Bacterial Infection: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
8 Most Common Infectious Disease Affecting Millions Worldwide
8 Most Common Infectious Disease Affecting Millions WorldwideInfluenza, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis are among eight common infectious diseases affecting millions worldwide. Read on to know 8 common infectious disease.
28 Oct, 2023
Infectious diseasesInfectious diseases are illnesses caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that can be passed from person to person or from animals to humans.
Source: Thehealthsite Infectious diseasesThese disease can spread through direct contact, contaminated food or water , insect bites, or the air, and can cause a range of symptoms and health problems.
Source: Thehealthsite InfluenzaFirst infectious disease is Influenza. It is a viral respiratory infection causing fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
Source: Thehealthsite HepatitisSecond one is Hepatitis. It is inflammation of the liver caused by viral infections, leading to liver dysfunction.
Source: Thehealthsite TuberculosisAnother infectious disease is Tuberculosis. This is the bacterial infection affecting the lungs, causing cough, chest pain, and weight loss.
Source: Thehealthsite ChikungunyaChikungunya is the fourth infectious disease. It is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterised by fever, joint pain, and rash, often leading to debilitating joint pain that can persist for months.
Source: Thehealthsite PolioPolio is the another infectious disease. It is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children, causing paralysis and potentially lifelong disability.
Source: Thehealthsite Lyme DiseaseAnother infectious disease is Lyme Disease. It is tick-borne bacterial infection causing fever, fatigue, headache and skin rash.
Source: Thehealthsite CholeraCholera is bacterial infection causing severe diarrhoea and dehydration, often spread through contaminated water and food.
Source: Thehealthsite SmallpoxLast but not the least, smallpox is another infectious disease. It is highly contagious viral disease. In this you may feel fever, rash and often severe illness, leaving disfiguring scars and in some cases death.
Source: ThehealthsiteThanks For Reading!
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Mary Lou Retton's Pneumonia: When Does The Infection Become Life-threatening? Experts Share Warning Signs
Mary Lou Retton excelled against her competitors to win an Olympic gold medal in 1984 — but now the 55-year-old American gymnastics icon faces a more challenging opponent.
On a fundraising page earlier this month, Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, wrote that her mother "has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life," adding that she had been in the ICU and was not able to breathe on her own.
Earlier this week, in the first update in four days, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, another daughter of Retton's, related that things seemed like they were headed "on the up and up" — but then they took a turn for the worse on Tuesday.
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"We were so excited seeing so much progress," Schrepfer said in an Instagram post.
"And then yesterday, we had a pretty scary setback."
Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gold medalist in women's gymnastics, is currently in the ICU with life-threatening pneumonia. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The details of the setback were not disclosed.
But Schrepfer said that Retton had a "better day" on Wednesday and that she was "just really, really exhausted," as she remains in the ICU.
Prevalence and symptoms of pneumoniaThough the exact cause of Retton's pneumonia is not known, the condition can be life-threatening — and many Americans battle it each year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s website indicates that 1.4 million emergency department visits were due to pneumonia in 2021.
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"It leads to more than one million hospitalizations and more than 50,000 deaths per year," said Dr. Fred Davis, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center on Long Island, New York.
"Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi, which leads to inflammation and a buildup of fluid, causing issues with oxygenation," Davis told Fox News Digital.
Some common warning signs of the illness include cough, fever and shortness of breath. (iStock)
Common causes of viral pneumonia in the U.S. Include influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), according to the CDC.
Bacterial pneumonia is commonly caused by streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and, typically in kids, mycoplasma pneumoniae.
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Some common warning signs of the illness include cough, fever and shortness of breath.
"When shortness of breath occurs or you notice discoloration around [the] fingers, toes or lips, it is important to seek emergent care," Davis warned.
Typical treatments for pneumoniaTreatment for pneumonia depends on the cause, the doctor noted.
In cases of viral infections, he recommends supportive care like rest and fluids.
For bacterial cases, antibiotics are the most common course of treatment.
Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal medications.
