Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases are diseases caused by microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Many microorganisms live on and inside our bodies Normally they are harmless or beneficial, but under certain conditions, they can cause disease
Some infectious diseases are transmitted from one person to another Others are spread by insect and animal bites, while some enter the body from the environment or through ingestion of contaminated food and water
Signs and symptoms depend on the microorganism causing the infection, but common symptoms include general weakness and fever. Most infections can be treated at home, but some are life-threatening and require hospitalization
There are vaccines against many infectious diseases, such as measles and chicken pox Frequent and diligent hand washing will also protect you from infectious diseases
Causes of infectious diseases are:
- bacteria These single-celled microorganisms cause diseases such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and tuberculosis.
- Viruses Smaller than bacteria, they cause many diseases, including influenza and AIDS.
- Mushrooms Many skin diseases, such as lichen planus and athlete's foot, are caused by fungi
- Parasites Malaria is caused by a parasite that enters the body through a mosquito bite Other parasites can enter humans from animal feces
Direct contact Infectious diseases are mainly spread through direct contact with a sick person or animal There are 3 ways of direct contact:
- person to person A common way of spreading infections is by passing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from one person to another This can happen when an infected person kisses, coughs or touches a healthy person
These microorganisms can also be spread through body fluids, such as sexual contact or blood transfusions. An infected person may not show symptoms and may only be a carrier of the disease - From animal to human A bite or scratch from an infected animal can cause infection Contact with animal waste can also be dangerous, for example toxoplasmosis infection can develop as a result of contact with cat feces.
- from mother to fetus Infectious agents can be transmitted from mother to fetus Some microorganisms can cross the placental barrier Microorganisms in the vagina can get into the baby during childbirth
Indirect contact Disease-causing microorganisms can spread indirectly Many microorganisms can live on tables, doorknobs and other places for a long time
When you touch a handle that has been touched by someone with the flu, you can get the flu virus on your hands. If you then touch your eyes, mouth or nose with these hands before washing your hands, you may become infected
Insect bite The spread of some microorganisms depends on an insect vector, such as a mosquito, louse, flea or tick. These carriers are called vectors Mosquitoes can carry the malaria parasite and West Nile virus, and deer ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Contaminated food One of the ways of spreading microorganisms is by consuming contaminated food and drink. By this mechanism, many people are infected from one source Escherichia coli is a bacteria found in many foods, such as raw meat and unpasteurized fruit juice.
All infectious diseases have their own signs and symptoms, but most of them have the following common signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- General weakness
- Muscle pain
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