So, What Exactly Is the Epstein-Barr Virus? The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common viruses in the world. It was discovered and published in scientific journals in 1964 by Michael Anthony Epstein and Yvonne Barr, hence its name. It is also known as “Human Herpesvirus 4” and is a member of the herpes virus family. The CDC…
What is a Clinical Trial? When you visit your doctor and receive a prescription for medication or are given a vaccination, at that moment, you are directly benefiting from the work many others have done before you. The path from understanding a disease to treating it with medicines is long, complicated, and expensive. To make sure prescription medicines are safe…
For many people, the only time they’ve heard of typhoid has been in historical accounts of grim 1800s-era pioneers becoming infected on their way to the American west, or perhaps through the cautionary tale of Typhoid Mary, who refused to wash her hands, and spread typhoid through her cooking so frequently that she was banished to an island for the…
Samantha Isaacs, a mother of four, had a history of healthy pregnancies. She saw trouble brewing only two days after her youngest son was born, however, when he failed a newborn hearing test in the hospital. She was first told he might have fluid in his ears following a C-section, but months later, he was diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus, or…
It can happen in many different ways. You may have received a diagnosis from your primary care physician. Alternatively, you may have received a preliminary diagnosis and referral from an emergency room doctor. You may have had your condition for some time, and perhaps have moved to a new area. Whatever the case may be, it is imperative to choose…
What is Shingles? Many Floridians in their lifetime experience some form of illness from the varicella-zoster virus be it in the form of chickenpox or shingles. Shingles, although not life threatening, can be extremely painful and debilitating. Shingles can cause a rash that can appear anywhere on your body and can cause severe pain, burning, numbness, and itching. Those who…
In November of 1991, Los Angeles Lakers point guard, and basketball superstar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson sent shockwaves around the world when we announced that he had contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He announced that he would be retiring from the NBA, at the height of his decorated career, no less. Because of the information available at that time,…
For as long as there have been living beings on this Earth, there have been infectious diseases. Plague and sickness has shaped the path of the world since before recorded history, and through every age, there are those who rise above, saving countless lives in their search for better treatment. These men and women put themselves on the front lines…
Let’s face it – 2020 hasn’t really gone as planned. Most everyone’s lives have been derailed by Covid-19, the novel coronavirus that began wreaking havoc in the U.S. in late February and early March. As of August 3, 2020, there have been approximately 4.6 million cases in the U.S. and, tragically, just over 154,000 people have died from complications from…
Taking a trip abroad? There is so much to think about. You must plan your itinerary, book hotels, arrange transportation, sightseeing and so much more. But don’t forget to think about illness and diseases you may be exposed to in your travels. This is something many of us do not think about but without proper precautions you might come home…
Advances in healthcare have developed rapidly in the U.S. over the last few decades. In 1954, the kidney was the first human organ to be successfully transplanted. Liver, heart and pancreas transplants were successfully performed by the late 1960’s, while lung and intestinal organ transplant procedures began in the 1980s. Consider now that almost 40,000 organ transplants were performed in…
Dr. Philip Styne is a gastroenterologist and volunteer physician at Shepherd’s Hope, a health clinic in Orlando that exists to provide care for uninsured and low-income patients. He noticed that a significant number of his patients had Hepatitis C so he decided to open a weekly clinic to better treat them. “The point is that these people really suffer, and…
Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay (IDATB) is now offering Telemedicine for certain infectious disease services and treatments. We are delighted to embrace this new and ever-expanding technology in order to create a convenient, safe alternative for our patients.
Receiving medication by infusion therapy is a method of administering a drug by a needle or catheter inserted into a vein. In the hospital, IV therapy is commonly used when a patient cannot take medications orally or for treatments where an intravenous route is more effective.
Currently, 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. While most regions of the country have seen a slow decrease in the number of new HIV cases each year, the number of new infections in the South has continued to grow at a steady rate and accounts for just under half of all cases in the US.