We were saddened this week to read of the death of a man in Florida from the brain-eating amoeba shown in the picture π§ Naegleria fowleri (Naf to its friends) lives in freshwater. It is perfectly harmless if swallowed, but deadly in 98.5% of cases when it travels to the brain after being inhaled up …
Did you know you have a butterfly in your neck? The thyroid is a lepidoptera shaped gland just below your Adamβs apple. Itβs job is to control the process of turning food into energy If it isnβt working properly, you may gain weight, and feel tiredor depressed Luckily, an underactive thyroid is easily treated by …
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Paralympian Olivia Breen hit the headlines this week in a controversy over the shortness of her shorts Livvy has cerebral palsy β a lifelong condition that affects movement and co-ordination. CP is caused when a babyβs brain does not develop normally before they are born, or is damaged during or soon after birth (though this is …
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Itβs only the women. Male horse-flies buzz sedately from flower to flower, feeding on nectar. But, female horse-flies need protein (itβs an egg thing).And how they get their grizzly diet is reasonably brutal, according to Dr Whitmore, Senior Curator of Diptera and Siphonaptera at the Natural History Museum. (Which is possibly the most splendid job …
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Sunlight has 3 parts: visible light, infrared (this is the bit that makes it feel warm), and ultraviolet (UV). UV gives us vitamin D, is thought to lower blood pressure (which explains why there are less high blood pressure issues in the summer), but it can also burn and give us skin cancer. Sunburn is the …
These pesky fish bury themselves in sand in shallow water β the perfect place for bathing β which is why many 1000s of people a year are stung when they inadvertently stand on one The venom β reportedly far worse than a wasp sting, is from the spines of the distinctive dorsal fin β clearly seen in …
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This post was banned by LinkedIn… π€·ββοΈ Known as the silent epidemic – 61,000,000 people a year are diagnosed with chlamydia. Many have no obvious symptoms until years after being infectedΒ Symptoms include inflammation, discharge, bleeding and pain passing urine. Fertility and pregnancy complications are common. It can easily be spread to the eyes and …
Nothing to do with the livestock disease foot and mouth – hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood virus that also affects adults. It isnβt serious but it is guaranteed to ruin a family holiday Ulcers in your mouth and spots on your hands and feet (shown in this picture by KlatschmohnAcker) β as well …
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Spread in the urine of infected rats Lassa fever is common in West Africa β accounting for about 5000 deaths a year The virus is often asymptomatic, but temperatures as high as 41CΒ Β bleeding from the anusΒ Β and loss of hearingΒ are common symptoms. There is no vaccine. Government advice for African families is often to keep a …
A back-to-school favourite β conjunctivitis is highly contagious Viruses, allergic reactions, bacteria or chemicals can all cause the well known redness, itching and grit seen here in this picture by Tanalai Most cases resolve themselves in a few days β plenty of time to pass it on to your friends and relationsβ¦Β #bemorefrank
