Kids Research Express

Acne, eruptive skin disease. It is primarily a disorder of the sebaceous follicles of the skin and appears most often on the face, neck, and back. The natural secretion, or sebum, of the follicles accumulates and mixes with dust and dirt. The follicles and surrounding tissue become inflamed and blackheads appear. If the follicle opening completely closes, the accumulated sebum is degraded by bacteria and forms a cyst. Acne vulgaris, the most common form, is usually associated with adolescence but may also occur in adults. A severe form of the disorder is known as acne conglobata. Other forms of acne are also observed, such as the chloracne caused by chlorinated compounds. In acne rosacea, the capillaries in the cheeks, forehead, and nose are swollen with blood and the oil glands in the skin become infected. Acne in adolescence results primarily from hormonal changes taking place in the body; the hormones stimulate sebum production. Outbreaks cannot be prevented by a controlled diet and...

Chicken Pox, also called varicella is a contagious viral disease that affects mainly children. Typically, chicken pox begins with a low fever, headache, rash, and a general feeling of sickness, or malaise. The rash, which usually covers the face, scalp, and trunk of the body, starts as red bumps but quickly develops into small blisters. The rash and the blisters are extremely itchy. As the disease progresses, the blisters break open and form scabs, which fall off after about one to two weeks. The incubation period—the time between initial infection and the first appearance of symptoms—is approximately two weeks. Chicken pox is caused by varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus. The virus spreads through the air via infected droplets emitted from the nose or mouth while coughing or sneezing. Touching the fluid from a chicken pox blister can also spread the disease. Chicken pox is contagious for approximately seven days during a person’s period of infection. Contagiousness begins ...

German Measles, also rubella, contagious disease of short duration, caused by virus infection. The disease is characterized by a rose-colored rash and frequently by other mild symptoms, such as a slight fever, sore throat, and swelling of the lymph glands behind the ears. The rash, which lasts from one to four days, first appears on the face and spreads rapidly to the chest, limbs, and abdomen. German measles is most common among teenagers and young adults and rarely occurs in infants or in adults over the age of 40. It has an incubation period of 14 to 21 days, more commonly 17 or 18 days. An attack of the disease usually confers lifelong immunity. Although far less severe than measles , German measles can have severe consequences for women in the first three months of pregnancy. The newborn child may be afflicted with various congenital abnormalities, including heart defects, mental retardation, deafness, and cataracts. The incidence of these malformations is so high that many physic...

Measles, also rubeola, acute, highly contagious, fever-producing disease caused by a filterable virus, different from the virus that causes the less serious disease German measles , or rubella. Measles is characterized by small red dots appearing on the surface of the skin, irritation of the eyes (especially on exposure to light), coughing, and a runny nose. About 12 days after first exposure, the fever, sneezing, and runny nose appear. Coughing and swelling of the neck glands often follow. Four days later, red spots appear on the face or neck and then on the trunk and limbs. In 2 or 3 days the rash subsides and the fever falls; some peeling of the involved skin areas may take place. Infection of the middle ear may also occur. No specific treatment for measles exists. Patients are kept isolated from other susceptible individuals, usually resting in bed, and are treated with aspirin, cough syrup, and skin lotions to lessen fever, coughing, and itching. The disease usually confers immuni...