Who would have thought it? A cuddly toy in the shape of a virus! These cuddly characters are incredibly endearing and educational too. Each one comes with a detailed scientific description and photograph of what he looks like under the microscope, along with medical tips on how to avoid picking up these bugs in daily life. Children seem to be totally fascinated by them, and it really helps when explaining all about why they are feeling poorly. The perfect gift to accompany a Get Well card. Also a brilliant present for medical students, doctors and nurses etc. You will soon understand why they are becoming amazingly popular! Start collecting now. FACTS: For many years, stress and spicy foods were thought to be the root causes of ulcers (which are holes in the lining, or mucosa, of the stomach.) In 1983, however, Australian physicians Barry Marshall and Robin Warren implicated Helicobacter pylori bacteria as causing the condition. The medical establishment was sceptical until the good doctors took some of the bacteria and developing the gastritis inflammation that accompanies ulcers! Researchers continue to believe that factors such as stress, diet, and heredity play a role in the development of ulcers, since 50% of the population is infected is infected with H. pylori bacteria while only a small percentage have ulcers. Nevertheless, 90-95% of people with ulcers in the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine have the bacteria, and getting rid of the bacteria reduces ulcer recurrence rates to less than 10% a year. The good news is that antibiotics can now be used to treat the painful condition that affects millions of people every year. The bad news is that there is still no easy cure for stress except, perhaps, a long relaxing holiday.