What is Infectious Disease   

Infectious diseases are one of the leading causes of death and morbidity worldwide. These are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that invade the body and cause harm. Infectious diseases can range from mild to severe, and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or race.   

In this article, we will discuss the basics of infectious diseases, including their definition, causes, transmission, symptoms, and treatments. We will also look at some of the most common infectious diseases and how they can be prevented.   

Definition of Infectious Disease   

An infectious disease is a disease caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that invade the body and cause harm. These microorganisms can infect various parts of the body, including the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and the bloodstream.   

Infectious diseases can be spread from person to person, through contact with contaminated surfaces, through the air, or through bites from insects or animals. Some infectious diseases can also be transmitted through sexual contact or through the placenta from mother to child.   

Types of Microorganisms that Cause Infectious Diseases   

There are different types of microorganisms that can cause infectious diseases. These include:   

Bacteria: These are single-celled microorganisms that can cause a wide range of infections, from mild to severe. Examples of bacterial infections include strep throat, tuberculosis, and meningitis.    
Viruses: These are tiny infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate. Examples of viral infections include the flu, measles, and HIV.    
Fungi: These are primitive organisms that can cause infections in humans, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. Examples of fungal infections include ringworm, athlete's foot, and thrush.    
Parasites: These are organisms that live on or in a host and feed off of it. Examples of parasitic infections include malaria, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis.    

Modes of Transmission of Infectious Diseases   

Infectious diseases can be transmitted through various modes. These include:   

Direct Contact: This occurs when an infected person comes into contact with a healthy person, either through physical contact or through the exchange of bodily fluids.    
Indirect Contact: This occurs when an infected person contaminates a surface or object, and a healthy person comes into contact with that surface or object.    
Airborne Transmission: This occurs when infectious agents are spread through the air, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes.    
Vector-borne Transmission: This occurs when infectious agents are transmitted through the bites of insects or animals, such as mosquitoes or ticks.    

Symptoms of Infectious Diseases   

The symptoms of infectious diseases can vary depending on the type of microorganism causing the infection, as well as the part of the body that is affected. Some common symptoms of infectious diseases include:   

• Fever   
• Fatigue   
• Coughing   
• Sneezing   
• Runny nose   
• Diarrhea   
• Nausea   
• Vomiting   
• Skin rash   
• Swelling and redness   
• Pain   
   

