In medical terms, an infection is referred to as the process caused by an agent that impairs a person’s health. Infections can be spread from one person to another directly via skin contact or indirectly through contaminate food or water. However, you should also understand that an infectious disease can be different from a simple infection.
Infection occurs due to the invasion of and replication in the body by various agents. These agents include fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoans, worms, etc. Furthermore, the infection can also occur due to the reaction of tissues to their presence or to the toxins that they produce. Also, when the health is not altered, the condition is known as subclinical infection. Hence, a person may be called infected but not have an infectious disease in such a case.
Let’s discuss various infectious diseases and their treatment in detail.
Who is at risk of getting infectious diseases?
Although anyone can get infectious diseases, people with a compromised immune system are at higher risk of getting certain infectious diseases. Moreover, people who are more prone to getting infectious diseases include: –
- People who are unvaccinated against common types of diseases.
- Those who must travel frequently are also at risk of being exposed to mosquitoes that carry pathogens like dengue, malaria, and Zika viruses.
- People with suppressed immune systems. It includes people going through diseases like cancer or who recently had an organ transplant.
Deadly infections that can be cured during our lifetime: –
Here are a few of the deadly diseases that can be cured during a person’s lifetime:
1. Tuberculosis
TB or Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria spread from one person to another in the air through sneezes or coughs. Although TB is treatable and preventable, it is still one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent. In addition to this, Tuberculosis is also counted as one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Although TB can be treat with antibiotics, if these drugs are not use properly or if the drugs are mismanage, it can cause multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB. Therefore, antibiotics should be taken and manage cautiously to prevent extreme health conditions.
2. Malaria
According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reports, deaths from malaria have reduced by half since 2000. But there is one species of mosquito – the Anopheline – which is developing insecticide resistance. Also, the mosquito transmits parasites and is starting to resist key drugs. Insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying (Vector control) can be a strong defense in such conditions.
3. Measles
Measles is another highly contagious disease that is cause by a virus. It is spread through sneezes, coughs, and direct contact. This virus can survive in the air for two hours. But it is so contagious that up to 90% of people surrounding an infected person are at risk of getting the risk if they are not already immune. Therefore, it is necessary to give an effective vaccine to children to develop their immunity against infectious diseases.
4. Diarrhoeal disease
Cholera and dysentery sound like 19th-century killers, but, unfortunately, it is still prevalent in many parts of the world. For instance, diarrhoeal disease kills about 525,000 children every five years. Also, it is the second leading cause of death in young children after acute respiratory infections.
5. Influenza
Influenza can be lethal for people in high-risk groups, such as older people with chronic health issues or pregnant women. It can be fatal for them. According to WHO, around 3 to 5 million people a year contract severe flu globally. Among these, around 650,000 people die.
What are the symptoms of infectious diseases?
Many infectious diseases can cause serious complications that can range from mild to severe. However, complications may include skin rash, wheezing, and extreme fatigue in a few conditions. Moreover, the symptoms of infectious diseases may be different from one condition to another. However, here are a few of the most common symptoms of infectious diseases: –
- fever, chills, and sweats.
- Change in cough or new cough
- Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion, sore throat, or mouth sore.
- Soreness, redness, or swelling in any area can include surgical wounds and ports
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen or rectum and increased urination
- Unusual vaginal irritation or urination
Conclusion
Hence, after going through the information given above, we hope you can understand the difference between infections and infectious diseases. In addition, we also discuss a few of the deadly diseases that can be prevent and cured with proper infectious disease treatment.
