DISEASE

Shiitake mushrooms (left) are edible, while fly agaric (right) is extremely toxic, causing serious symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and hallucinations.

Mushrooms vs. Toadstools: What’s the Difference?

The definitions of toadstools and mushrooms are a bit intertwined.

A health care worker prepares to deliver an mpox vaccine during the 2022 outbreak.

8 Times the World Health Organization Declared a Public Health Emergency (Including for Mpox)

All of the WHO's declarations of emergency since 2007 have been for viral diseases, including the most recent one for mpox.

A scanning electron micrograph of ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ particles (colorized red), the bacterium that causes TB.

6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases

Ailments as diverse as tooth decay and malaria have caused suffering for thousands, even millions, of years—and they’re not done with us yet.

Climate Change Is Making Seafood Dangerous to Eat

Mercury in seafood is another growing concern thanks to global warming.

Popular Deli Meat Maker Boar’s Head Recalls 7 Million Pounds Of Meat After Listeria Outbreak

Boar’s Head Recalls 71 Products in Light of Listeria Outbreak

“Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility,” the company said in a statement.

Transorbital lobotomies have now entered the chat.

10 Riveting Nonfiction Books on History’s Greatest Medical Mysteries

These gory yet fascinating reads delve into the weirdest chapters of medical history, from the dancing plague of 1518 to the bizarre saga of Typhoid Mary.

Don't crack open a cold coffee before you check the label.

Hundreds of Canned Coffee Products Recalled Over Botulism Fears

The word to look for on the label is ‘Snapchill.’

Quiz: Can You Match the Historical Remedy with the Illness?

Figure it out, stat!

Where 7 Dangerous, Disease-Spreading Ticks Live in the U.S.—Mapped

American dog ticks, blacklegged ticks, and Lone Star ticks can all spread devastating diseases. Here's a map of where these ticks live.

This tick probably couldn’t wait to dig into this person’s skin.

3 Simple Ways to Stay Tick-Free This Summer

There are several precautions you can take to keep ticks at bay this summer.

The vast majority of tonsillectomies are performed on children.

Why Don’t Doctors Perform Tonsillectomies Like They Used To?

The surgical extraction of the tonsils was a hallmark of a 1950s childhood, but now the operation is not nearly as common.

A lock of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair in the collection of San José State University.

Beethoven’s Hair Reveals He Suffered from Lead Poisoning

Researchers speculate that ingesting lead may have contributed to the famous composer’s hearing loss and other unexplained ailments.

8 Myths About Dead Bodies, Debunked

Corpses are less scary than you think.

Fifteenth-century woodcut of a young woman who represents syphilis with the skeletons of dead lovers behind her bed.

Quiz: Can You Match the Disease to Its Olde-Tyme Name?

Ailments have gone by various names over the centuries. How many of these can you guess correctly?

“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

13 Facts About the Black Death

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

Bubonic Plague Resurfaces in Oregon, and It's All Thanks to a Cat

Cats provide comfort and affection. Everyone once in a great while, they also share Bubonic plague.

Why You Should Never Use Someone Else’s Toothbrush

Using a toothbrush that doesn't belong to you isn't a romantic gesture. It's a health risk.

The ‘Seinfeld’ Double-Dip Is Exactly as Gross as It Seems, According to Science

You really don’t want to know what’s lurking in that dip.

Bummer: A Brain-Infesting Worm in Rats Can Also Attack Humans

The CDC is giving people a very good reason to wash their produce.

Antigen tests are a handy tool to reduce infection.

Your Expired At-Home COVID-19 Test Might Not Be Expired After All

Don't throw away that expired nose swab kit just yet.

Antibiotics are the first treatment for necrotizing fasciitis.

What You Should Know About Necrotizing Fasciitis, the Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection

Here's how to stay safe when you take a dip at beaches, lakes, or rivers.

A Little-Known Tick Trick Allows Them to 'Jump' Onto Your Skin

Ticks can't fly, but they can still defy gravity to start sucking your blood.

A new Alzheimer's drug shows promise for those in the early stages of the disease.

The FDA Has Just Given Rare Approval to a New Alzheimer's Drug, Leqembi—Here's What We Know So Far

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

DNA Analysis of Beethoven's Hair Reveals New Clues About His Death

The composer suffered from hearing loss and a number of mysterious ailments before his death at age 56. His hair is providing some answers.