Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Wounds

Disease/Condition

Causative Agent(s)

Transmission Method(s)

Signs and Symptoms

Common Cold

Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, etc.

Respiratory droplets, direct contact

Runny nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, mild fever

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza viruses (A, B, C)

Respiratory droplets

Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue

Strep Throat

Streptococcus pyogenes

Respiratory droplets, direct contact

Sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils, white patches in throat

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2

Respiratory droplets, aerosols

Fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath

Tuberculosis (TB)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Airborne droplets

Persistent cough, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever

Malaria

Plasmodium parasites

Mosquito bites

Fever, chills, sweating, headache, muscle pain

Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi

Tick bites

Bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, joint pain

HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Sexual contact, blood transfusions, mother to child during pregnancy/birth/breastfeeding

Flu-like symptoms (early), weakened immune system, opportunistic infections (late)

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Fecal-oral (contaminated food/water)

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Blood, sexual contact, mother to child

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Blood contact

Often asymptomatic, fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain (chronic)

Measles

Measles virus

Respiratory droplets

Fever, cough, runny nose, rash (starts on face)

Chickenpox

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

Airborne droplets, direct contact with blisters

Itchy rash with blisters, fever, fatigue

Tetanus

Clostridium tetani

Wound contamination with bacteria

Muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms (lockjaw)

Salmonellosis

Salmonella bacteria

Contaminated food/water

Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps

E. coli infection

Escherichia coli (certain strains)

Contaminated food/water

Diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal cramps, vomiting

Cholera

Vibrio cholerae

Contaminated water

Severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration

Zika Virus

Zika virus

Mosquito bites, sexual contact, mother to fetus

Fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes)

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus

Mosquito bites

Fever, headache, fatigue, body aches

Disease/Condition

Causative Agent(s)

Transmission Method(s)

Signs and Symptoms

Common Cold

Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, etc.

Respiratory droplets, direct contact

Runny nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, mild fever

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza viruses (A, B, C)

Respiratory droplets

Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue

Strep Throat

Streptococcus pyogenes

Respiratory droplets, direct contact

Sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils, white patches in throat

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2

Respiratory droplets, aerosols

Fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath

Tuberculosis (TB)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Airborne droplets

Persistent cough, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever

Malaria

Plasmodium parasites

Mosquito bites

Fever, chills, sweating, headache, muscle pain

Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi

Tick bites

Bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, joint pain

HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Sexual contact, blood transfusions, mother to child during pregnancy/birth/breastfeeding

Flu-like symptoms (early), weakened immune system, opportunistic infections (late)

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Fecal-oral (contaminated food/water)

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Blood, sexual contact, mother to child

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Blood contact

Often asymptomatic, fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain (chronic)

Measles

Measles virus

Respiratory droplets

Fever, cough, runny nose, rash (starts on face)

Chickenpox

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

Airborne droplets, direct contact with blisters

Itchy rash with blisters, fever, fatigue

Tetanus

Clostridium tetani

Wound contamination with bacteria

Muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms (lockjaw)

Salmonellosis

Salmonella bacteria

Contaminated food/water

Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps

E. coli infection

Escherichia coli (certain strains)

Contaminated food/water

Diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal cramps, vomiting

Cholera

Vibrio cholerae

Contaminated water

Severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration

Zika Virus

Zika virus

Mosquito bites, sexual contact, mother to fetus

Fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes)

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus

Mosquito bites

Fever, headache, fatigue, body aches