Infectious Diseases

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children

Summary

Infectious diseases kill more people worldwide than any other single cause. Infectious diseases are caused by germs. Germs are tiny living things that are found everywhere - in air, soil and water. You can get infected by touching, eating, drinking or breathing something that contains a germ. Germs can also spread through animal and insect bites, kissing and sexual contact. Vaccines, proper hand washing and medicines can help prevent infections.

There are four main kinds of germs:

• Bacteria - one-celled germs that multiply quickly and may release chemicals which can make you sick
• Viruses - capsules that contain genetic material, and use your own cells to multiply
• Fungi - primitive plants, like mushrooms or mildew
• Protozoa - one-celled animals that use other living things for food and a place to live

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Start Here

• Germs: Learn How Germs Work and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Infectious Diseases (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Germs and Hygiene: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Coping with Stress during Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF

Related Issues

• Antibiotic Resistance: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Bacterial vs. Viral Infections: How Do They Differ? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Infections in People with Cancer (American Cancer Society)
• Understand Quarantine and Isolation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• What's the Difference Between Infectious and Contagious? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Recurrent Infections May Signal Immunodeficiencies (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
• Types of Neglected Tropical Diseases (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Infectious Disease (National Center for Health Statistics)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Antibiotic Resistance (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Communicable Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Neonatal and Perinatal Infections.
• Article: Body mass index is a practical preoperative nutritional index for...
• Article: Relevant units of analysis for applied and basic research dealing...
• Infectious Diseases -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Children

• Childhood Contagious Diseases (Logical Images)
• Overview of Infectious Diseases (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Repeated Infections in Children (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers during Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF
• What Is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist? (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish