Infectious disease overview: Difference between revisions
Saumya Easaw (talk | contribs) (Created page with " __NOTOC__ {{Infectious disease}} {{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor-In-Chief:''' {{CZ}} ==Overview== [[Image:Malaria.jpg|200px|thumb|left|This false-colored [[electron micrograph...") |
Saumya Easaw (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
An '''infectious disease''' is a clinically evident [[disease]] resulting from the presence of pathogenic [[microbial]] agents, including [[virus]]es, [[bacteria]],[[fungi]], [[protozoa]], multicellular [[parasite]]s, and aberrant proteins known as [[prion]]s. These [[pathogen]]s are able to cause disease in animals and/or plants. | An '''infectious disease''' is a clinically evident [[disease]] resulting from the presence of pathogenic [[microbial]] agents, including [[virus]]es, [[bacteria]],[[fungi]], [[protozoa]], multicellular [[parasite]]s, and aberrant proteins known as [[prion]]s. These [[pathogen]]s are able to cause disease in animals and/or plants. | ||
Infectious pathologies are usually qualified as | Infectious pathologies are usually qualified as contagious diseases (also called communicable diseases) due to their potentiality of transmission from one person or species to another. <ref>[http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcommonzSzdorlandszSzdorlandzSzdmd_c_49zPzhtm Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary] 2004 WB Saunders.</ref> Transmission of an infectious disease may occur through one or more of diverse pathways including physical contact with infected individuals. These infecting agents may also be transmitted through liquids, food, body fluids, contaminated objects, airborne inhalation, or through [[Vector (biology)|vector]]-borne spread.<ref name= McGraw/> | ||
The term ''[[infectivity]]'' describes the ability of an organism to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the ''infectiousness'' of a disease indicates the comparative ease with which the disease is transmitted to other hosts.<ref>[http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/other/glossary.htm Glossary of Notifiable Conditions] Washington State Department of Health</ref> An [[infection]] however, is not synonymous with an infectious disease, as an infection may not cause important clinical symptoms or impair host function.<ref name= McGraw>"Infectious disease." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005.</ref> | The term ''[[infectivity]]'' describes the ability of an organism to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the ''infectiousness'' of a disease indicates the comparative ease with which the disease is transmitted to other hosts.<ref>[http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/other/glossary.htm Glossary of Notifiable Conditions] Washington State Department of Health</ref> An [[infection]] however, is not synonymous with an infectious disease, as an infection may not cause important clinical symptoms or impair host function.<ref name= McGraw>"Infectious disease." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005.</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} |
Revision as of 04:02, 23 May 2013
Infectious disease Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Infectious disease overview On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Infectious disease overview |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Infectious disease overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]
Overview
![](/images/f/f1/Malaria.jpg)
An infectious disease is a clinically evident disease resulting from the presence of pathogenic microbial agents, including viruses, bacteria,fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions. These pathogens are able to cause disease in animals and/or plants.
Infectious pathologies are usually qualified as contagious diseases (also called communicable diseases) due to their potentiality of transmission from one person or species to another. [1] Transmission of an infectious disease may occur through one or more of diverse pathways including physical contact with infected individuals. These infecting agents may also be transmitted through liquids, food, body fluids, contaminated objects, airborne inhalation, or through vector-borne spread.[2]
The term infectivity describes the ability of an organism to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the infectiousness of a disease indicates the comparative ease with which the disease is transmitted to other hosts.[3] An infection however, is not synonymous with an infectious disease, as an infection may not cause important clinical symptoms or impair host function.[2]
References
- ↑ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 2004 WB Saunders.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Infectious disease." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005.
- ↑ Glossary of Notifiable Conditions Washington State Department of Health