023 - Overview What is agoraphobia? Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an intense fear of becoming overwhelmed or unable to escape or get help. Because of fear and anxiety, people with agoraphobia often avoid new places and unfamiliar situations, like: Large, open areas or enclosed spaces. Crowds. Places outside of their home. Public transportation. How common is agoraphobia? Researchers ...

Jan 19th, 2023 - Overview Vestibular neuritis develops when the vestibular nerve in your inner ear becomes inflamed or swollen. What is vestibular neuritis? Vestibular neuritis is a disorder that affects the vestibulocochlear nerve of your inner ear. This nerve sends information about your balance and head position from your inner ear to your brain. When this nerve becomes inflamed or swollen, it interrupts the...

Jan 19th, 2023 - Overview What is enterocolitis? Enterocolitis is inflammation that occurs throughout your intestines. It combines “enteritis,” inflammation of the small intestine, with “colitis,” inflammation of the large intestine. Inflammation in either of your intestines is common, but when it occurs in both, it tends to be more severe. It also tends to affect those with more vulnerable immune systems, espe...

Jan 19th, 2023 - Overview Certain foods can trigger diarrhea with lymphocytic colitis. What is lymphocytic colitis? Lymphocytic colitis is a type of microscopic colitis, which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic diseases that cause ongoing inflammation in your intestines. Colitis means inflammation of the large intestine (colon). Microscopic colitis is colitis that c...

Jan 18th, 2023 - Overview What is childhood asthma? Asthma is a long-term (chronic) lung disease that affects your airways. Your airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, you can’t get air into your lungs because your airways swell and get too narrow. Like a pinched straw, this makes it hard for you to breathe, which can cause wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. Ce...

Jan 18th, 2023 - Overview Cold urticaria is a rash or hives you can develop as a reaction to cold temperatures. What is cold urticaria? Cold urticaria is a condition that causes an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. A person with cold urticaria may develop a rash or hives after: Eating or drinking something cold. Putting ice on their skin. Swimming or bathing in cold water. Walking outdoors in cold weather...

Jan 13th, 2023 - Overview Earwax blockage happens when earwax (cerumen) builds up inside your ear canal. What is cerumen impaction? “Cerumen impaction” is the medical term for earwax blockage. Earwax (cerumen) plays an important role in ear health. It cleans your ears and protects them from dust, dirt and infection. Despite its many benefits, earwax can cause issues if too much of it builds up. Cerumen impactio...

Jan 13th, 2023 - Overview What is depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things and activities you once enjoyed. It can also cause difficulty with thinking, memory, eating and sleeping. It’s normal to feel sad about or grieve over difficult life situations, such as losing your job or a divorce. But depression is different in that it persists...

Jan 11th, 2023 - Overview What is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that causes you to view your own physical appearance unfairly. The thoughts and feelings related to your appearance can consume you and affect your thoughts and actions. Eventually, BDD can negatively impact your quality of life and how you feel about yourself. While everyone’s body has ...

Jan 7th, 2023 - Overview Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder. Agoraphobia involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless or embarrassed. You may fear an actual or upcoming situation. For example, you may fear using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd. The anx...

Jan 7th, 2023 - Overview Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare, serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It's usually a reaction to medication that starts with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful rash that spreads and blisters. Then the top layer of affected skin dies, sheds and begins to heal after several days. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency that usually requires hospitaliz...

Jan 7th, 2023 - Overview Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder. Agoraphobia involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless or embarrassed. You may fear an actual or upcoming situation. For example, you may fear using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd. The anx...

Jan 6th, 2023 - Diagnosis Your health care provider will check your skin. They might touch the skin in different places to find the borders of the affected area. In most cases, no tests are needed. Treatment No single treatment relieves postherpetic neuralgia for everyone. It often takes a mix of treatments to ease the pain. Lidocaine skin patches These are small, bandage-like patches. They contain the pain-re...

Jan 6th, 2023 - Overview Pubic lice, commonly called crabs, are tiny insects found in your genital area. They are a different type of louse from head lice and body lice. Measuring 1/16 inch (1.6 millimeters) or less, pubic lice received their nickname because their bodies resemble tiny crabs. The most common way to get pubic lice is through sexual activity. In children, pubic lice may be found in the eyebrows ...

Jan 6th, 2023 - Diagnosis Hemochromatosis can be difficult to diagnose. Early symptoms such as stiff joints and fatigue may be due to conditions other than hemochromatosis. Many people with the disease don't have any symptoms other than high levels of iron in their blood. Hemochromatosis may be identified because of irregular blood test results after testing is done for other reasons. It also may be revealed w...

Jan 6th, 2023 - Overview What is whooping cough? Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a very contagious upper respiratory infection. It usually gives you lengthy and repeated bouts of coughing. These coughing episodes can continue for weeks or even months after you first develop symptoms of the illness. Instead of coughing spells, babies with pertussis may have breathing difficulties. This includes condit...

Jan 5th, 2023 - Overview Intussusception Open pop-up dialog box Close Intussusception Intussusception Intussusception is a rare, serious disorder in which one part of the intestine slides inside an adjacent part. Intussusception (in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun) is a serious condition in which part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine. This telescoping action often blocks food or fluid from passi...