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What are infectious diseases?
The meaning of INFECTED is having an infection : contaminated with an infective agent (such as a bacterium or virus). How to use infected in a sentence.
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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
Seek medical attention if you:
•Have been bitten by an animal
•Are having trouble breathing
•Have been coughing for more than a week
•Have severe headache with fever
•Experience a rash or swelling
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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.
While anyone can catch infectious diseases, you may be more likely to get sick if your immune system isn't working properly. This may occur if:
•You're taking steroids or other medications that suppress your immune system, such as anti-rejection drugs for a transplanted organ
•You have HIV or AIDS
•You have certain types of cancer or other disorders that affect your immune system
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
Follow these tips to decrease the risk of infection:
•Wash your hands. This is especially important before and after preparing food, before eating, and after using the toilet. And try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands, as that's a common way germs enter the body.
•Get vaccinated. Vaccination can drastically reduce your chances of contracting many diseases. Make sure to keep up to date on your recommended vaccinations, as well as your children's.
•Stay home when ill. Don't go to work if you are vomiting, have diarrhea or have a fever. Don't send your child to school if he or she has these signs, either.
•Prepare food safely. Keep counters and other kitchen surfaces clean when preparing meals. Cook foods to the proper temperature, using a food thermometer to check for doneness. For ground meats, that means at least 160 F (71 C); for poultry, 165 F (74 C); and for most other meats, at least 145 F (63 C).
Also promptly refrigerate leftovers — don't let cooked foods remain at room temperature for long periods of time.
INFECTED definition: 1. (of a person or animal) affected by an organism that can cause disease: 2. (of a substance…. Learn more.
Oct 24, 2016 · An infectious disease can be defined as an illness due to a pathogen or its toxic product, which arises through transmission from an infected person, an infected animal, or a contaminated inanimate object to a susceptible host.
- Jean Maguire van Seventer, Natasha S. Hochberg
- 10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00516-6
- 2017
- 2017
Infection occurs when viruses, bacteria, or other microbes enter your body and begin to multiply. Disease, which typically happens in a small proportion of infected people, occurs when the cells in your body are damaged as a result of infection, and signs and symptoms of an illness appear.
- Madeline Drexler
- 2010
- 2010
IPA guide. When someone's infected, they've been exposed to an organism that causes a disease. It's too late for an infected person to get a flu vaccine — they already have the flu. In some cases, bodies of water can be described as infected, or contaminated with bacteria that can make people sick.
Mar 30, 2020 · An infection occurs when a microorganism — such as bacteria, fungi, or a virus — enters a person’s body and causes harm. The effects of infections occur due to...
