Viral infections are caused due to a number of viruses present in the environment, which can be transmitted easily depending on the type of virus and infection. Respiratory viral infections are caused due to airborne viruses while a foodborne virus can get transmitted via foods and drinks consumed. There are certain viral infections which can get transmitted sexually or even just by kissing, allowing the carrier virus to enter your system thorugh saliva. Common symptoms of viral infections include fever, weakness, muscle aches, rash, coughing, vomiting, sneezing, diarrhea, runny nose, chills, and headache. Severe symptoms of viral infections include changes in your personality, stiffness in the neck, sleepiness experienced more than usual, bladder impairment and irregular bowel functions, dehydration, seizures, back pain, confusion, paralysis of the limbs among others. Although there are specific indicators of a developing viral infection, common symptoms can be quite confusing to identify on your own which is why medical attention is advised. It is imperative to consult with medical professionals as soon as the symptoms start showing up, especially in children. Before a course of treatment can be advised by your doctors, the type of viral infection has to be diagnosed. The various diagnostic tests include:

• A blood test which is conducted to check for the type of virus, antibodies or antigens causing the viral fever.
• Lab test which includes blood cultures, body fluids culture to isolate the causes and identify the strain of viruses. In case of viral skin infections, samples of the infected area are taken to analyze the type of viral infection.
• Spinal tap test is done to examine the cerebrospinal fluid.
• To accurately identify the chain of the virus, a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to make copies of the genetic material of the virus to replicate the same.

Treatments for viral infection include:

• Vaccination is the primary method when it comes to controlling the disease which is why they say prevention is better than cure. Regular and timely vaccination against viruses will ensure a healthy immune system to tackle an imminent viral attack.
• Antiviral drugs is the second option for treatment of many of the common symptoms of a viral infection, though they are not as effective as vaccination. Antiviral drugs are developed to inhibit virus blocking proteins administered in the immune system to control and at best reduce the symptoms. However for a more effective and long lasting cure, vaccination is recommended.

December is a beautiful month, and there can be nothing better than getting the opportunity to lay your hands on some of the most amazing Christmas TV deals. The best part of year-end TV deals is that sales at discounted prices are opened twice. If you miss out on Christmas TV deals, then you can rely on the Cyber Monday TV deals that are offered right after a month of Thanksgiving. Everyone waits for this time of the year to purchase top quality televisions from some of the high-end brands. Many brands release teasers of Christmas TV deals before the actual day of sale where the most exciting features are informed to the customers.

• OLED TV from LG This television from LG having around eight thousand pixels, is available at $2600 for a 65-inch screen and $1600 for a 55-inch screen. This TV is extremely slim and is built in a manner that allows every single pixel to switch on and off independently.
• Smart LED TV from Toshiba The smart portal from Toshiba allows you to transform your TV into an entertainment zone while the catch-up feature facilitates watching of shows that you might have missed in the past.
• 4K TV from Hitachi This TV is available for $524 and viewing angle of 178 degrees. Moreover, it comes with a rating of A+ regarding energy efficiency consuming only 69 watts on mode.
• Bravia from Sony This product is known for its distinct Triluminos display and android microphone. All you need to do is give instructions to the remote which will make the television perform your chosen activity.
• Roku Smart TV from TCL You save $200 on the purchase of this product as a part of a Christmas TV deal, and its popularity can be gauged from the fact that it goes out of stock very quickly.

Mostly, brands roll out new models of their products around Christmas, and therefore the earlier Cyber Monday TV deals hit record low prices. Therefore, to buy some products, it becomes wise to be a little patient and wait for year-end deals that give more discount. Christmas TV deals linger on till the end of the month so that all those who missed an exciting deal, can also catch up in the end. Although you may find that the number of Christmas TV deals is less, they are much more valuable than Cyber Monday TV deals. Notably, all prices are approximate figures and may vary from retailer to retailer and across different states.

It is imperative that you select the right casket for your loved one's final journey. While you are occupied doing so, you must keep a few things in your mind when you are purchasing one. Type of casket You must determine whether the body is going to be cremated or buried. If the body is going to be cremated, then mostly a simple wooden casket will be available. On the other hand, if the body has to be buried then there are several options that you can choose from. Hardwood, cloth, copper, bronze, stainless steel, biodegradable, cardboard, veneered wood, etc. are some commonly used materials in caskets. If the size of the casket is your concern, then you need not worry, as it is crafted in diverse sizes as well. Customization It is quite natural that you may want to personalize the casket. It could be the incorporation of special designs or inclusion of compact drawers, where you could keep mementos or photographs. So, ensure that the seller you are buying the casket from helps you customize it. Cost Usually the most expensive kind of caskets are metal caskets. This is because they are highly durable. Although they cannot stop the body from decomposing, they prevent the entrance of water or air in the coffin, allowing the remains to alter on their own. If you are inclined towards the traditional form of funeral, then you can consider wooden caskets, which can cost around $2000 to $8000. Similarly, if there are any budget constraints one can also consider cloth or wood veneer caskets, as they are comparatively quite inexpensive. Mostly one can buy a casket from a funeral home, where the funeral director will guide you about the various types of caskets they are offering. Although it isn't mandatory that you must buy a casket from a funeral home. If you wish you can purchase it directly from the casket producer. As prescribed by the Funeral Rule, the respective funeral director must accept the directly purchased casket without levying any kind of additional fees. If you want an environmentally friendly option, then you can rent a casket too. These kinds of caskets are just utilized during the display part of the funeral ceremony. The body is kept in a simple wooden box, which is then placed inside the rental casket for viewing purposes. You can avail this option at a funeral home or from a casket retailer.

The first ever scholarship in the history of American collegiate education was established by Lady Anne Moulson (born Anne Radcliffe,1576-1661) at the then newly formed Harvard University. In those days, the sum she offered was significant indeed a 100 pounds! Till today, her name lives on, for the much acclaimed Radcliffe College, founded as the women's annex to Harvard, is named after her. Going down the years, the very first student loan program was also instituted at Harvard University, in 1840. In 1862, the passing of the Morrill Act under which federally owned land was offered for the establishment of institutes of learning was another milestone in the history of American academia and was further supported by the Hatch Act of 1887. The Hatch Act diverted governmental funding to educational institutions for the purpose of establishing agricultural research stations. Another turning point in the history of scholarships offered in America was the passing of the GI Bill of Rights by President Roosevelt in 1944. Among other things, this Bill created an awareness of the widespread benefits to individuals and the society as a whole when a large number of people received exposure to higher education. In 1954, a collective of 95 colleges who were actively involved in evolving a system of assessment of students' needs for the dispersal of scholarship funds, refined prior need assessment models and developed the College Scholarship Services Need Analysis (CSS) which contributed significantly to the idea that a uniform system for assessment of a student's need for scholarships was essential in keeping alive the altruistic notions of offering scholarships in the first place. Post World-War II, there appeared a slight decline in the demand for government funding of education. However, the Soviet launch of the Sputnik completely altered the situation, for as is to be expected, there was an outcry about the inadequacies of the American education system. This is turn led to the passing of the National Defense Education Act in 1958, which gave a remarkable boost to the provision of subsidized education in all areas of higher education. The sixties saw the passing of the Economic Opportunities Act and the Higher Education Act, both of which further led to the widespread establishment of scholarship programs. Gradually the next few decades saw the emergence of several amendments to the Higher Education Act with the result that by the dawn of the millennium, students of diverse social, economic and demographic backgrounds, were able to benefit from quality college education. Many went on to become very highly recognized in their chosen fields.

The foot is a complex of tendons, ligaments, bands of connective tissue and bones. So, if you're wondering the causes of foot pain, check these possible reasons out. Inflammation Any kind of injury rendered to or overuse of the feet may cause inflammation. This, in turn, can be one of the causes of foot pain which can affect the heels, the Achilles tendon, the toes and even travel up the ankle towards the calves of the legs. The main symptoms of this include a burning sensation, numb feeling, a sharp pain during any kind of physical activity. Neuropathy A condition that affects and damages the nerves is known as neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is one of the top forms of this kind of nerve damage. In such a condition, the nerves may become numb and the patient may lose sensation in that area of the body. This may also be one of the causes of foot pain that can damage the nerves of the feet. Fractures and Spurs Bone spurs and fractures can be one of the causes of foot pain as well. When there is a broken bone or a bone spur in the body, one needs to rest that body part properly and let the muscles and bones grow back together. Flat Feet For some patients, foot pain may also be caused by flattened arches. Most of us have well-formed arches that give us support when we walk. But for some people, these arches may be completely flat, causing problems like foot pain and other kinds of complications and risks of injuries. One should have any persistent foot pain checked by a doctor so that the diagnosis and treatment may happen in a timely manner.

When it comes to prune azaleas, the first thing you should know is what type of azaleas you have as that plays an important role in the pruning of your plant. Different type of azaleas will need different kind of pruning. Before we move on to how to care for azaleas and when to prune azaleas, here are some facts about azaleas that could interest you

• They are also known as 'Royalty of the Garden'
• They are either momentary or evergreen (long lasting)
• They grow up to 2.5 meters i.e., 8.2 feet
• The leaves of this plant are highly poisonous and the plant has been used as a death threat if given to someone in a black vase
• People celebrate the blooming season of Azaleas in places like Japan, Korea and United States
• Plants of azaleas that are found in Asia are evergreen and the ones found in America are generally momentary

Pruning of Azaleas They is timing is everything. This is also true when we prune the plants and trees. In the case of azaleas, time is one of the most important factor to consider for their growth and health. The best time to prune an azaleas plant is few weeks after their blooming season is over. Do not wait for too long as three week wait after their blooming season is perfect. Remember to not wait till summer or fall to prune them as then they will not bloom in the next season. When you get down to pruning, examine the overgrown shrub to plan out how will start the pruning. The most traditional way of pruning is by cutting off the top branches and the ones on the side in order to promote new growth. Begin your pruning by locating the dead and dying branches and use clean and sterile pruning shears to remove those dead and dying branches. By removing damaged, or dead branches you are cutting off the possibility of spreading the diseases through those branches. If your azalea plant or shrub needs to be cut drastically, then you can do that. There is no harm in removing the overgrown plant or shrub. When the pruning days are on for your azaleas, make sure you water them several times as it will encourage the new growth of the plant. You must also trim the bush carefully after the flowers are gone. Dead and diseased stems can be found and you must trim them carefully. Lastly, do fertilize your azaleas. You can use a slow release fertilizer.