Infectious Diseases

boil

localized skin infection usually caused by staphylococcus bacteria

botulism

type of food poisoning caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum

chlamydia

sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis

conjunctivitis

commonly called pink eye; highly contagious condition when the cause is bacterial, can also be caused by viruses and allergies

gonorrhea

highly contagious condition transmitted by sexual intercourse and caused by gonococcus bacteria

Haemophilus influenzae serotype

transferred by respiratory droplets; can cause difficulty breathing through either epiglottis and a sore throat or pneumonia with a fever

impetigo

a staphylococcus or streptococcus infection commonly found in children that causes lesions on the face or lower leg; highly contagious when contact is made with the lesions; treated with antibiotics

Legionnaires’ disease

acute type of bacterial pneumonia caused by Legionnaire bacillus, a gram-negative organism; grows in standing water such as that found in commercial air conditioners, humidifiers, water healers, and evaporative condensers

Lyme disease

arthropod-borne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi; transmitted by deer ticks; signs and symptoms include skin lesions, central nervous system and cardiac involvement, and arthritis

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges; causes include bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

Methicillin-resistant staphylococus aureus

infection that causes red, swollen, painful pustules and is not responsive to methicillin and similar antibiotics

peptic ulcer

gastrointestinal infection that causes gnawing or burning stomach pain; caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori

pertussis

also called whooping cough; caused by bacillus bacteria

pneumonia

respiratory condition in which lung tissue is inflamed, usually causing difficulty breathing and a cough; can also be caused by fungus or chemicals

rheumatic fever

febrile (characterized by fever) disease, usually occurring after a streptococcal infections

strep throat

inflammation and infection of the throat caused by streptococcus bacteria

syphilis

infectious venereal disease, usually transmitted by sexual contact; caused by a spirochete bacterium

tetanus

infectious disease produced by the toxins from the tetanus bacillus; first sign is stiffness of the jaw, hence the common name “lockjaw”

tuberculosis

disease that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body; caused by various strains of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis

candidiasis

commonly called a “yeast infection”, this disease can be caused by one of several bacteria in the Candida family but is most commonly caused by Candida albicans; may be oropharyngeal (thrush), vaginal, or invasive

pneumocystis pneumonia

infection that causes fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue; caused by pneumocystis jirovecii

tinea (ringworm)

fungal skin infection that gets its name because it appears serpentine, like a worm

tinea corporis

the location of tinea is on the trunk or body

tinea capitis

tinea affects the scalp

tinea pedis

tinea that refers to the feet and is commonly known as athlete’s foot

amebic dysentery

condition characterized by loose stools; caused inflammation of the intestines

giardiasis

disease transmitted by the oral-fecal route and through untreated water; causes diarrhea

lice

can affect the head or the pubic area; transmitted by contact with personal items used by someone who is infected; lice and their eggs cause itching in the affected area

malaria

disease transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; protozoan parasites invade the red blood cells and create symptoms such as high fever and chillsp

pinworm

transmitted by the oral-fecal route; common in children and causes anal itching and nighttime restlessness from eggs that are deposited around the anus

scabies

a highly contagious skin condition that results from a mite that burrows beneath the skin, leaving its feces behind; feces leave red lines of inflammation on the skin

trichomoniasis

condition that affects the reproductive organs and can be transmitted through sexual intercourse

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome; caused by HIV, resulting in decreased resistance to infections; transmitted by blood and body fluids

chickenpox

highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus; also called varicella, it is characterized by the presence of skin lesions; shingles is also caused by varicella and is seen in patients who have previously had the disease

COVID-19

coronavirus disease-2019; acute viral illness affected multiple body systems caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus

hepatitis

types A, B, C, D, and E; all caused by a virus; disease affects the liver and can cause mild to moderate symptoms or chronic illness and possibly death

herpes simplex virus

typically, HSV-1 causes cold sores, is very contagious and is spread through contact with infected saliva; HSV-2 is sexually transmitted; however it should be noted that there can be crossing over with HSV-1 infecting the genitals and HSV-2 infecting the mouth

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus; destroys the immune system and can results in AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)h

HPV

the most common sexually transmitted infection; causes warts; other strains are the greatest single risk factor for cervical cancer and may cause other, less common cancers such as of the vagina, penis, and oropharynx

influenza

commonly called “the flu”; an infection of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts

mononucelosis

highly contagious viral infection spread through the saliva of the infected person; caused by either the Epstein-Barr virus or the cytomegalovirus (CMV)

norovirus

most common cause of foodborne illness; causes diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, headache, and body aches

RSV

respiratory syncytial virus; infection that causes cough, sneezing, runny nose, fever, loss of appetite, wheezing, and dyspnea

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome; highly contagious disease that causes severe flu-like symptoms; SARS-CoV2 causes COVID-19

URI

upper respiratory tract infection; aka the common cold, that is caused by the rhinovirus and includes pharyngitis