Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites....Many organisms live in and on our bodies....They are usually harmless or even beneficial....but some of them may cause disease under certain conditions.

Some infectious diseases may be transmitted from person to person....some are transmitted by insects or other animals....and others are transmitted through consumption of contaminated food or water or exposure to environmental organisms.

Signs and signs vary depending on the organism causing the infection, but often include fever and fatigue. Mild infections may respond to rest and home treatments, while some fatal infections may require hospitalization and referral to an infectious disease specialist.

Many infectious diseases such as measles and chicken pox can be prevented with vaccines. Frequent and thorough hand washing also helps protect against infectious diseases.

Symptoms of infectious diseases

Each infectious disease has its own signs and symptoms. General signs and symptoms that are common to a number of infectious diseases are:

• Fever
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• Muscle pains
• Cough

Time to see a doctor

Seek medical attention if any of the following occur:

• Bite by an animal
• You have breathing problems
• Cough for more than a week
• Severe headache with fever
• Experience skin rash or swelling
• Unexplained or prolonged fever
• Sudden vision problems

The cause of infectious diseases

Infectious diseases can be caused by:

• Bacteria... these single-cell organisms are the cause of diseases such as microbial sore throat, urinary tract infection and tuberculosis.
Viruses.... Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and cause many diseases from colds to AIDS.
• Fungi....Many skin diseases such as ringworm and athlete's foot are caused by fungi....Other types of fungi can infect the lungs or the nervous system.
• Parasites.... Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted through mosquito bites.... Other parasites may be transmitted to humans from animal feces.

Direct call

The easiest way to contract most infectious diseases is through contact with a person or animal that is suffering from this infection. Among other infectious diseases, it can be transmitted through direct contact:

• Person-to-person.... Infectious diseases are usually spread from one person to another through the direct transmission of bacteria, viruses, or other germs.... This may happen when a person infected with the bacteria or virus coughs, sneezes, touches, or kisses an uninfected person.
• These germs can be spread through the exchange of body fluids during sexual contact...
• Animal to person....a bite or scratch from an infected animal - even a pet - can make you sick and in an acute condition that can be fatal....touching animal feces can also be dangerous....for example, you can get toxoplasmosis by picking up boxes of lemons>
• Mother to unborn child.... A pregnant woman may transfer germs that cause infectious diseases to her fetus.... Some germs can be transferred from the placenta or breast milk.... Germs located in the vagina can also be transferred to the baby at birth.

Indirect call

Disease-causing organisms can also be transmitted through indirect contact... Many germs can remain on inanimate objects such as tablecloths, doorknobs, or faucet handles.

For example, by picking up a handle that has been touched by a sick person with the flu or cold, you can pick up the germs left by them. And if you touch your eyes, mouth or nose before washing your hands, you may get infected.

Insect bites

Some microbes depend on insect vectors such as mosquitoes, fleas, lice, or ticks to be transmitted from one host to another. These vectors are known as vectors.. Mosquitoes can carry the malaria parasite or West Nile virus.. Deer ticks may carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Food contamination

Microbes that cause disease can also infect you through contaminated food and water.... This transmission mechanism allows microbes to spread to large numbers of people through a single source.... For example, Escherichia coli (E....coli) is a bacterium that can be found in or on certain foods, such as undercooked hamburgers or unpasteurized fruit juice

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Read this article: Who is an Infectious Disease Specialist? And what does he do?

Risk factors

If the immune system of a person suffering from an infectious disease does not function properly, they are likely to become ill... This is likely to happen if the following conditions are present:

• Illness while taking steroids or other drugs such as anti-rejection drugs that suppress the immune system
• being infected with HIV or AIDS
• Suffer from certain types of cancer or other disorders that affect the immune system

In addition, other clinical conditions, such as implanted medical devices, malnutrition, and aging may predispose a person to infection.