Top Infectious Disease Specialist In Stockton, CA   

1. Dr. Robert L. Atmar, Houston Methodist Infectious Disease Specialists, Houston, TX   
2. Dr. J. Benjamin Hatten, Infectious Disease Specialists of Central Texas, Austin, TX   
3. Dr. Howard Weintraub, NYU Langone Health Infectious Disease Specialists, New York, NY   
4. Dr. David H. Persing, Stanford Health Care Infectious Disease Specialists, Palo Alto, CA   
5. Dr. Richard A. Oberhelman, Infectious Disease Specialists of South Florida, Miami, FL   
6. Dr. Ira M. Longini, Jr., University of Florida Health Infectious Diseases Specialists, Gainesville, FL   
7. Dr. Arthur L. Reingold, University of California, Berkeley Infectious Disease Specialists, Berkeley, CA   
8. Dr. John W. Gnann, Jr., Vanderbilt University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Nashville, TN   
9. Dr. Thomas H. Murray, Michigan Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Ann Arbor, MI   
10. Dr. Kenneth H. Fife, Indiana University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Indianapolis, IN   
11. Dr. Diane E. Griffin, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Baltimore, MD   
12. Dr. Janice K. Louie, University of Washington Infectious Disease Specialists, Seattle, WA   
13. Dr. Thomas J. Walsh, New York University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, New York, NY   
14. Dr. Patricia M. Griffin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
15. Dr. Steven A. Larson, USC Keck School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Los Angeles, CA   
16. Dr. Michael S. Saag, University of Alabama at Birmingham Infectious Disease Specialists, Birmingham, AL   
17. Dr. William R. Jarvis, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Rochester, MN   
18. Dr. Richard B. Whitley, University of Florida Health Infectious Disease Specialists, Gainesville, FL   
19. Dr. David L. Dalton, Duke University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Durham, NC   
20. Dr. James M. Hughes, Emory University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
21. Dr. Peter B. Gilbert, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Phoenix, AZ   
22. Dr. Mark W. Pasternack, Massachusetts General Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
23. Dr. Gregory C. Gray, University of Iowa College of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Iowa City, IA   
24. Dr. Richard J. Whitley, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Memphis, TN   
25. Dr. Martin J. Blaser, NYU Langone Health Infectious Disease Specialists, New York, NY   
26. Dr. Robert S. Siliciano, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Baltimore, MD   
27. Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, University of Maryland School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Baltimore, MD   
28. Dr. Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Houston, TX   
29. Dr. David C. Hooper, Massachusetts General Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
30. Dr. David H. Spach, University of Washington School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Seattle, WA   
31. Dr. Mark S. Klempner, Tufts Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
32. Dr. Stephen B. Calderwood, Harvard Medical School Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
33. Dr. Robert H. Rubin, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Chicago, IL   
34. Dr. Judith A. O'Donnell, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Philadelphia, PA   
35. Dr. Charles S. Flexner, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Baltimore, MD   
36. Dr. Stanley M. Lemon, University of North Carolina School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Chapel Hill, NC   
37. Dr. David M. Morens, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Infectious Disease Specialists, Bethesda, MD   
38. Dr. David C. Hooper, Brigham and Women's Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
39. Dr. Frederick M. Ausubel, Massachusetts General Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
40. Dr. Richard L. Hodinka, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Dallas, TX   
41. Dr. Jeffrey M. Bender, Stanford Health Care Infectious Disease Specialists, Palo Alto, CA   
42. Dr. Robert S. Daum, University of Chicago Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Chicago, IL   
43. Dr. Robert T. Schooley, University of California, San Diego Infectious Disease Specialists, San Diego, CA   
44. Dr. Stephen L. Kraus, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Rochester, MN   
45. Dr. Paul S. Pottinger, University of Washington Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Seattle, WA   
46. Dr. Daniel R. Kuritzkes, Brigham and Women's Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
47. Dr. Mark L. Kline, Baylor College of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Houston, TX   
48. Dr. Daniel H. Leung, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Los Angeles, CA   
49. Dr. Michael S. Niederman, Weill Cornell Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, New York, NY   
50. Dr. Robert J. Dickson, University of California, San Francisco Infectious Disease Specialists, San Francisco, CA   
51. Dr. Stephen M. Holland, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
52. Dr. Robert S. Baltimore, Yale School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, New Haven, CT   
53. Dr. Eric P. Smith, Washington University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, St. Louis, MO   
54. Dr. Jeffrey I. Cohen, National Institutes of Health Infectious Disease Specialists, Bethesda, MD   
55. Dr. David Schlossberg, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Philadelphia, PA   
56. Dr. William R. Jarvis, Emory University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
57. Dr. David M. Weber, Duke University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Durham, NC   
58. Dr. Thomas M. File, Jr., Summa Health System Infectious Disease Specialists, Akron, OH   
59. Dr. Stephen C. Piscitelli, Cleveland Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Cleveland, OH   
60. Dr. Thomas C. Quinn, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Baltimore, MD   
61. Dr. Kenneth M. Kaye, Harvard Medical School Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
62. Dr. Sharon L. Reed, University of California, San Diego Infectious Disease Specialists, San Diego, CA   
63. Dr. David P. Nichol, University of Utah School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Salt Lake City, UT   
64. Dr. Stephen J. Gluckman, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Philadelphia, PA   
65. Dr. P. Frederick Sparling, University of North Carolina School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Chapel Hill, NC   
66. Dr. John N. Galgiani, University of Arizona College of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Tucson, AZ   
67. Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Nashville, TN   
68. Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, University of California, Los Angeles Infectious Disease Specialists, Los Angeles, CA   
69. Dr. Richard D. Remington, Rush University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Chicago, IL   
70. Dr. Jeffrey A. Lott, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Jacksonville, FL   
71. Dr. David A. Relman, Stanford Health Care Infectious Disease Specialists, Palo Alto, CA   
72. Dr. Richard B. Hornick, University of Michigan Medical School Infectious Disease Specialists, Ann Arbor, MI   
73. Dr. David R. Andes, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Infectious Disease Specialists, Madison, WI   
74. Dr. Henry M. Blumberg, Emory University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
75. Dr. David H. Persing, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Rochester, MN   
76. Dr. Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Specialists, Atlanta, GA   
77. Dr. Stephen B. Calderwood, Massachusetts General Hospital Infectious Disease Specialists, Boston, MA   
78. Dr. Robert B. Belshe, Saint Louis University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, St. Louis, MO   
79. Dr. Robert S. Daum, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Infectious Disease Specialists, Chicago, IL   
80. Dr. Stephen L. Leibowitz, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Chicago, IL   
81. Dr. Thomas J. Walsh, Weill Cornell Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, New York, NY   
82. Dr. David L. Paterson, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Pittsburgh, PA   
83. Dr. David H. Spach, Washington University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, St. Louis, MO   
84. Dr. Michael S. Saag, University of Alabama at Birmingham Infectious Disease Specialists, Birmingham, AL   
85. Dr. Edward B. Hayes, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists, Nashville, TN   
86. Dr. David W. Denning, University of Manchester Infectious Disease Specialists, Manchester, UK   
87. Dr. Louis B. Rice, Brown University School of Medicine Infectious Disease Specialists, Providence, RI   
88. Dr. Richard K. Root, University of California, Los Angeles Infectious Disease Specialists, Los Angeles, CA   
89. Dr. John B. Zabriskie, Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Specialists, Scottsdale, AZ   
90. Dr. Clifford A. Lowell, University of California, San Francisco Infectious Disease Specialists, San Francisco, CA