Tag Archives: infectious disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) facts MERS-CoV is a type of coronavirus that spreads through respiratory secretions. MERS-CoV is a new novel coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) first identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. The infection appears to be the result of spread of the virus from camels to humans, …

Lassa fever facts Picture of Lassa fever virus structure Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses like Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and others. Unlike Ebola virus, Lassa fever is not as contagious person to person, nor as deadly. Lassa virus is typically transmitted by the urine or feces of Mastomys rats to humans. Health workers may be infected …

Salmonella food poisoning facts Salmonella bacteria cause food-borne illnesses. Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tract of humans and animals and are excreted in feces. Poultry, beef, milk, and eggs all can contain Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella infection is a food-borne illness that occurs from consumption of raw meats and eggs, contaminated dairy foods such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or fruits …

Septic shock facts Share Your Story Septic shock is a potentially life-threatening condition. Septic shock describes a catastrophic situation where infection overwhelms the body's immune system and potentially causes organ failure and death. By definition, blood pressure is low, organs like the heart, lung, kidney, and liver fail to work properly, and medications are required to support and maintain blood …

Cipro vs. Flagyl Differences Flagyl (metronidazole) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are both types of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. Flagyl also is used to treat some parasitic infections. The drugs are in different antibiotic drug classes. Flagyl is in the nitroimidazole antibiotic drug class, and Cipro is in the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Common side effects of both Flagyl and …

Measles facts Measles on a child's back by Watney Collection/Phototake A virus causes measles, a potentially serious disease that spreads easily. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. Measles symptoms and signs include dry cough, conjunctivitis, runny nose (coryza), and high fever. Many patients will get sick 7 to 14 days after exposure and will start with a prodrome of …

What are ticks? What are bedbugs? Share Your Story Tick bites can transmit disease. Ticks are arthropods (tick members are mainly hard [Ixodidae] or soft [Argasidae] ticks) that are obligate blood suckers that can, through bites, transmit diseases to humans and many animals. Bedbugs (Cimex genus only) are insects that are blood-sucking parasites of some animals and birds that can …

Tetanus facts Picture of Clostridium tetani, with spore formation (oval forms at end of rods). Source: CDC/Dr. Holdeman Tetanus is frequently a fatal infectious disease. Tetanus is caused by a type of bacteria (Clostridium tetani). The tetanus bacteria often enter the body through a puncture wound, which can be caused by nails, splinters, insect bites, burns, any skin break, and …

Whooping cough (pertussis) facts Is Whooping Cough Highly Contagious? Whooping cough (pertussis) is an acute, highly contagious bacterial infection. The bacterium Bordetella pertussis causes this respiratory infection. Whooping cough commonly affects infants and young children, but immunization with the pertussis vaccine can prevent the infection. Young infants are at greatest risk for complications and even death from this respiratory disease. …

Trichinosis worm infection definition and facts Trichnosis worm parasite. Trichinosis is caused by eating raw or undercooked pork and wild game infected with the larvae of a parasitic worm. The contaminated meat is infected with the larvae of a worm called Trichinella spiralis. The initial symptoms of trichinosis are: Abdominal discomfort Nausea Diarrhea Vomiting Fatigue Fever The severity of symptoms …