The image above should rightfully make you cringe. If you recognize it, then you have already experienced crotch rot (also known as jock itch, jock rot, crotch itch - just keep rearranging those words, in fact). What is crotch rot? Straight talk: it's a rash caused by a fungal infection in the groin area. The [...]
Salmonella is the boogey man hiding in every raw egg and piece of undercooked chicken. It is a bacteria, and it causes millions of cases of diarrhea and gastroenteritis every year across the globe. It is also responsible for over 100,000 deaths every year. The good news is that you can avoid salmonella in the [...]
Most people would be worried about a blood clot that could potentially become detached and cause something called an embolism in your lungs. But what are the chances that you develop DVT? Before we get around to that question, let's explain what DVT is, and why it is so dangerous. First, let's start with blood [...]
Suppose you were Mother Nature, and you wanted to devise a creature that was fundamentally irritating. What would you create? Well, the sandfly would be a good place to start. Known variably as the sand gnat, biting midge, sand flea or no-see-um, sand flies are small enough that they wouldn't seem like a nuisance. What [...]
What if I told you that there exists a fly - the botfly - that captures mosquitoes, ticks and certain other flies, holds them hostage long enough to attach their eggs to them and then sends them on their way. The mosquito, tick or fly then lands on your arm, bites you and inadvertently deposits [...]
You probably already know something about E. Coli. You know that it can cause mass outbreaks of food poisoning, and you know that it can cause severe diarrhea. But did you know E. coli bacteria also live harmlessly in your intestines? In fact, certain strains of E. Coli bacteria are vitally important for the function [...]
If you've been reading this site for a while, then you know that I have been suffering from acid reflux since late 2010. According to my doctor, the condition was very likely caused by doxycycline, a medication I took for 6 months as a malaria prophylactic. I have since taken various medications, including Zantac, omeprazole [...]
Mental health has been creeping into the public discourse more and more in recent years, but we still have a long way to go. Despite a roaring pharmaceutical industry, mental illnesses are often misunderstood, improperly diagnosed and unfairly considered as something less than an actual disease. Traveling with depression can be particularly difficult. You may [...]
Many travelers find themselves without travel insurance while they are already on the road. This could be for several reasons. Some folks may leave without ever considering taking out a policy. Others may have a policy lapse while traveling, and they realize that the policy is not so easy to renew. In any case, it [...]
Cipro's prowess as a bacteria killer is well documented. It is not considered to be effective on parasites, though. Or is it? There is some research that now suggests cipro may be toxic for certain parasites, like Giardia lamblia. I learned about the possibility while eating barbecued chicken and having a few beers with friends [...]
