Diseases of Digestive System (Bacteria, Virus & Parasites)

Cholera

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Affects intestinal tract; Occurs more often in undeveloped countries lacking adequate water supplies & proper sewage disposal; Disease w/ profuse watery stools, occasional vomiting, & rapid dehydration; Symptoms may appear from a few hours to 5 days after exposure.

Causative agent: Vibrio cholerae

Transmissibility: Communicable

Salmonellosis

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Infection that generally affects the intestinal tract and occasionally the bloodstream.

Causative agent: Salmonella enterica

Transmissibility: Communicable

Shigellosis “Bacillary Dysentery”

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Acute infection of the lining of the small and large intestine, producing diarrhea (as many as 20 bowel movements a day) with blood, mucus, and pus

Causative agent: Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, Shigella soneii

Transmissibility: Communicable

Typhoid Fever “Enteric Fever”

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Disease with fever, severe headache, malaise, anorexia, non-productive cough, and constipation; Some people become carriers following infection.  

Causative agent: Salmonella typhi or Typhoid bacillus

Transmissibility: Communicable

Paratyphoid Fever

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Presents a similar clinical picture w/ Typhoid fever but the illness tends to be milder.

Causative agent:  Salmonella paratyphi

Transmissibility: Communicable

Mumps

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: An acute viral disease characterized by fever, swelling & tenderness of one or more of salivary glands; Incubation period usually 16-18 days, although may vary from 12-25 days; Contagious 3 days prior to & 4 days after onset of symptoms

Causative agent: Mumps Virus

Transmissibility: Communicable

Hepatitis A

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Virus is found in the stool (feces) of HAV-infected people

Causative agent: Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Transmissibility: Communicable

Amebiasis “Amebic Dysentery”

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Recognized more often in people arriving from tropical or subtropical areas, individuals living in institutions.

Causative agent: Entamoeba histolytica

Transmissibility: Communicable

Giardiasis

Definition / Signs & Symptoms: Infection of the uppermost portion of the small intestine. Patients experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, abdominal gas, fatigue, and weight loss

Causative agent: Giardia duodenalis (Giardia lamblia / Cercomonas intestinalis)

Transmissibility: Communicable