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Questions tagged [pathology]

The study of diseases, including their causes and effects.

This tag is for questions about the biology of disease. Medical questions, other than those about the biology of medicine, may be off topic. See the help center and meta before posting your question on such topics.

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Why does the cold make us sick?

From the moment we learn to communicate, we always get told, whether by our parents, or our teachers, or by anyone else, to avoid the cold, or to put a jacket on to avoid catching a cold, to dry our hair before we go outside, because we'll get sick…
JohnPhteven
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Why is cancer not a communicable disease?

I read another question where the author is asking about the infectivity of viruses. In the same vein, I am curious why cancer is not a communicable disease.
Benjamin Houston
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Why are some bodily fluids more of an infection risk than others?

Whilst on a recent refresher course it was highlighted that when considering risk of exposure to infection from bodily fluids we should be aware of two distinct risk levels: High Risk: Blood Semen Vaginal Secretions Diarrhea Low…
Rory M
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Is it harmful for someone to consume things full of bacteria if they don't get physically sick from the bacteria at all?

Or as another example - what if you touch a surface that's contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria (like the ones at http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2008/05/study-keyboards-make-excellent-homes-for-nasty-bacteria.ars) and introduce…
InquilineKea
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In humans, are diseases inevitable during old age?

Considering that dying "from old age" actually means that one dies from an illness related with aging, is it inevitable to eventually acquire diseases in old age?
user41008
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How "exactly" is Rabies transmitted?

Context: I know a person which has developed a sort of "phobia" with respect to touching things that has (even the slighest) chance of being in contact with something that can transmit rabies. For instance, if something (a coin) falls on the floor…
Aloizio Macedo
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Transmission of disease from mother to fetus

Can parasite, microbes be passed from mother to fetus through the placenta ? I know some like HIV can be.
biogirl
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Can organ-accumulated iron get shed again?

Hemochromatosis can lead to an accumulation of iron in some organs. If the accumulated amount is not too high, will it go down again upon correction of blood iron levels?
Stephane Bersier
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How does alzheimer's affect an octopus, particularly relating to their multiple brains?

From what I have read, Octopus' have multiple brains rather than a single one like in humans. They are also affected by alzheimer's, and so an interesting question arises: Do Octopus' get alzheimer's in one brain, or are all affected, and can they…
Oliver Dunk
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Are abrasions considered closed wounds?

A closed wound is one where skin is intact and underlying tissue is not exposed to the environment. Abrasion is an erosion of skin usually due to sheering force. In most cases the dermis is intact and the injury is superficial limited to epidermis.…
One Face
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How many times can a human get chicken pox?

How many times can a human get chicken pox? For example: I got chicken pox, and recovered. If I was infected with HIV, and I am exposed to chicken pox again, can it infect me second time?, According to what I've heard, chicken pox comes only one…
harish Namsar
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Can hepatitis B also infect vaccinated persons?

If a person is vaccinated against hepatitis B: Is there any chance that he also gets the infection by physical contact? Is it a congenital disease or not (if the parent is hepatitis positive is the offspring is also affected or not)?
Komu tripathi
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Is fever a disease or not?

I have seen this question where the author is asking why people take drugs for fever. So my question is: Is fever is a disease or not?
Benjamin Houston
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Why is weight gain a symptom of Cushing's Syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome results from increased levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol as I understand it however, promotes the breakdown of glycogen and amino-acids in the process of gluconeogenesis, to increase blood sugar - opposing the action of…
Kenshin
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Preventing Diabetes by preventing stress?

I have came to know that taking a lot of stress increases the risk of Diabetes, and patients of Diabetes are adviced not to take too much stress, am i correct? if yes then I am unable to understand that how stress affects the level of glucose in our…
Abdullah
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