Keep reading to learn about infections, including types, signs and symptoms, causes, and more.
Sometimes, a microorganism will overwhelm the immune systems ability to fight a pathogen off.
There are also pathogens that might even be resistant to antibiotic therapy.
Viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungus, and prions are different types of pathogens that cause infections.
Viral Infections
Viral infections are triggered by viruses.
When the cell dies, it will release new viruses that infect other cells.
Not all viruses destroy cellssome will change the function of a cell.
Other viruses can lead to cancer because they force cells to uncontrollably replicate.
Viruses are known for causing a wide range of conditions, including thecommon coldandinfluenza.
Other infectious diseaseslike severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)are also triggered by viruses.
There are viruses that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
These remain dormant within the body and then activate.
Examples include herpes simplex virus or the varicella-zoster virus.
Treatment for a viral infection focuses on treating symptoms until the immune system clears out the infection.
Bacteria are small single-celled microorganisms.
A bacterium can infect any part of the body.
There are bacteria in the body that can be helpful and not lead to disease.
In fact, bacteria in the digestive tract can help with digestion and with keeping your body in balance.
Examples of bacterial infections include bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and food poisoning.
Bacterial infections are usually treated withantibiotics.
These medications affect bacterial growtheither they stop growth, or they kill existing bacteria.
There are different types of antibiotics so what you are prescribed will depend on the source of the infection.
You should always take antibiotics as prescribed.
double-check you finish an entire course even if you find you are feeling better after a few days.
Not finishing antibiotics can keep the infection from clearing out and could lead to antibiotic resistance.
Parasitic Infections
Parasites are organisms that need to feed off other organisms to survive.
Some parasites do not noticeably affect people, while others will grow, replicate, and invade organ systems.
Parasitic infections are treated with specific drugs.
This will differ based on the parasitic infection and how severe it is.
Fungal Infections
Fungi live in different types of environments.
The most commonly known fungi include yeast, mold, and edible fungi (i.e., mushrooms).
Much like bacteria, there are fungi that exist on the skin and within the body.
A pop in of funguscalled mycosiscan cause infection.
Examples includefungal nail infectionsand athletes foot.
Other types of fungal infection can occur in the membranes of the mouth and reproductive organs.
These can also be life-threatening.
While hard to believe, fungi can be beneficial to humans.
Fungal infections are treated with antifungal medicines.
Fortunately, prion disease rare, without only about 300 cases reported in the United States.
Many prion conditions are inherited, but many others can be acquired.
Such is the case withCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease.CJD can be inherited, but sporadic CJD will develop without risk factors.
It can be acquired by exposure to infected tissue during a medical procedure.
Another key in of CJD is related tomad cow disease.It can be transmitted when a person eats infected meat.
There are no cures for prion diseases.
However, there are medicines to manage symptoms and slow down disease progression.
General Symptoms of Infection
The symptoms of infection will depend on the jot down of infection.
Complications
Most infections only cause minor problems.
Some complications, like pneumonia or meningitis, can become life-threatening.
Infections can also be silent and will appear much later in life.
Chickenpox is one such example.
It might result in shingles in older adults who had chickenpox when they were younger.
This is because many germs can linger on commonly touched surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, and tables.
If you then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you might become infected.
That is why hand-washing is vital especially after touching commonly touched surfaces.
Risk Factors
Anyone can catch an infection, regardless of the source.
Diagnosis
A number of infections can be distinguishable by the symptoms they cause.
In cases where it is harder to make a diagnosis, your practitioner may request lab work.
This might include taking samples of blood, urine, stool, sputum, or cerebrospinal fluid.
Skin or tissue biopsies might be done to examine affected tissues.
Treatment
Infections are treated according to their cause.
The treatment for viral infections usually involves relieving symptoms until the immune system clears up the infection.
However, some types of viral infections can be treated with anti-viral drugs.
You should also let your practitioner know if treatment doesnt improve symptoms or makes them worse.
Prevention
There is no single way to prevent infection.
Harvard Medical School has recommendations that can you stay healthy and potentially avoid an infection.
A Word From Verywell
Infections generally can be treated and managed at home.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).
I, How Infection Works.
National Human Genome Research Institute.Bacteria.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About parasites.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aspergillosis.
Demain AL, Martens E.Production of valuable compounds by molds and yeasts.J Antibiot(Tokyo).
2017;70(4):347-360. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.121
Harvard Medical School.Prion diseases.
National Institutes of Health.What infections can affect pregnancy?
2017;22-39. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00516-6
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.E.
coli (Escherichia coli): Questions and answers.
Trident Health System.Ouch, what bit me?
10 common bug bites.
Harvard Medical School.If you are at higher risk.
How to reduce risk of infection and what to do if you get sick.
Merz B. Harvard Medical School.How to prevent infections.
