Evidence-Based Medical Knowledge You Can Trust
Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, spreading through contact, food, water, or vectors.
Yes, adults can get measles, and they are often at higher risk for severe complications than school-aged children. While widely considered a “childhood disease,” measles remains one of the most contagious viruses known to humans, infecting up to 90% of non-immune people who are simply in the same room as an infected individual. If you … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. Quick Answer: The Main Difference The fastest way to tell them apart is the timing. If you feel sick within hours of eating something specific, it is likely food poisoning. If you’ve been around someone else who is sick and your symptoms start 24 to … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. The Quick Answer As of February 2026, there is no Nipah virus outbreak in the UK. No cases have ever been reported in the country. While there are active outbreaks in parts of Asia, such as India and Bangladesh, health experts confirm the risk to … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. Quick Answer: High cholesterol is often called a “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. Most people do not know they have it until they get a blood test or suffer a medical emergency like a heart attack or stroke. In rare cases of … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. Quick Answer: How Long Are You Contagious? Most adults with Influenza B are contagious from one day before symptoms appear until five to seven days after they start feeling sick. Children and people with weakened immune systems can remain infectious for 10 days or longer. To be safe, stay … Read more
Understanding Influenza A and Its Medical Codes Influenza A, often simply called “the flu,” is a serious respiratory infection that affects millions of people every year. It is caused by viruses that spread through the air or by touching infected surfaces. When you visit a doctor for flu symptoms, they use a specific language of … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. The quick answer is no, the Nipah virus is not considered a “true” airborne virus like the flu or COVID-19 in 2026. While it can spread through respiratory droplets during very close contact, it does not linger in the air or travel across long distances. … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. Quick Answer Yes, measles can cause brain swelling, a condition known as encephalitis. This occurs in about 1 out of every 1,000 measles cases. It can lead to permanent brain damage, hearing loss, or even death. Additionally, a very rare but fatal brain complication called SSPE can develop … Read more
Nipah virus (NiV) is a rare but very serious germ that can jump from animals to humans. First found in 1998, it has caused several small outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia. Because this virus has a high death rate—between 40% and 75%—health experts watch it very closely. In early 2026, new cases among healthcare … Read more
Medically Reviewed and Compiled by Dr. Adam N. Khan, MD. Quick Answer The Nipah virus spreads primarily through fruit bats (the natural hosts), which contaminate food like raw date palm sap or fruits with their saliva and urine. It can also spread to humans through infected animals, particularly pigs, or via close contact with an … Read more
With record-breaking measles activity reported in the U.S. throughout 2025 and into early 2026, many adults are asking a critical question: Am I still protected by the shots I got decades ago? The short answer is yes, almost certainly, but there are rare exceptions you should know about. 1. The Power of Two Doses The current medical gold standard is … Read more
The Resurgence of Measles: Why a “Defeated” Disease is Winning Again For decades, measles was a ghost of the past in many countries. In the United States, it was declared eliminated in 2000. But in 2025, that ghost returned with a vengeance. By late 2025, the U.S. recorded its largest outbreak in decades, with over 2,200 confirmed … Read more
The term “killer fungus” is not a formal medical diagnosis. It is a media and public-health term most commonly used to describe life-threatening invasive fungal infections, especially Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant yeast associated with high mortality rates in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. In clinical medicine, these infections are categorized as invasive mycoses, meaning fungal pathogens … Read more
The term superbug refers to a microorganism—most commonly bacteria—that has developed resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs used to treat infections. In clinical medicine, superbugs are a major public health threat because standard antibiotics become ineffective, leading to prolonged illness, higher medical costs, increased transmission, and elevated mortality risk. Superbugs do not represent a single organism. … Read more
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness caused by the measles virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, measles continues to affect children worldwide, including outbreaks in regions with declining immunization coverage. Understanding measles symptoms in children is essential for early recognition, isolation, and prevention of serious complications. In children, measles … Read more