Infection Overview
An infection occurs when pathogens (organisms) such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites yeast or other microorganisms and infectious agents enters the body tissue and causes disease. When a virus infects a person (host), it invades the cells of its host in order to survive and replicate. Once the organisms enters and invades the body by disease causing agents, they start to rapidly multiply and produce toxins, they start killing healthy cells and disrupting the normal cell function, making us sick.
In response to infection, the immune system springs into action. White blood cells, antibodies, and other mechanisms immediately respond and get to work to rid the body of the foreign invader. A special cell of the immune system called a T cell circulates looking for infections. One type of T cell is called a cytotoxic T cell because it kills cells that are infected with viruses with toxic mediators. In fact, many of the symptoms that make a person suffer during an infection, such as Fever, malaise, Headache, rash result from the activities of the immune response, the immune system is trying to eliminate the infection from the body.
Some organisms are harmless and help our body function properly, while others cause disease. Some infections are life threatening particularly if someone have weak immune system and low resistance to infection. Some types of Cancer and Cancer treatments can weaken the immune system. They stop the bone marrow from making blood cells that help fighting infection, this increases the risk of getting infection.
Pathogenic microbes challenge the immune system in many ways. Viruses make us sick by killing cells or disrupting cell function. Our bodies often respond with fever (heat inactivates many viruses), the secretion of a chemical (glycoproteins) called interferon (which blocks viruses from reproducing), or by marshaling the immune system’s antibodies and other cells to target the invader. Many bacteria make us sick the same way, but they also have other strategies at their disposal. Sometimes bacteria multiply so rapidly they crowd out host tissues and disrupt normal function and they kill cells and tissues outright. They make toxins that can paralyze, destroy cells’ metabolic machinery, or precipitate an innate immune response that is itself toxic.
Infections can begin anywhere in the body and the germs may multiply and spread all over by attacking the host tissues. An infection can cause Fever and other health problems, depending on where it occurs in the body. Usually the normal body’s immune system is strong, it can often fight the germs and cure an infection. Some diseases like Cancer and Cancer treatments can weaken the immune system, which may lead to infection. You can acquire an infection in many different ways, such as directly from a person with an infection, via contaminated food or water (waterborne pathogens), and even through the bite of an insect.
According to the CDC 15.5 million patients visited physician offices in the US with infectious and parasitic diseases as the primary diagnosis.
Bacteria vs Viruses
Bacteria and viruses are both too tiny to be seen by the naked eye without a microscope, can cause similar symptoms and are often spread in the same way. Bacteria vs viruses, a bacterium is a complex single-celled, with a rigid wall, and a thin, rubbery membrane surrounding the fluid inside the cell, It can survive on its own, reproduce on their own, inside or outside the body. Bacteria can survive in different environments, including extreme heat and cold, radioactive waste, and the human body.
Most bacteria are harmless, and some actually help by digesting food, destroying disease-causing microbes, fighting cancer cells, and providing essential nutrients. Fewer than 1% of bacteria cause diseases in people.
Viruses are much smaller and are not cells. All they have is a protein coat and a core of genetic material, either RNA or DNA. Unlike bacteria, they need a host such as a human or animal to multiply. They can only reproduce by attaching themselves to cells. In most cases, they reprogram the cells to make new viruses until the cells burst and die. In other cases, they turn normal cells into malignant or cancerous cells. Viruses cause infections by entering and multiplying inside the host’s healthy cells.
Types of Infections
There are several different types of infections, following are some of the common infections:
- Viral Infections
- Bacterial Infections
- Fungal Infections
- Parasitic Infections
Viral Infections
Viruses are very tiny infectious organisms, they’re even smaller than bacteria. A virus is a particle of RNA or DNA enclosed by structural proteins. Viruses infect cells and proliferate to cause viral infections. On the most basic level, a virus is composed of a piece of genetic material that’s surrounded by a protein shell. Some viruses may have an additional envelope or other features on their surface. Viruses are parasitic and require a host cell in which to carry out their life cycle. Once the virus has entered the host cell, it’s able to use cellular components to reproduce. New viruses are released from the host cell, a process that’ll sometimes cause the host cell to die.
Some examples of viral infections include:
- Influenza (the flu)
- Common cold
- Ebola
- Measles
- Rabies
- Rubella
- Chickenpox
- Norovirus
- Polio
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Viral Hepatitis, which can include hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
- Viral Meningitis
- West Nile Virus
There are three main groups of viruses cause the majority of pediatric viral Infections including the following:
- Human Papillomavirus
- Herpes simplex virus
- Poxvirus
Bacterial Infections
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. They’re very diverse, coming in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Bacteria can be found in all sorts of environments, including soil, bodies of water, and in or on our bodies. Some can survive extreme temperatures or even radiation exposure.