Side effects of infectious diseases

Most infectious diseases are associated with only minor complications, but some infections - such as pneumonia, AIDS and meningitis - can be fatal.... Several types of infection are associated with a long-term increase in cancer risk:

• Human papillomavirus is associated with cervical cancer
Helicobacter pylori is associated with stomach cancer and peptic ulcers
• Hepatitis B and C are associated with liver cancer

Furthermore, some infectious diseases may be suppressed but reappear in the future - sometimes even decades later. For example, a person who has had chicken pox may develop shingles later in life.

Ways to prevent infectious diseases

Follow these tips to reduce the risk of infection:

• Wash your hands....this is especially important before and after preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet....Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, as this is the most common way germs enter the body.
• Get vaccinated.... Vaccination can greatly reduce the chance of contracting many diseases.... Note that the recommended vaccinations for you and your children have been done at the appropriate time.
• Stay home if you are sick...don't go to work if you have vomiting, diarrhea or fever...if your child has any of these symptoms, don't send them to school.
• Prepare foods carefully....keep counters and other kitchen surfaces clean while preparing food....cook foods to the proper temperature by using a food thermometer to check for doneness and tenderness....for ground beef, this is at least 160°F (71°C)..for chicken, 165°F (74°C); And for most other meats, it's at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).
• Also refrigerate leftovers immediately - don't let cooked food sit at room temperature for too long.
• Have safe sex... If you or your partner have a history of sexually transmitted infections or high-risk behaviors, always use a condom.
• Avoid sharing personal items... Use your own toothbrush, comb and razor.... Avoid using shared drinking glasses or eating utensils.
• Travel wisely... If you're traveling abroad, talk to your doctor about any special vaccinations — such as yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis A or B, or typhoid fever — that may be required.

Infectious disease diagnosis methods

The doctor may order laboratory tests or imaging scans to determine the cause of the symptoms.

Lab tests

Many infectious diseases have similar signs and symptoms....sometimes a sample of body fluids can show evidence of a specific disease-causing microbe...this helps the doctor in the treatment process.

• Blood tests ..... A technician takes a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein, usually in the arm.
• Urine test.... This painless test requires you to urinate into a container.... To avoid possible contamination of the sample, you may be instructed to first clean the genital area with an antiseptic and then collect the urine.
• Throat Swab... Samples obtained from the throat or other moist areas of the body may be taken with the help of a sterile swab.
• Stool sample... You may be taught how to take a stool sample to send to a lab to check for parasites and other organisms.
• Spinal tap (lumbar tap).... This procedure is performed to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid through a needle that is carefully inserted between the bones of the spine.... The patient is usually asked to pull his knees towards the chest and lie on his back.

Image scans

Imaging procedures -- such as X-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging -- can help make an accurate diagnosis and rule out other conditions that cause these symptoms.

Biopsy

During a biopsy, a small tissue sample is taken from an internal organ for testing.... For example, lung tissue sampling can be used to check for the types of fungi that cause a particular type of pneumonia.

Methods to treat infectious diseases

Knowing the type of microbe causing the disease facilitates the choice of the most suitable treatment option for the doctor.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are classified into similar families.... Bacteria are also classified into groups containing similar types (such as streptococcus or E....coli).

Certain types of bacteria are sensitive to certain classes of antibiotics... If the doctor knows the type of bacteria causing the disease, the treatment can be more targeted.

Antibiotics are usually used for bacterial infections because these drugs have no effect on diseases caused by viruses...but sometimes it is difficult to tell which type of microbe is involved...for example, pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of bacteria that are resistant to one or more types of antibiotics... this makes it much more difficult to treat these bacteria.

Antiviruses

• Drugs have been developed to treat some, but not all, viruses. Examples include:
• HIV / AIDS
Herpes
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Flu

Antifungal

Topical antifungal medications can be used to treat skin or nail infections caused by fungus. Some fungal infections, such as those affecting the lungs or mucous membranes, can be treated with oral antifungal medications. More severe fungal infections of internal organs, especially in people with weakened immune systems, may require antifungal medications.

Antiparasitic drugs

Some diseases, including malaria, are caused by tiny parasites.... Although there are drugs to treat these diseases, some types of parasites have shown resistance to these drugs.

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