Infectious diseases and drug therapy options

Infectious diseases form a group of illnesses caused by germs. There are four main kinds of germs: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa. They can be found everywhere – in air, soil and water. Anyone can get infected by touching, eating, drinking or breathing something that contains disease-causing microorganisms. Infections can spread through animal and insect bites, kissing and sexual contact.

The most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases represent two largest classes of bacterial and viral illnesses.

Bacterial skin infections are usually caused by gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other organisms. Common bacterial skin infections include folliculitis, impetigo, boils. They are manifested by rash, bumps, and sores, red, swollen and crusted skin. Foodborne and waterborne bacterial infections include E.coli, salmonella, vibrio, cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, botulism. Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal pain, cramps, and muscle aches are common symptoms of food poisoning. Sexually transmitted bacterial infections cause many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. These infections are not associated with any symptoms but can still cause serious damage to the reproductive system. Harmful bacteria can affect almost any area of the body and release toxins internally. Other types of infection can result in bacterial meningitis, otitis media, urinary tract infection, strep throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, whooping cough, scarlet fever, diphtheria, tetanus. They may cause some additional symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, rash, sore throat, cough, weight loss, body aches, bloody urine, abscesses, chest pain, and sleepiness.

Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections. They stop bacterial cell growth. The patient should take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Failure to do so can make a condition worse. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics leads to a rise in antibiotic resistance.

A viral infection occurs when a virus enters the body, invades the body’s cells, reproduces and spreads to other cells to repeat the process. There are many types of viruses that cause a wide variety of viral diseases such as cold, influenza or flu, infectious mononucleosis, shingles, chickenpox, HIV/AIDS. Common symptoms of a viral infection include fatigue, flu-like symptoms (chills, malaise, dry cough, body aches, and loss of appetite), and fever.

Vaccines are available to prevent some common viral diseases. A vaccine that contains weakened or killed microorganisms or toxins stimulates the immune system cells (B lymphocytes) to attack the infectious agents by producing antibodies. It results in the development of active immunity. Moreover, antibodies or lymphocytes already made by an animal or human donor may be provided by a vaccine and induce passive immunity. Vaccines are usually administered by injections, but some are given orally.

Antiviral drugs work only against specific viruses. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral diseases. However, antibiotics are sometimes prescribed in viral illnesses to help prevent a “secondary bacterial infection” occurring when someone is in a weakened or compromised state due to an existing disease.

Vaccines and medicines, frequent and thorough hand-washing, improved sanitation, and safe sexual contact can help prevent infectious diseases.