1. Lymphatic and Immune System

2. Hodgkin’s Disease Also known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, this cancer is found in the lymph nodes. Thomas Hodgkin first described this condition in 1832. HD is described as an orderly spread from one lymph node to another. It tends to be discovered in early adulthood and then again in those over 55 years old. Often the disease is treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The survival rate for the disease is fairly high with treatment: 90% of patients have a 10+ year survival rate.

3. Hives The appearance of wheals (a raised area surrounded by a red base) as part of an allergic reaction. There is a complex release of inflammatory mediators like histamine resulting in fluid leakage from superficial blood vessels. Hives can be caused by many different reactors, the most common food allergens are shellfish and nuts. There are also physical agents that can cause hives such as cold, heat and sunlight. Antihistamines are typically the drug treatment for hives and stress management is another way of handling them, however it is sometimes difficult to determine their cause.

4. Nosocomial Infections These types of infections are acquired in a hospital. They are commonly transmitted when staff become complacent and do not practice correct hygiene. The staff therefore are the means of transmitting pathogens fro m patient to patient. The CDC estimates there are approximately 1.7 million infections from bacteria cause almost 100,000 deaths each year. The cost is very high – an estimate of $11 billion in some cases. There are many types of transmission including contact, droplet, airborne and vectors.