Although there are a great many bacteria in and on our bodies, these bacteria often don’t cause disease. Only a small percentage of the world’s bacteria cause infection and disease. In fact, the bacteria in our digestive tract can help us digest our food. However, sometimes bacteria can enter our bodies and cause an infection. But infectious bacteria can make you ill, they reproduce quickly in your body and many release chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Some examples of bacterial infections include:
- Strep Throat
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) caused by coliform bacteria
- Bacterial Food Poisoning, caused by E. coli, Salmonella or Shigella
- Bacterial Cellulitis, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Bacterial Vaginosis (yeast infection)
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Clostridium Difficile
- Tuberculosis (13 million people in the United States with latent TB infection)
- Whopping Cough
- Pneumococcal Pneumonia
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Lyme Disease
- Cholera
- Botulism
- Tetanus
- Anthrax
Fungal Infections
Fungal infection, also called mycosis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus. There are millions of fungal species. They live in the dirt, on plants, on household surfaces indoors, on and in the air, and on the skin or inside the body. Sometimes, they can lead to skin problems like rashes or bumps. Fungi are another diverse group of organisms that can include things like yeasts and molds. They can be found throughout the environment, including in the soil, indoors in moist areas like bathrooms, and on or in our bodies. Sometimes fungi are so small that you can’t see them with the naked eye. Other times, you’re able to see them, such as when you notice mold on your bathroom tile.
Not all fungi can make you ill, but some examples of fungal infections include:
- Vaginal Yeast Infections
- Ringworm
- Athlete’s Foot
- Thrush
- Aspergillosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Cryptococcus Infection
- Fungal Meningitis
Parasitic Infections
Parasites live on or in a host organism and get food or other nutrients at the host’s expense. There are three types of parasites that can cause illness in humans:
- Protozoa: small, one-celled organisms
- Helminths: larger, worm-like organisms
- Ectoparasites: organisms such as fleas, ticks, and lice
Some examples of infections that are caused by parasites include:
- Malaria
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Giardiasis
- Tapeworm Infection
- Roundworm Infection
- Pubic and Head Lice
- Scabies
- Leishmaniasis
- River Blindness
Prions
A prion actually isn’t an organism at all, it’s a protein. Prions can affect normal body proteins and cause them to fold into abnormal shapes. They can cause development of dementia and difficulties walking or speaking. Prion diseases are very rare, only 300 cases are reported in the United States each year.
While some prion conditions are inherited, others can be acquired through consuming contaminated food and are considered infectious. Examples include variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (related to mad cow disease) and Kuru.
Signs and Symptoms of Infection
The symptoms of an infection can vary depending on the type of infection that you have and symptoms vary depending on the organism causing the infection. Some general symptoms that can indicate you may have an infection include:
- Fever or chills
- Body aches and Pain
- Feeling tired or Fatigue
- Cough or sneezing
- Sore throat
- Stiff neck
- Burning or Pain during urination
- Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation
- Nasal congestion
- Pain in the abdomen or rectum
- Digestive disorders, such as Nausea
vomiting, or Diarrhea
Causes of infection transmission
Infection can be transmitted in many different ways, following are some of the ways infection can spread:
Direct contact
Some, but not all, infections can spread when you come directly into contact with a person who is infected or has an infection Direct contact infections spread when disease-causing microorganisms pass from the infected person to the healthy person via direct physical contact with blood or body fluids. Examples of direct contact are touching, kissing, sexual contact, contact with oral secretions, or contact with body lesions. Airborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microbes small enough to be discharged from an infected person via coughing, sneezing, laughing and close personal contact or aerosolization of the microbe.
This can include things like:
- Blood
- Nasal secretions
- Saliva
- Semen
- Vaginal secretions
Many illnesses spread through contact transmission. Examples are chicken pox, common cold,
conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), Hepatitis A and B, herpes simplex (cold sores), influenza, measles,
mononucleosis, Fifth disease, pertussis, adeno/rhino viruses, Neisseria meningitidis and
mycoplasma pneumoniae. Some infections can be spread directly from an infected mother to her child either through the placenta or during childbirth.
Airborne Infections
Airborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microbes small enough to be discharged from an infected person via coughing, sneezing, laughing and close personal contact or aerosolization of the microbe.
Airborne and Direct Contact Diseases Include:
- Coronavirus COVID-19
- Streptococcus (Group A)
- Influenza
- Measles
- Enterovirus
- Invasive Group B Streptococcal (GBS)
- Mumps
- Tuberculosis (TB)
Indirect contact
Some infectious organisms can be found throughout the environment. You can come into contact with these things and then spread the infection to yourself. A common example of this is when someone with the flu Cough or sneezes. Influenza virus can then be present in the air or on objects such as door and faucet handles. If you touch a contaminated object and then touch your face, mouth, or nose, you may become infected.
Through contaminated food or water
In some cases, food or water may be contaminated with infectious organisms. You can get these infections by consuming things like:
- Foods prepped or prepared in unsanitary conditions
- Raw or undercooked foods, such as produce, meats, or seafood
- Improperly canned foods
- Unpasteurized milks or juices
- Foods that have been improperly stored or refrigerated
From an infected animal
Some infections are spread to people from an infected animal. One example is the rabies virus, which you can get if an infected animal bites you. Another example is toxoplasmosis. You can come down with this parasitic disease from changing an infected cat’s litter box.
From a bug bite
There are many different types of biting bugs, including ticks, mosquitoes, and lice. In some cases, you can get an infection if a bug carrying around an infectious microorganism bites you. Some examples include malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile Virus.
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