Infectious disease

Jannatul Nayem
Lecturer
Department of Pharmacy
World University of Bangladesh
 Introduction
• The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria,
viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body, is
called infection.
• Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They're normally harmless or
even helpful. But under certain conditions, some organisms may cause
disease.
• Some infectious diseases can be passed from person to person. Some are
transmitted by insects or other animals. And we may get others by
consuming contaminated food or water or being exposed to organisms in
the environment.
• Signs and symptoms vary depending on the organism causing the infection,
but often include fever and fatigue.
 Causes
Infectious diseases can be caused by:
Bacteria: These one-cell organisms are responsible for illnesses such as strep
throat, urinary tract infections and tuberculosis.
Viruses: Even smaller than bacteria, viruses cause a multitude of diseases
ranging from the common cold to AIDS.
Fungi: Many skin diseases, such as ringworm and athlete's foot, are caused
by fungi. Other types of fungi can infect your lungs or nervous system.
Parasites: Malaria is caused by a tiny parasite that is transmitted by a
mosquito bite. Other parasites may be transmitted to humans from animal
feces.
Direct contact
An easy way to catch most infectious diseases is by coming in contact with a
person or an animal with the infection. Infectious diseases can be spread
through direct contact such as:
A. Person to person: Infectious
diseases commonly spread through
the direct transfer of germs from one
person to another. This can happen
when an individual with the bacterium
or virus touches, or coughs or sneezes on
someone who isn't infected.
These germs can also spread through the exchange of body fluids from
sexual contact. The person who passes the germ may have no symptoms of
the disease, but may simply be a carrier.
B. Animal to person: Being bitten or
scratched by an infected animal,
even a pet, can make you sick and,
in extreme circumstances, can be
fatal. Handling animal waste can
be hazardous, too. For example,
you can get a toxoplasmosis
infection by scooping your cat’s
litter box.
C. Mother to unborn child: A pregnant woman may pass germs that cause
infectious diseases to her unborn baby. Some germs can pass through the
placenta or through breast milk.
Indirect contact
Disease-causing organisms also can be passed by indirect contact. Many
germs can linger on an inanimate object, such as a tabletop, door knob or
faucet handle.
A. Insect bites: Some germs rely on insect carriers such as mosquitoes, fleas,
lice to move from host to host. These carriers are known as vectors.
Mosquitoes can carry the malaria parasite or West Nile virus. Deer ticks may
carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
B. Food contamination: Disease-causing germs can also infect you through
contaminated food and water. This mechanism of transmission allows germs
to be spread to many people through a single source. Escherichia coli (E.
coli), for example, is a bacterium present in or on certain foods such as
undercooked hamburger or unpasteurized fruit juice.
 Risk factors
While anyone can catch infectious diseases, someone may be more likely to
get sick if his immune system isn't working properly. This may occur if:
• He is taking steroids or other medications that suppress his immune
system, such as anti-rejection drugs for a transplanted organ.
• He has HIV or AIDS
• He has certain types of cancer or other disorders that affect his immune
system.
In addition, certain other medical conditions may predispose someone to
infection, including implanted medical devices, malnutrition and extremes of
age, among others.
 Symptoms
Each infectious disease has its own specific signs and symptoms. General
signs and symptoms common to a number of infectious diseases include:
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Coughing
• Chills
• Swelling
• Redness
 Complications
Most infectious diseases have only minor complications. But some infections
such as pneumonia, AIDS and meningitis can become life threatening. A few
types of infections have been linked to a long-term increased risk of cancer:
• Human papillomavirus is linked to cervical cancer
• Helicobacter pylori is linked to stomach cancer and peptic ulcers
• Hepatitis B and C have been linked to liver cancer
In addition, some infectious diseases may become silent, only to appear
again in the future sometimes even decades later. For example, someone
who's had chickenpox may develop shingles much later in life.
 Prevention
Follow these tips to decrease the risk of infection:
Washing hands: This is especially important before and after preparing food,
before eating, and after using the toilet. We should try not to touch our eyes,
nose or mouth with hands, as that's a common way germs enter the body.
Get vaccinated: Vaccination can drastically reduce our chances of
contracting many diseases. We must make sure to keep up to date on our
recommended vaccinations, as well as our children’s.
Stay home when ill: We shouldn’t go to work if we are vomiting, have
diarrhea or have a fever. We shouldn’t send our child to school if he or she
has these signs, either.
Prepare food safely: We must keep counters and other kitchen surfaces
clean when preparing meals. Foods should be cooked to the proper
temperature, using a food thermometer to check the temperature. For
ground meats, that means at least 160oF (71oC); for poultry, 165oF (74oC);
and for most other meats, at least 145oF (63oC).
Also leftovers should be promptly refrigerated. Cooked foods shouldn’t
be kept at room temperature for long periods of time.
Don't share personal items: We should use own toothbrush, comb and
razor. Avoid sharing drinking glasses or dining utensils.
Travel wisely: If we are traveling out of the country, we should talk to our
doctor about any special vaccinations such as yellow fever, cholera,
hepatitis A or B, or typhoid fever we may need.
 Diagnosis
Laboratory tests
Many infectious diseases have similar signs and symptoms. Samples of body
fluids can sometimes reveal evidence of the particular microbe that's causing
the illness. This helps the doctor tailor treatment.
A. Blood tests: A technician obtains a sample of blood by inserting a needle
into a vein, usually in the arm.
B. Urine tests: This painless test requires you to urinate into a container. To
avoid potential contamination of the sample, you may be instructed to cleanse
your genital area with an antiseptic pad and to collect the urine midstream.
C. Throat swabs: Samples from the throat, or other moist areas of the body,
may be obtained
D. Stool sample: You may be instructed to collect a stool sample so a lab can check
the sample for parasites and other organisms.
E. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): This procedure obtains a sample of the
cerebrospinal fluid through a needle carefully inserted between the bones of the
lower spine. You'll usually be asked to lie on your side with your knees pulled up
toward your chest.
Imaging scans
Imaging procedures such as X-rays, computerized tomography and magnetic
resonance imaging can help pinpoint diagnosis and rule out other conditions that
may be causing symptoms.
Biopsies
During a biopsy, a tiny sample of tissue is taken from an internal organ for testing. For
example, a biopsy of lung tissue can be checked for a variety of fungi that can cause a
type of pneumonia.
 Treatment
There are a number of different treatments available to help prevent and
manage infectious diseases. Doctor will work with the patient individually to
create a specific prevention or management plan based on the patient’s
specific needs. Treatments may include the use of antibiotics, antivirals,
antifungals or anti-parasitic.
1. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and have
absolutely no effect on viral infections. Antibiotics are grouped together in
classes similar to types of bacteria. Certain antibiotics are more effective
with certain ‘families’ of bacteria. We carefully manage the use of antibiotics
as an overuse of them can produce a resistance to their effectiveness making
bacterial infection more difficult to treat.
2. Antivirals: Antiviral drugs are used to treat certain viruses like AIDS,
Herpes, Influenza, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Not all viruses are susceptible
to treatment with antivirals.
3. Anti-fungal: Fungal infections are very common in people with weakened
immune systems and can affect the mucous membranes of the mouth and
throat, as well as the lungs. Antifungal drugs are used to treat severe fungal
infections.
4. Anti-parasitic: are often used to help treat certain diseases, including
malaria, which is caused by parasites. While many parasitic infectious
diseases have been effectively treated with anti-parasitic drugs, some
parasites have developed a resistance to the drug.