Infectious diseases are defined by any pathogen or alien form that enters the body and multiplies. Infectious diseases have been around as long as humans have, as humans infect each other with a wide variety of diseases. Infectious diseases may be contracted by contact with other human beings, but are not necessarily limited to contraction via human contact.
Infectious disease include diseases such as legionnaire’s disease, bird flu, cellulitis, Lyme disease, diphtheria, malaria, measles, meningitis, HIV/AIDS, tapeworm, tuberculosis, SARS, west nile, valley fever, toxoplasmosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and any other disease that is caused by the entering of a pathogen. Symptoms vary by disease, but can include fevers, pain, vomiting or diarrhea, difficulty breathing, sudden and extreme illness, weakness, or a general feeling of illness ranging from mild to severe. Infectious diseases can have widely varying symptoms from sudden onset severe symptoms to very mild and almost unnoticeable. Symptoms that are out of the ordinary should be reported to a physician.
Infectious disease can be caused by a virus or bacteria or in some cases a parasite or a fungus, being transmitted from one person to another. Infectious diseases are typically spread through close contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing clothing, bedclothes, or eating utensils and cups, and being generally affectionate. Others can spread simply by touching something that an infected individual has touched. Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS require sexual contact in order to be transmitted from person to person.
Risk factors for infectious disease can sometimes include a weak immune system, although anyone can pick up an infectious disease with human contact. People with weakened immune systems should avoid crowded indoor areas, especially during the colder winter months. Those with a weakened immune system should avoid family members and friends who are carrying or were exposed to an infectious disease. Risk factors for sexually transmitted infectious diseases include unprotected sexual contact.
Infectious diseases can either be killers themselves, or they can contribute significantly to a person’s overall health which places them in jeopardy of death. Some infectious diseases, such as warts, have no health effects whatsoever. While other infectious diseases, like the plague, have the capacity to end millions of lives.
Infectious diseases that are bacteria based can be treated with an antibiotic. Bacteria based infectious diseases include legionnaires disease, tuberculosis, and meningitis. Some infectious diseases require only supportive care to alleviate painful symptoms and to allow the body the maximum potential for recovery. Infectious diseases which are caused by viruses are not able to be treated by antibiotics. Sometimes anti-viral medication is appropriate and sometimes it is just better to allow the virus to die through the body’s natural defenses. Some infectious diseases have no cure, such as HIV/AIDS, west nile virus, and measles.
Infectious diseases are a constant threat to everyday health, and people often pick up more infectious diseases than they are aware of. Some infectious diseases can present much like the flu, and disappear within a few days to a week. Some people tend to have a higher tolerance to infectious diseases and can carry the diseases without ever feeling ill, yet they can still infect others. Typhoon Mary, a woman in the early 1900s was a carrier of typhoid fever though she never developed the disease herself.
It is important to see a qualified physician as soon as symptoms appear or as soon as the patient has been made aware of the threat of exposure. If treatment options are available for the particular infectious disease, the earlier treatment begins, the better the chances of survival or a shorter term of illness.
With any infectious disease, the patient should avoid contact with others to prevent spreading the disease. While children still need to be hugged, kissed, and cuddled while ill, the family should avoid contact with people outside the immediate family. Infectious diseases can spread even when there are no symptoms. Often exposure to an infectious disease is enough to spread the disease. If there is a family member with a compromised immune system they should see a physician when another family member comes down with an infectious disease. Infectious diseases can be very serious, or can be nothing more than mildly uncomfortable. Regardless, infectious diseases should be sequestered as much as possible to prevent spreading even the mild ones throughout the community.
Infectious diseases videos
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Infectious Diseases - Sainte-Justine UHC
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Infectious Diseases background and GIDEON
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Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Lymphatic system
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Ceftin can be generically prescribed as cefuroxime and is commonly used to treat life threatening or severe bacterial infections, or bacterial infections which have not responded to other antibiotics. Ceftin does not work on fungal or viral infections. Ce more...
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Kenalog, which is generically prescribed as triamcinolone topical, is commonly used to treat inflammation of the skin. Kenalog is most commonly used to treat inflammation caused by allergic reactions, psoriasis, eczema, and in the dental form is used to t more...
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The antibiotic Cipro can also be generically prescribed as ciprofloxacin, and is part of the group of medications known clinically as fluoroquinolones. Cipro is most often used to treat bacterial infections in the body, as antibiotics are ineffective at t more...
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Bactrim is a combination antibiotic which is generically prescribed as sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Bactrim is also commonly prescribed as Bethaprim, Cotrim, Septa, Sulfatrim, and Uroplus, each with a pediatric version as well. Bactrim is typ more...
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Acyclovir, which is commonly prescribed as Zovirax, is typically used in the treatment of herpes. Herpes treatment includes genital herpes, shingles, herpes encephalitis, and herpes with people with compromised immune systems. Acyclovir is a member of the more...
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Also generically prescribed as cefaclor, Ceclor is typically used to a treat a variety of bacterial infections, including but not limited to urinary tract infections, ear infection, skin infections, tooth infections, tonsillitis, and bronchitis. Ceclor is more...
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Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that has been widely used in the United States and the world over for treatment of several bacterial infections. It started invading the US market in 1977. Soon enough, other countries followed as more...
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Penicillin is one of the most important discoveries of medicine. Since its inception variations of the drug were developed retaining only its antibiotic properties but of different components. Cephalexin is one of the descendants of Penicillin, a member o more...
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Co-trimoxazole has shown that two can indeed be better than one especially when it comes to fighting infectious bacteria. The drug is very effective but there are also a number of side effects to watch out for. more...
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Diflucan, which is generically prescribed as fluconazole, is commonly used to treat infections caused by a fungus. Fungal infections include infections in the mouth, lungs, bladder, skin, or any area of the body which can be invaded by fungus. Often Diflu more...
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