TODAY'S HOSPITAL

Pregnancy occurs when a  sperm  fertilizes an egg after it’s released from the  ovary  during  ovulation . The fertilized egg then travels down into the  uterus , where implantation occurs. A successful implantation results in pregnancy. On average, a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. There are many factors that can affect a pregnancy. Women who receive an early pregnancy diagnosis and  prenatal care  are more likely to experience a healthy pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. Knowing what to expect during the full pregnancy term is important for monitoring both your health and the health of the baby. If you’d like to prevent pregnancy, there are also effective forms of  birth control  you should keep in mind. Symptoms of pregnancy You may notice some signs and symptoms before you even take a pregnancy test. Others will appear weeks later, as  your hormone levels change . Missed period A missed period is one of the earliest...

Adapted from Vectorstock An  emergency department  ( ED ), also known as an  accident & emergency department  ( A&E ),  emergency room  ( ER ),  emergency ward  ( EW ) or  casualty department , is a medical treatment facility specializing in  emergency medicine , the  acute  care of patients who present without prior appointment; either by their own means or by that of an  ambulance . The emergency department is usually found in a  hospital  or other  primary care  centre. Due to the unplanned nature of patient attendance, the department must provide initial treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be  life-threatening  and require immediate attention. In some countries, emergency departments have become important entry points for those without other means of access to medical care. The emergency departments of most hospitals operate 24 hours a day, a...

Adapted from IndiaMart The  management of HIV/AIDS  normally includes the use of multiple  antiretroviral drugs  in an attempt to control  HIV infection . There are several classes of antiretroviral agents that act on different stages of the  HIV  life-cycle. The use of multiple drugs that act on different viral targets is known as  highly active antiretroviral therapy  ( HAART ). HAART decreases the patient's total burden of HIV, maintains function of the  immune system , and prevents  opportunistic infections  that often lead to death. [1]  HAART also prevents the transmission of HIV between serodiscordant same sex and opposite sex partners so long as the HIV-positive partner maintains an undetectable viral load. [2] Treatment has been so successful that in many parts of the world, HIV has become a chronic condition in which progression to  AIDS  is increasingly rare.  Anthony Fauci , head of the United St...

What is malaria? Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected  Anopheles  mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the  Plasmodium  parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream. Once the parasites are inside your body, they travel to the  liver , where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect  red blood cells . Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. The parasites continue to infect red blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in cycles that last two to three days at a time. Malaria is typically found in tropical and subtropical climates where the parasites can live. The  World Health Organization (WHO) Trusted Source states that, in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries. In the United States, ...

Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change. Culled from World Health Organization.