Common causes of viral pneumonia in the U.S. Include influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), according to the CDC. (iStock)
In severe cases, the patient may be admitted for monitoring and given supplemental oxygen, Davis told Fox News Digital.
Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair and professor of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York, said that for most bacterial pneumonia, antibacterial therapy with antibiotics can be effective — "but it's not always perfect and it doesn't always work."
Glatt added, "It often depends on how severe the underlying condition is with that person."
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When it comes to viral pneumonia, the infectious disease expert said treatment can be more challenging.
"You don't have as many good agents," he said. "It will depend on which virus you're dealing with."
Regarding fungal pneumonia, Glatt said treatment will depend on what type of fungus is causing the pneumonia.
In severe cases, the patient may be admitted for monitoring and given supplemental oxygen, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
"Often these patients are extremely sick and have a worse prognosis," he said.
In different parts of the country, there are different types of fungi that can contribute to pneumonia.
For example, histoplasmosis is common in the middle of the U.S., Glatt said.
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Although anyone can get the infection, "those who are young, are older than 65 or have weakened immune systems are at greater risk of a bad outcome should they get pneumonia," Davis told Fox News Digital.
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The best way to avoid pneumonia is to reduce the risk of infection by following proper hand hygiene, covering your mouth when sneezing and washing your hands immediately afterward, he said.
American Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton holds up her gold medal at a press conference during the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. While Retton excelled against her competitors to win Olympic gold in 1984 — today the 55-year-old gymnastics icon faces a more challenging opponent. (Getty Images)
He also recommended getting the flu shot, as influenza is a common cause of infection and the vaccine can reduce the risk — "especially in those younger than 2 years old and greater than 65 years old, who are more at risk should they get infected," Davis noted.
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The CDC also recommended monitoring and treating any underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, as well as speaking with a health care provider about vaccinations to help prevent pneumonia.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed reporting.
For more Health articles, visit www.Foxnews/health.
Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
Expert Explains Parvovirus B19, A Common Childhood Infection
Parvovirus B19 is the cause of fifth disease, a mild rash typically seen in children, although adults can contract the virus. Parvovirus B19 affects only humans. You can't contract it or transmit it to dogs or cats. However, different parvoviruses can affect pets.
"Fifth disease is a relatively common infection in childhood," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center. "It has a few names. It's caused by a virus called parvovirus B19."
For most children, symptoms are mild.
"The most common symptoms that children will usually have with this infection are fever, maybe some runny nose and then a characteristic rash that usually turns their cheeks bright red, and then they may develop a more kind of lacy-looking rash on their extremities and trunk," she says.
Adults infected with parvovirus 19 may have different symptoms than children.
Joint pain or swelling is less common but more frequent in adults. The virus also can temporarily stop the body from making new red blood cells, leading to anemia. People with sickle cell disease and weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Dr. Rajapakse says parvovirus B19 spreads through respiratory secretions, such as contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze.
Credit: Mayo ClinicThe virus can spread through blood and from a pregnant woman to her child. If a pregnant person suspects exposure to parvovirus B19, they should tell their health care team as soon as possible due to potential rare fetal complications if the mother lacks immunity.
"Parvovirus B19 is a viral infection that is quite common in childhood. If you test them, most adults show signs that they had this infection when they were a child," says Dr. Rajapakse. "The rash usually isn't causing too many symptoms, so it doesn't need any specific treatment. And as the child's body fights off the virus, the rash usually resolves along with that."
There are no vaccines or medications to prevent infection, but there are ways to reduce your chances of getting infected or transmitting the infection to others.
Parvovirus B19 affects only humans. You can't contract it or transmit it to dogs or cats. However, different parvoviruses can affect pets.
Fifth disease, or erythema infectiosum, got its name from being the fifth in a list of childhood illnesses known for causing a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the U.S., the virus peaks in winter and spring. The CDC reports mini outbreaks every three to four years.
Citation: Expert explains parvovirus B19, a common childhood infection (2023, October 23) retrieved 28 October 2023 from https://medicalxpress.Com/news/2023-10-expert-parvovirus-b19-common-childhood.Html
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