Articles by Cari Nierenberg

A woman coughing and holding her throat.

Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Pneumonia is a common infection that causes inflammation in one or both lungs. It's typical symptoms are a cough with phlegm, fever, chills and difficulty breathing.

Close up of an Anopheles species of mosquito biting human skin.

Malaria: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Reference Article: Facts about malaria.

Meningitis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Reference Article: Facts about meningitis.

A closeup of a Culex mosquito biting a human.

West Nile Virus: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

By Cari Nierenberg

Most people bitten by a West Nile virus mosquito won't get sick, but in a small percentage of people, the virus invades the brain and spinal cord, which results in serious illness.

A horse's face with several flies on it.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

By Cari Nierenberg

The Eastern equine encephalitis virus is spread by mosquitoes and, in rare cases, can lead to a life-threatening brain infection.

A preschool-age child using a nebulizer while relaxing on the couch.

Cystic Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

People with cystic fibrosis produce a thick, sticky mucus that causes wide-ranging problems in the lungs, pancreas and digestive system.

What Is Psoriasis?

By Cari Nierenberg

Psoriasis causes new skin cells to grow in days rather than weeks. New skin builds up rapidly, forming thick patches and scales on the surface.

Osteoporotic bone compared to healthy bone

Osteoporosis: Risks, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women and may occur without much warning.

This semi slug (<em>Parmarion martensi</em> may be a carrier of rat lungworm disease.

Invasive Semislug That Likes to Climb May Be Infecting Hawaiians with Brain Parasite

By Cari Nierenberg

People may be picking up rat lungworm disease by eating a fast-climbing creature that's part slug, part snail.

Stockholm syndrome describes a condition where a captive victim befriends their captor.

What Is Stockholm Syndrome?

By Cari Nierenberg

A rare psychological occurrence, Stockholm syndrome is when hostages develop positive feelings toward their captors during an abduction incident.

Alzheimer's disease is an incurable brain disorder that causes plaques to grow around nerve cells, destroying them.

Alzheimer's Disease: Brain Changes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, causes memory and thinking problems, as well as behavioral changes in older adults.

Image of a pregnant woman's belly and hand with an IV drip, in the hospital.

Here’s What Could Happen If You Get Measles While Pregnant

By Cari Nierenberg

The measles can be dangerous for people of all ages, but the highly contagious virus poses a particular threat to pregnant women.

Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia: Causes and Risks of Sodium Imbalance

By Cari Nierenberg

Why is keeping the balance of sodium in our bodies so important?

Parkinson's disease is more likely to develop in people over the age of 60.

Parkinson's Disease: Risks, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

About 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year.

A man developed a severe infection in his ear canal from a cotton swab that spread to the lining of his brain. Above, an MRI of the man's head showing two abscesses in the lining of the man's brain.

A Man Cleaned His Ears with a Cotton Swab. Then He Got an Infection in His Skull.

By Cari Nierenberg

A man in England has sworn off cleaning his ears with a cotton swab after developing a potentially life-threatening infection.

At-Home Test for Colorectal Cancer Could Simplify Screening

By Cari Nierenberg

An at-home screening test for colorectal cancer may be as good an option as a colonoscopy, a new review study finds.

A Woman Returned from Vacation with a Fly Larva Living in Her Forehead

By Cari Nierenberg

When a British woman returned from a visit to Uganda, she didn't realize that a live baby fly had hitched a ride home with her.

What Caused This Man's Sudden, Monthly Sweating Episodes?

By Cari Nierenberg

There's nothing strange about breaking out into a heavy sweat on a sweltering day, or, after some serious physical activity.

peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter, jelly, pbj

Woman Develops Donor's Peanut Allergy After Lung Transplant

By Cari Nierenberg

Sometimes, you just really want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And, as long as you're not allergic to the ingredients, that's totally fine. At least, that's what one woman thought.

A female black widow spider, spiders, spider bites, venom

Man Gets Black Widow Spider Bite. Then He Can't Pee.

By Cari Nierenberg

There's a whole range of reasons you don't want to be bitten by a black widow spider, but you probably wouldn't think that losing the ability to pee is one of them.

A Punch to the Face Left a Man Starry-Eyed — Literally

By Cari Nierenberg

When a man in India took a fist to the left side of his face during a fight, he may have temporarily seen stars.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Cari Nierenberg

Hand, foot and mouth disease can spread quickly across child care centers and elementary schools. Here's what to look for and how to manage the disease.

What Is Brain Freeze?

By Cari Nierenberg

What is happening when something as lovely as ice cream causes such awful pain?

10 of the Strangest Medical Studies (in Recent History, That Is)

By Cari Nierenberg

Check out some of the strangest medical studies carried out in recent years.

The US Is Throwing Out Donor Kidneys That Could Be Given to Patients, Study Says

By Cari Nierenberg

There's a serious kidney shortage in the United States.